Lockerly Arboretum’s scaliest residents slithered and crawled their way into the spotlight Saturday during the arboretum’s “Meet the Reptiles” event. The 30-minute informational session intrigued curious attendees, with something for everyone.
Hosted in the arboretum’s Small Woods Museum, the event featured both native and exotic species with opportunities for visitors to get an up-close look and feel, including Teedo the ball python, Sparky the box turtle, and a lively corn snake named Maizy. With the exhibits’ self-guided nature, visitors could observe the slow, graceful movements of box turtles and the curious behavior of several snakes.
Museum educator Katherine Mikell said the goal for the event is to continue fulfilling the arboretum’s founder Edward Grassmann’s mission to further free public education and to “inspire an understanding and appreciation of horticulture, nature and heritage.”
She explained how the museum’s reptile event introduces children to reptiles through a gentle approach, which helps prevent fear and breaks societal myths that coldblooded creatures are “bad.”
Event attendee Ashlyn Oates said, “I never knew that red-eared sliders lost the red behind their eyes with age. I’ve always really liked reptiles and was able to learn new things about them during this event.”
Reptiles play a vital role in the natural environment as both predators and prey, crucial for maintaining balance within the local ecosystem. They are key players in pest control, helping keep insect and rodent populations in check without the need for chemical intervention. Through events like “Meet the Reptiles,” Lockerly Arboretum educates the community on the importance of Georgia’s native reptile species.
Museum visitor Maci Martin said she was “delighted” in discovering Maizy the corn snake, whose name closely resembles her own, which she said added a personal touch to her experience.