FAQ

Animals

Can I donate my pet reptile/bird/frog?

Unfortunately, like most zoos, Reptile Gardens is unable to take in unwanted or abandoned animals. The best place to look for a home for an unwanted animal is on the internet. Search for "Reptile Rescue" to see if there is one near you. Once you find a rescue facility, you might want to check into them a little, as with all things, there are good and bad reptile rescue facilities. Other options include the local pet stores, newspapers which often offer free classified ads for lost animals, Craig's List, and Facebook groups dedicated to finding homes for unwanted reptiles.

I found a wild injured reptile/bird, can I bring it to you for help?

We do not have the facilities or Federal permit for wildlife rehabilitation. If you are concerned about an injured bird of prey, you can contact the Black Hills Raptor Center (blackhillsraptorcenter.org), an all-volunteer nonprofit that can help you assess the situation.

There's a rattlesnake in my yard! Can you come get it?

If you are within Rapid CIty limits, you can contact Animal Control (605-394-4132) and they can provide assistance removing dangerous wildlife from your property. If you are outside of the city limits, you can reach out to the Pennington County Sheriff's office (605-394-6113) and they may be able provide help. We are usually unable to go on trips to remove snakes, but you can certainly call us if you'd like advice on identifying ways to prevent snakes from gathering in you home.

What can we pet while we are there?

For obvious reasons, Guests cannot pet the rattlesnakes, cobras, or cactuses.

During the summer shows, there is an opportunity to pet a python after the snake shows as well as to pet Fluffy, our baby alligator, after the gator shows. On warm days when the giant tortoises are outside, you are welcome to feel their shells and gently scratch their necks.

Things To Do

Main Exhibits

Spring Creek Gulch

Full of great photo opportunities, Spring Creek Gulch is also full of fun, family activities and kids attractions. Try your hand at gold panning, gemstone sluicing, or go on a 3D safari.
Cheyenne the Bald Eagle

Cheyenne is a bald eagle and has been a permanent resident of this wildlife zoo for 11 years with permission of the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Maniac the Giant Crocodile

Maniac is one of a few giant saltwater crocodiles in the known world. At nearly 16 feet long and roughly 1,250 pounds, he is one of the largest giant crocodiles in the western hemisphere.
Giant Tortoises

Come mingle with these gentle, giant tortoises. Our Aldabra Tortoises know how to take it easy, love attention, and are great with kids!
Prairie Dog Town

The black-tailed prairie dog is found in the Great Plains of North America. See firsthand what life is like for a typical prairie dog at Reptile Gardens.
Sky Dome

The Sky Dome at Reptile Gardens is one of the most recognizable South Dakota attractions. Visit a tropical oasis filled with rare & unique flora and fauna.
Methuselah’s Playground

Methuselah was a giant, Galapagos Tortoise and long-time resident who weighed over 600 pounds! His memory lives on at our outdoor playground for kids.
Avian Avenue

At Avian Avenue we are bringing the behind the scenes forward and taking bird watching to a whole new level!

Shows

Snake Shows

Get up-close-and-personal with this family-oriented, reptile show and learn about a wide variety of different snakes during our snake handling demonstration.
Gators

This exciting wild animal show is a favorite South Dakota attraction and features alligators, crocodiles, and caimans in a fun, informative, and interactive presentation.
Spring & Fall Bird Shows

Bird shows are featured daily at this interactive Rapid City attraction. An up close and exciting opportunity to see, learn, and appreciate these amazing Birds of Prey

Shops

Gift Store

The Reptile Gardens gift store offers many things you might find in a zoo gift shop, from t-shirts to reptile books & nature movies.
Green Parrot Café

Visit the Green Parrot Cafe or the Cola Cabana where you can take a break from exploring and refuel with some delicious food!
Jungle Outpost

The Jungle Outpost is truly a Rapid City SD Attraction itself. We maintain an inventory of thousands of pieces of Oceanic tribal art.
New Guinea Art

Authentic oceanic art from an avid primitive art collector sharing his passion with others. Authentic New Guinea Tribal Artifacts for sale.

Animal Facts

Snakes

Venomous

Among venomous snakes, the Cottonmouth and Copperhead snakes are falsely believed to be very deadly. Learn all about poisonous snakes at Reptile Gardens.
Non-Venomous

Snake Facts: Most snakes are referred to as clinically non-venomous snakes, some of the larger types have bites that can still be devastating. Learn more about non-venomous snakes at Reptile Gardens!
Snake Venom and Bites

Not all snake venom acts the same. The most important thing for snake bite treatment is to remain calm and GO TO THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY!
Worlds Deadliest

What’s the difference between the world’s deadliest snake and world’s most venomous snake? Check out International Danger Quotient for answers.
Dangerous Snake FAQ

Looking for answers about the world’s deadliest snake? Need to know about dangerous snake bites? Look no further - Reptile Gardens has the answers you’re looking for.
Snake Facts

Get your information about snakes here! Learn all about snake facts first hand at Reptile Gardens, where we have daily snake shows.

Non-Snakes

Crocodilians

What’s the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Learn all about the ancient order of crocodilians at Reptile Gardens!
Turtles & Tortoises

The giant tortoises at Reptile Gardens love posing for the camera! Explore Reptile Gardens and see different types of turtles from across the globe.
Lizards

Reptile Gardens houses the largest collection of reptiles in the world. Explore the grounds and see snakes, alligators, crocodiles, giant tortoises, and many different types of lizards.

Frogs

Looking for frog facts? Reptile Gardens is a Black Hills attraction with all of the answers to your froggy questions.
Salamanders

Looking for information on Salamanders? Reptile Gardens is full of fun salamander facts to feed your curiosity.
Bugs

Reptile Gardens is a Rapid City, SD attraction that houses the largest collection of reptiles as well as a variety of bugs from across the world!

Native to South Dakota

Lizards

Reptile Gardens is a Black Hills attraction that houses the largest collection of reptiles in the world. Check out our collection of lizards native to South Dakota.
Snakes

We’ve got a list of snakes native to South Dakota. Watch as our snake handling experts introduce our snake ambassadors at the Reptile Gardens snake show.
Turtles

South Dakota has many species of turtles. See the variety of turtles and visit our giant tortoises at Reptile Gardens, the Black Hills attraction with the largest collection of reptiles in the world.
Amphibians

Looking for exotic amphibians? Reptile Gardens is a Black Hills attraction near Rapid City, SD that houses the largest collection of reptiles in the world.

About Us

Contact Us

Find us, phone us, email us, send us a message...
Scales and Tales

Stories to educate and entertain
History

Reptile Gardens started with a small display of reptiles in 1935, but has grown into the largest reptile zoo in the world and one of the biggest Black Hills attractions.
Team

Meet the team of Reptile Gardens employees and zoo curators who bring the magic and wonder of Reptile Gardens to fruition.
Media Attention

Reptile Gardens is an international media sensation. Watch original clips from the BBC, National Geographic, and more.
Awards

We are honored to have been recognized for multiple awards over the years and take pride in making Reptile Gardens the best it can possibly be.
Giving Back

Reptile Gardens isn’t just one of the largest Black Hills attractions, it’s the largest reptile zoo in the world, and we love giving back to our community.
Conservation Efforts

As we work closely with major zoos worldwide to promote species survival, it is our responsibility to also educate the public about important environmental issues and positively contribute to the future of our animal residents.
Employment

Our staff is passionate about taking personal interest in what we do each and every day. Come join our team at Reptile Gardens!
Education Materials

Reptile Gardens is a great place for class field trips and learning experiences. View some work sheets and answer keys for your group to use while exploring Reptile Gardens. We have several varying difficulty levels to help accommodate every age of children. Have fun learning!
Videos

From commercials to just little snippets, we've made some neat videos over the years and wanted a chance to share some of them with you.

FAQ