MSU Herp Club hosts event educating students about reptiles, amphibians

Pythons, frogs and turtles crawled and slithered around their enclosures at an MSU Herp Club educational event Wednesday in the Natural Science Building.

Students and community members had the opportunity to interact with animals, including a ball python.

Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. The MSU Herp Club
studies herpetology and organizes outreach events, such as Wednesday’s “How
to Train Your Bearded Dragon,” which was held to inform people about owning the animals as pets and the conservation of species.

Often people are afraid of these types of animals, especially snakes, because they do not know much about them, MSU Herp Club President and zoology junior Emily Gertiser said.

“I know a lot of people are very fearful of snakes and lizards,” Gertiser said. “It’s just a harmless animal that’s just trying to live its life. They don’t have the intention to harm.”

People do not always view these kinds of animals negatively, but do not feel comfortable around them either, MSU Herp Club adviser and herpetology specialist Jim Harding said.
“A lot of people are not so much antagonistic,” Harding said. “(They’re) just nervous. They want to know if (the amphibian or reptile) is going to hurt them.”
Educating people about how to care for these animals as pets was another purpose of the event, Harding said.

“We want them to know the proper way to care for them and maintain them,” Harding said.

“I think it’s a good service we can do.”

Fisheries and wildlife junior Nate Spala attended the event to gain ideas for a new pet. He said he was glad to see other people interested in herpetology.

“I used to catch snakes when I was little and keep them,” Spala said. “It’s a great way to get hands on experience (holding the animals).”

Animals including dart frogs, a spiny-tailed lizard and African tortoises were at the event.

Some of the reptiles and amphibians were pets of the MSU Herp Club’s members. Preuss Pets, 1127 N. Cedar St., and the Fenner Nature Center, 2020 E. Mount Hope Ave., both in Lansing, also brought animals to the event.

Some club members held their pets and allowed attendees to do the same.

Later, Chris Gertiser, a zookeeper at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Mich., spoke about his work experiences and a typical day in his life.

Earlier, he held a black-headed monitor, a type of lizard, on a leash and talked with attendees. Gertiser said he hoped people would appreciate zookeeping more after he spoke with them about it.

“A lot of people think we cuddle with baby animals all day long,” Gertiser said. “(But) there’s a lot of poop to clean everyday.”