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Join Date: Apr-2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,850
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Responsibility & Live Animal Protocol at Events
Someone kinda asked about it, so I'll kinda list some of what my herp society and I discussed last night at our meeting....
Responsibility & Live Animal Protocol at Events/Presentations
1.) Supplies - Some of this may seem like old hat to some, but still here are things a lot of people don't think about when preparing to do a presentation
- hand sanitizer
- rags & paper towels
- extra shirt (in case a critter poops on ya...don't want to be smelly or messy for the rast of the day)
- first-aid
- have a helper! This aids with the flow of the presentation, as you can continue speaking while the other person is putting animals up and getting the next critter out for petting
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2.) Structure
- Make sure to have a clear open line of communication between you and the party that asked you to present. Find out as much as possible; the event, age groups, crowd size, etc. Try to have a general plan available for that person so they know (especially for teachers dealing with classrooms full of kids).
- Every venue will be different. A lot depends on the age group, crowd size, and what you were asked to speak about (biology? ecology? etc.). Again, have a general plan, but be adaptable to your audience.
Age Groups - I put these here, because trying to present to a wide-ranged/diverse audience is difficult; you are either going over the heads of the younger crowd, or talking down from the older bunch. Either way, part of the group is going to get bored. Which is why it is good to try and speak to small, age-specific groups. Not saying you cannot do other events, but in larger crowds, you more entertainment than education. Its hard to get information across; its mostly show-n-tell:
- 2nd Grade and below- at this level, you are pretty much Show-and-Tell, don't get too cerebral. Mainly petting and interaction
- 3rd-5th Grade - You can get a little talkative here, talk about how reptiles are cold-blooded, different diet types (herbivores, carnivores, etc.) but not too detailed
- Middle School (6th-8th) - perhaps the best demographic to speak to, as kids are really thinking and asking questions at this point.
- High school- perhaps the most difficult; unless its an advanced biology class, you will rarely get the attention or respect for your time/efforts.
- Adults - kinda fun, sometimes difficult; this is the crowd you are talking to for dispelling myths and misinformation. Best advice: Know your stuff, because you'll get the occasional person in the crowd who will want to pick apart the things you say. Do not be afraid to say "I don't know the answer to that."
Some people like to speak first, and open it up to questions afterwards. Others like to invite questions the entire time. Those who have done this sort of thing a while have told me that if you have a general plan, people do tend to ask the same questions, so no matter what direction the presentation takes, you often do get most of your basic info across each time.
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3.) Handling
- "2-finger Touch Rule" = most are familiar with this rule, of simply asking the audience to use only their index and middle finger to gently pet the animal down the back, not messing with the head or the tail. Sometimes its awkward to remind adults, but still, some adults need reminding!
- No handling during the lecture - I generally do not allow people to handle the animals. I don't have to worry about my critters being dropped, accidentally stepped on, squeezed too tightly, etc. i.e. I maintain control of the situation. This also reduces the chances of the animal biting anyone besides myself. As much as some like to delude themselves, reptiles are not domesticated. Even a dog can nip. I have even the nicest snake make a liar out of me, and snap at me. It really hurts your credibility when you just get done telling someone how "docile" snakes really are, and then your ball python suddenly lunges at someone. Ive had it happen. 20 people can handle the animal and by person #21, that animal has had enough. Better the animal bite you, than anyone else. If time and space permits, you may allow one-on-one handling sessions with certain animals. But never in a crowd. Too many variables.
- "No snakes around the neck" - Its been addressed in the other thread. In a nutshell, I feel this is irresponsible and even posting a photo of a cornsnake around your neck gives the impression that its okay to do it with any snake.
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4.) Liability
A slim, but realistic possibility. It may vary from state to state, but in most cases, if you own the animal, you are liable. And that includes if the person was injured/bitten in your home. So this is another reason why I really enforce the "no handling" rule. It's not worth the risk of getting sued just so someone can hold a snake. And people will get you with that "mental anguish" bit every time. It sucks...but it's true.
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