Reptile Expert Dishes the Truth on Snakes and Such at the Merrick Library

As Bill Boesenberg opens the cage and pulls out "Blue the Alligator," the loads of children and adults gasp with excitement. Then the room fills with noise as the audience watches Boesenberg take a seat and place the alligator on his lap.

Boesenberg, 45, a reptile trainer and owner of the company Snakes and Scales, presented four of his various reptiles in front of a crowd of children and their families at the Merrick Library last Wednesday.

The event, presented courtesy of the library's children's department featured Boesenberg, who has worked and trained reptiles since he was 18.  He began the presentation by asking the children questions about reptiles to encourage participation.  

Boesenberg maintained a gracious tone throughout, but constantly stressed the need to not judge the animals based on knowledge acquired through watching television.

"TV has given us the wrong idea about these animals," Boesenberg said.  "Most of the time, they just want to be left alone because they're scared of us."

 The first animal Boesenberg presented was Blue, an alligator that he acquired after the police took it from some people who had been taking care of it illegally.

After a brief presentation, Boesenberg opened up the floor for questions. One of the children, sitting only a few feet away from the animal, asked why the animal sat so calmly on Boesenberg's lap. Boesenberg stated that these animals are relatively calm and relaxed and that the portrayals on television are generally not credible.

"Most of the people on TV walk into swamps and pull the alligator out of the water," Boesenberg said.  "It's as if I were to walk into your house and pull you out of bed. I don't think you would be very happy about that."

Boesenberg then went on to present a snapping turtle, a Burmese python, and a water monitor named Elizardbeth.

The water monitor, the second largest lizard in the world, created the greatest stir from the audience, which asked several questions about the animal's long tongue and long body.

Boesenberg explained that the length of the tongue enabled the animal to both smell and taste. He then recalled how he ended up with the creature. According to Boesenberg, Elizardbeth's previous owners bought her when she was small.

As the lizard got larger it created a great deal of havoc in the home: It destroyed a bookcase, table, computer, and even the car in only a few minutes. However, the owners kept the animal despite these problems, but eventually decided to give it away when it destroyed their bed. Despite these difficulties, Boesenberg noted that these animals never intend to do any harm to people.

"They're wonderful creatures," he said.  "I've been working with reptiles for as long as I can remember and I've always loved it."