Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
The other day National Geographic contacted regarding the veracity of the rattlesnake scenes in the new movie, True Grit. Terry’s interview is posted on the National Geographic blog.
As you know, we like to present the truth about reptiles and Terry doesn’t pull any punches on this one, even if it is a good movie. Visit the link below to read the interview.
http://blogs.ngm.com/blog_central/2011/01/not-so-true-snake-lore-in-true-grit.html
We have just launched a new, totally revised Reptile Gardens web site. Things change fast in the cyberworld and we do our best to keep up. It took months of work by our staff and the folks at Robert Sharp and Associates to get things exactly like we wanted them and it is finally done. We think this new site with its simpler interface will be easier to negotiate – visitors will be able to quickly find what they are looking for. It will also work nicely on mobile devices.
Potential park visitors can see a map and tour of our grounds along with hours, rates, and a coupon for discounted admission. You can meet our staff, read our blog, see historic photos, and photos of our plants and animals.
We are especially proud of the work we did on the reference section about our animals and about reptiles in general. You can find detailed information on the reptiles and amphibians of South Dakota. There is an easy way to contact our curatorial staff with questions about snakes or bugs or plants. And for all those people searching for information on the world’s deadliest snakes, we think we have given them the ultimate resource. I will be posting more about that section of our site in the next few days.
Of course it isn’t finished, and probably never will be so check back now and then to see what is new at the Gardens and what new pages have been added.
Starting this Saturday the 18th of December Santa will be here every day through Christmas Eve. Bring the kids to meet Santa and take your own photos with him. Reptile Gardens is the only place where you can take your photo not only with Santa but also include Fluffy the Gator or Marilyn the Albino Python in the photo. The most unique Christmas photos ever. And it is FREE too!
Santa will be here from 10AM to 3PM daily. There is no charge to see Santa or take your photos with him. The Reptile Gardens is open from 9AM to 3PM daily so if you are looking for something to do with your visiting relatives, come to the tropics.
Still some shopping days left to get totally unique gifts for those tough-to-shop-for people on your list. If you think all we carry are souvenirs, think again. Reptile Gardens’ gift store and the Jungle Outpost Gallery are filled with many great gift ideas. Get a stunning amethyst geode, an artistic-looking fossil, a beautiful malachite box and more in our Rock Department. The Jungle Outpost Gallery has Tibetan singing bowls, Huichol Indian beaded masks and figures, a wide variety of popular jewelry, and the largest offering of New Guinea Tribal art in the United States. A tribal mask under the tree will certainly be the most unique package opened on Christmas morning!
Today’s blog combines a column written in 1967 by long-time General Manager Jim Campbell with updates and additions from me.
By the way, we aren’t anywhere near closing yet. We’re open until the end of the year.
Those of us who work here all year around frequently hear this question come fall: ”S’pose you’re all set to loaf for the winter? You are closed now, right? All your animals hibernate don’t they?”
Well, what do we do all winter? Loaf? Travel? All fun and games? I’ll admit we do Continue reading
Posted in General, Reptile Gardens history, Reptile Gardens News
Tagged Reptile Gardens history
Here at Reptile Gardens, we learn a lot from our animal friends. For instance, did you know that many snake species lie absolutely motionless for long periods of time after a big meal? In large pythons it can be weeks! The snakes take a siesta, because energy is precious to cold-blooded animals, and they can conserve this energy by eliminating all unnecessary movement. We’ve taken this lesson to heart, and have organized a “”Green Team” to identify ways to eliminate waste, and conserve resources around the Gardens.
Our Green Team, led by Assistant Manger Clint Hubbeling, has come up with a number of great ideas to conserve, such as: Reusing office paper by printing on both sides of the paper. This simple idea has saved countless reams of paper. Embracing digital technology by converting our Continue reading
Every year, something beautiful happens at Reptile Gardens. An army of gardeners descends upon the grounds, and transforms the winter barren flowerbeds into a fragrant sea of stunning annual flowers. Our gardeners plant over 40,000 annuals, and hundreds of perennial species as well. While many people know that Reptile Gardens is home to the world’s largest reptile collection, folks are often pleasantly surprised to learn that our grounds are a botanical-lovers paradise as well.
Guests often ask our gardeners for advice and ideas on plant species selection and general care. To transform Continue reading
Posted in Flowers and Gardens, General
Tagged Flowerbeds, Flowers, Gardening advice, Gardens
Black Widow spider
I get many calls from people wondering what can be done to minimize the presence of Black Widows? First I have to say, because spiders are small it is hard to totally eliminate them. However, there are some things you can do to cut down their numbers and protect yourself. Continue reading
Black Widow showing belly marking, not always a perfect hourglass.
As warm weather approaches, we start getting calls about spiders and odd bugs people find in their garages, storage sheds, yards, and houses. The most common calls we get are in regard to spiders, especially black widows, brown recluse and a mysterious GIANT! spider that seems to strike fear in all who see one. The latter would be the common wolf spider.
Out of the tens of thousands of spiders in the world, only a few are dangerous to humans. The most common dangerously venomous spiders in the US are the Black Widow, the Brown Recluse, and the Hobo spider – and they rarely bite people. Far more people die each year of bee and wasp stings that from spider bites. And by the way, it is just a myth that the common daddy longlegs spider is extremely deadly – there is no scientific evidence to back up this fanciful tale.
One common spider in our area that you need NOT be overly concerned with is the Continue reading
Posted in General, Insects and Spiders, Reptile Gardens News
Tagged Black Hills, bugs, insects, Spiders
Many people do not know that the Black Hills was one of the top finalists in the search for a location for the United Nations.
The beginnings of what was to become the United Nations were set in motion back in 1941. By 1942 the term United Nations, coined by Franklin Roosevelt, was first used. Over the next few years the UN Charter was created and ratified and a search was begun for a place to house this new international organization.
Many locales vied for the UN complex. In the end, the final 5 contenders were: a location in Queens, New York, two locations Continue reading
Posted in General, Reptile Gardens history
Mac the Scarlet Macaw posing for one of his many portraits
On Wednesday, 10 March, we lost one of the very few living creatures that has been at Reptile Gardens longer than even us long-timers, Mac our Scarlet Macaw.
Like most parrots in the days before wildlife laws and captive breeding, Mac was captured in the wild, in South America. He was brought to the US in the early 1950’s and arrived here at Reptile Gardens as a large adult bird in 1956. We estimate his age at the time of his death to have been over 70 years. He was a huge, brightly-colored bird loaded with personality. In fact in regards to his size, many parrot breeders and bird fanciers remarked that he was the largest scarlet macaw they had ever seen.
Mac achieved legendary status here at the Gardens once we moved Continue reading
Posted in General, Reptile Gardens history, Reptile Gardens News
Tagged Macaw, Parrots, Reptile Gardens' birds