Garter Snakes

     I don't know if any of you have noticed, but there seems to be a little resurgence in garter snakes reappearing after a very long time.  As many of you know, they are so important in our environment,  keeping the rodent population under control.
They have been gone due to pesticides and other chemicals that are used on lawns and gardens, but many are killed by people out of fear also.  The learned fear of snakes and reptiles in general comes not only from the Bible but also media. 
    
When I was a boy,  I would gather a friend and we'd take an old refuse drum in a wagon and look in the prairie for garters.  I was bit a few times back then, as they were defensive of course.  We would pull this wagon full of snakes around the neighborhood and I'd eventually let them go.  They would end up sitting on neighbors porches and in their yards, they were not very happy with me.

I finally have seen garter snakes in my yard this year!

My Adventures with Steve PartIII

In May 2004 I received a contact call from Steve's manager saying Steve was going to guest host with Kelly Ripa (Regis & Kelly Show) while Regis was on vacation.  He asked me to bring Bubba to New York City over Memorial Day weekend.  My son in law Chris traveled with me & Bubba to help.  We left the day before taping of the show.  We were checked into the Ritz Carlton, and Bubba had his own security detail.  The show taped on Memorial Day.

The way Kelly & Steve played off of each other was funny.  She was fearful, but Steve was so full of energy & enthusiasm, he wanted Kelly to love Bubba like he did.  She went along with Steve's suggestions so well,  the show won the Relly Award!  She was so naturally curious and funny.

Before the show, my son in law, Chris and I were in the green room with Steve, Kelly's husband Mark, and their son Michael.  Michael was sitting on Bubba, while Bubba had his head up on the sofa next to Steve.  At that moment, Rueben Studdard (of American Idol fame) and his brother who were also appearing on the show, walked into the room, saw Bubba, and immediately turned around and left!  We all had a good laugh.
After the show, we exited to the city streets and took photos with Steve and Bubba as several New York City Policemen watched and met Steve Irwin.

As promised previously, here are some photos of Steve's movie premier party in California and of the pilots who flew my son Jim, myself and Bubba to Lax.

My Adventures with Steve Part II

After landing in LA, a stretch van arrived to take us to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for the afternoon taping with Steve.  At the shows green room, we met Steve's best friend Wes and the rest of his Australian entourage.  Earlier, during a run through of Steve's segment with Bubba, Jay Leno wasn't there for the rehearsal.  That is why during the show, when he and Steve picked up Bubba to put him on the desk, Jay almost dropped him. Bubba swung his tail in reflex because he felt he was falling, and Steve got hit in the cheek with the tail.  Our phone started ringing off the wall from friends and family watching, some thinking Bubba almost was hurt and some thinking it was bad press for Steve.  But all was well as Steve explained.

The actress Jennifer Connelly was a guest on the show, and Leno wanted her to kiss Bubba and she refused.  So Steve was able to kid Leno into kissing him and he did.  Great film. Bubba was put up for the night at Jim Brockett's Film Fauna Facility just outside of LA.

The next day was the movie premier in LA at a famous theatre.  Bubba was stationed at the door greeting all the guests as Steve, Terri and Bindi arrived on the street riding an elephant to the premier.  One of the guests was Jon Voight who was a huge fan of Steve Irwin.  He just loved Bubba and we hung out most of the afternoon.  After the film showing, the parking lot was set up as a giant zoo.  There were other animals walking around, cheetahs, giraffes and other exotics.  Steve came around to each animal taking photos for the press.  People stood in long lines for photos with the animals including Bubba! 

It was amazing to watch people respond to Steve's contagious enthusiasm. Steve was the perfect guy at the perfect time to be the ambassador of wildlife.  He was one of a kind man who was genuine in every way about his passion for animals and conservation.  He was truly a wildlife warrior.  His worldwide audience was over a half billion viewers, that says it all.

Go to You Tube and check out the video called Crocodile Hunter - From Outback to Hollywood.  You will see the zoo after the premier with  Bubba and a clip of Bindi riding Bubba also.

My Adventures with Steve Irwin Part I

I want to thank you for being patient with me, I have been working out of town and took a much needed break, so this post is a couple of weeks late.  I am also having some computer problems, so I will post the photos for this post on Part II of My Adventures with Steve Irwin.

I was surprised to find out Steve's people were trying to track me down to come to the Oprah Show when he was making an appearance.  He wanted to use Bubba for the show.  When I met him for the first time at her studio I could tell he was a real guy, very personable and fun.  He asked me the important questions, Bubba's statistics and what he could do with him on stage, very thorough.  His enthusiasm was real, he was the same guy off camera as on.  During the show, he engaged Oprah with so much information, he was able to convince her to hug Bubba. Even Oprah was surprised she did it!  I was later told by someone on her staff that she that she had a photo of her and Bubba hanging in her office along with people who had been on the show.
The show went so well, I was asked by Steve and his manager to come over to the Rainforest Cafe for a media blitz to promote his upcoming summer movie opening.  On arrival, it took 3 tables to put Bubba on for photos to meet the press.  He started moving but followed my command to lie down.  Steve and his manager observing, were blown away that Bubba complied.  Steve asked me "Crikey, how did you train the bloke"?  I gave him the cliff notes and soon after, they asked me if I would be willing to bring Bubba to LosAngeles for Steve's movie premier!
The next day, I received a call from MGM with my flight details, but there were loading and temperature control issues on a commercial flight, but they said they would work it out.  The next call from MGM was telling me they hired a private jet to take my son, myself and Bubba to California!  My first meeting with the pilot named Phillip was funny, he was very nervous to have a gator on his plane. After all, Sheryl Crow had just exited his jet.  I assured him Bubba would be the best passenager he ever had.  As we descended into LA, he came back and told me I was right about Bubba, he said he had flown some crazy passengers.  He had called ahead to the airport letting them know who and what was on board.  When we arrived, all the VIP'S were on the tarmac waiting to take photos with Bubba in front of Steve's MGM jet.  (Steve's jet was emblazoned with a giant crocodile the entire length of the jet, with Croc Hunter on the tail)  All of a sudden, the pilot loved having flown Bubba the Alligator!

The Beauty of the Individual

   Our perceptions regarding animals are all different.  TV and media make animals out to be something other than they are. Media seems to be bent on sensationalism and negativity about animal and human relationships.  We seldom hear the extraordinary stories of special animals and their passionate caretakers.  I have always viewed everyone and everything as an individual rather than a group.  How many times have we heard "it's a dangerous animal" from the most dangerous animal on the planet, "humans"? There are always exceptions to everything in nature. 

   For instance, one of the most touching stories I have ever known is of "Christian the Lion". Other examples are "Brutus the Bear" and "Pocho the Crocodile and his caretaker, "Chito" from Costa Rica. These are 3 stories of unique individuals that were cared for and loved by very special people.  I have had 2 incredible relationships with my first alligator, Bubba and now with his counterpart alligator, Bubba II, the legend continues. You can check youtube.com to view these stories and also to view my Bubba with Steve Irwin and Kelly Ripa from the Regis & Kelly show. It will show you that this individual can work with anyone because he is SO unique! 
     We can't let political correctness and the danger, danger mantra stop the learning and exploration of so many wonderful, magnificent animals. We never hear about the responsible pet caretakers, explorers and animal pioneers in the news.  There are so many great people doing great work and study in sanctuaries and rescue facilities. If I would have listened to all the people that told me, what I have accomplished is "impossible", I would have missed the awesome experiences I have had through my passion for reptiles. I would have missed 36 years of smiles and the enjoyment of teaching all the kids and people that have been touched by my program.
   

Responsible Pet Ownership

 We, as people who love and respect animals need to continue to promote responsible pet ownership.  By that I mean people who keep animals in a way that mirrors their natural habitat to the best of our ability.  I had a very supportive family who understood my love of animals and that it was part of my identity, who I am as a person. 
I was at a school, a few years ago with a little Downs boy who was very frightened of all animals.  After he met Bubba, I asked him if he wanted to ride Bubba. To my surprise, he said yes, and did ride and he couldn't wipe the smile off of his face! I gave him a Bubba Book and he gave me a hug, which made my day. All kids, especially ones who lack confidence, have fears or special needs kids, enjoy taking care of an animal. It is a hands on learning experience that teaches responsibility and may fulfill that child. It is a fact that when animals
are brought into senior citizen homes, hospitals, schools and such, that these experiences with animals are very uplifting to the human spirit.  They benefit from us and we from them.

Beginning Cold Blooded Creatures

  In 1977 my son and I kept our first Boa Constrictor together. At this time, I had a close friend who was a science teacher at our local school. He was interested in my knowledge of snakes and invited me to his fifth grade science class to speak about the Boa and snakes in general.  I wasn't sure that fifth graders would be so interested in snakes and reptiles.  But I was mistaken. My talk was so well received, by that first class, several teachers who saw me in that classroom, came forward and wanted to know when I could visit their classes! So my talks became a regular event at that first school in Orland Park. The kids really wanted a hands on experience,  and asked a million questions, they couldn't get enough information.
 Realizing there was such a void in this kind of information and hands on displays, a career was born.  They say if you are working at what you love, it's not really work.
My overall love and interest for these specific animals and this classroom experience, energized me to start Cold Blooded Creatures.
There was a gentlemen back in 1967 who had started an animal program visiting schools, but he incorporated many different types of animals, not just reptiles.  His name was Dr.Robert James, a true pioneer, owner of Animal Encounters.
So as a matter of courtesy to him, I decided to focus on reptiles only, which was my main interest and expertise.  I was able to use the knowledge I had gained as a behaviorist, to select through observation, a team of kid friendly reptiles.  I put together a program which worked into the science departments curriculum at each and every school I visited.  Soon, these schools also became annual programs for Cold Blooded Creatures.
That was the true start of CBC.  It is a thrill for me to teach people about these amazing creatures.  It is also a kick to work with students who are so fearful, but by the time we were finished with our program, they were confident in handling the animals, feeling comfortable and overcoming fears.  Having confidence in what you know and like transcends into other parts of your life.
These are both more recent photos of a local Elementary school in New Lenox, Illinois.