Deb Malewski
Contributing Writer

(Deb Malewski/FAN – More than 30 children and patrons visited with exotic animals at the Eaton Rapids Area District Library, courtesy of Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary and handler, Dennis.)

There were plenty of wide eyes, excited whispers, and even a few nervous giggles when the Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary visited the Eaton Rapids Area District Library on July 30.

More than 30 children, along with their parents and a handful of teens, packed the library for the opportunity to see exotic reptiles up close and even touch some of the animals under careful supervision.

The presentation, led by Dennis of the Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary in Athens, Michigan (near Battle Creek), combined education, humor, and unforgettable moments. Throughout the program, Dennis shared facts about reptiles while emphasizing the importance of respecting wild animals and handling them safely.

The sanctuary rescues and cares for hundreds of unwanted pet alligators and other reptiles, including tortoises, snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and spiders. Often these animals are pets that have outgrown their welcome at someone’s home.

The animal guests arrived at the library in plastic totes, each carefully secured for the trip. Children met a delicate millipede, Spike the bearded dragon, Kaa, a six-foot boa constrictor, Elvis the alligator, and Tank, a 30-year-old tortoise.

As Dennis reached for the container holding Kaa, the boa constrictor, he had one request for his young audience: “Let’s play the quiet game when this guy comes out.” Excited chatter instantly faded to whispers as the children watched the six-foot-long snake emerge from a strapped-shut crate.

Dennis even had a fresh reminder of why wild animals deserve respect. The children quickly noticed the Band-Aid wrapped around one of his fingers. Before leaving for Eaton Rapids, 5-year-old Elvis, who measures about three feet long, had decided to sample Dennis’s finger with a quick bite while being prepared for the trip.

The lesson was made even more amusing by the back of Dennis’s Alligator Sanctuary T-shirt, which read, “Bite Me!”

Dennis also entertained the crowd with the story of Elvis nearly escaping from his travel crate after another program, drawing both laughter and wide-eyed reactions from the audience.

Children sat cross-legged on the floor in a large circle while a taped-off area gave the animals plenty of space. Although it was difficult for some youngsters to contain their excitement, they remained patient and respectful as they waited for their turn to interact. One eager child, hoping for a closer encounter with the tortoise, pleaded, “Put her on the floor so I can chase her!” The remark drew laughter from both the audience and Dennis.

It was a rare opportunity to learn about wild reptiles not from a book or a television screen, but just inches away.

For more information about programs at the Eaton Rapids Area District Library, visit the website at https://eradl, or follow them on Facebook.