THUNDER BAY – When it comes to snakes and spiders, many kids are braver than their parents.
Proof of that was quite apparent at the Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo’s stop in Thunder Bay, where children lined up to get a closer look at the exotic animals while the adults kept their distance.
For 10-year-old Payton Tyante, who was one of the youngsters eager to interact with the animals she was wowed by a tarantula.
“I think it’s great,” she said enthusiastically, adding it was her first time visiting a Little Ray’s exhibit in Thunder Bay. “I love the reptile show. The animals were so cool.”
Tyler Maybee, an animal handler and educator with Little Ray’s, said the excitement people have when they get to interact with the animals is one of the best parts of what they do.
“It’s really our passion. Without that, the job would lose something really special,” Maybee said. “We absolutely love it and there are some magic moments, like people petting the snake for the first time. We had a woman for her 50th birthday come just to pet a snake and get over her own phobia. It’s really special for us.”
The three-day show began on Friday at the Victoriaville Centre, with people of all ages checking out different animals.
Maybee said there is a particular focus on introducing people to animals typically regarded as scary or creepy. Penelope, a five-metre reticulated python, is one of the featured attractions.
Knowledge and familiarity can break down some of the fear, he added.
“During one of our shows we talk about how snakes are a big phobia. Arachnids are a big phobia,” Maybee said. “The more you understand something, the less you’re going to fear it. The more spiders we have in the wild, the fewer bugs we’re going to get. The more snakes we have in the wild, the fewer vermin we’re going to have.
“It’s healthy and great for the ecosystem. We don’t want people living in fear of these animals so the more they understand, the more they can appreciate the natural world. It’s better for everyone.”
Another popular animal was Chloe, a one-and-a-half-year-old sloth. The exhibit also includes other snakes, reptiles, arachnids, tortoises and small mammals like ferrets and rabbits.
The show will also run on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
