Who will blink first?

“Wild Man” Phil Rakoci is one of the long-time tour leaders at the Arboretum. He handles critter of all kinds (like the centipede above), but specializes in snakes and lizards, and usually hauls a small menagerie of creatures along with him for his tours and other demonstrations. During the early morning Learn your Lizards tours at the Arboretum, he catches lizards and snakes that the group is lucky enough to find in the 1.25 mile walk around the Main Trail.

He is a consummate professional, and funny, too, bringing these creatures to life (as if they need any assistance) to school kids and adults alike. He might demonstrate how to properly handle a whiptail lizard without harming him, If he catches a bull snake, he’ll hold it firmly but gently, allowing people in the group to rub their fingers across its smooth scales. [Read more…]