Felony Makes Headlines...

[RayRay]

So... Felony is becoming a local celebrity (according to plan). We do this every Saturday and with last week being Labor Day weekend, it was slow. The guy for our local paper came in and asked to see the snakes. I was also able to take some photos of her on my own by the pond.

I told him approximately how long that python is... around 8 feet or in that ball park. The paper says she is 12 feet and she clearly is not... but hey it's good press.

I, however, am a midget and I guess I can see how I give people that impression while holding (by my judgement) a medium sized snake. He also spelled my name wrong, but that's okay because other than that he had nothing but nice things to say (even though he admits to not liking snakes.):

"If you get a chance to go to Cave Springs Park between now and September 25th in the afternoons on Saturdays, they have a large snake exhibit going on there and it is fascinating. I personally hate snakes, but these are beautiful and the handlers are very considerate about how people feel about massive reptiles. They will teach everyone a lot about snakes. Most are constrictor type snakes, no poisonous ones. Kids will especially get a charge out of seeing just how big these things can get. (See front page).

Here's a crappy picture of the front page. It's too big to fit on the scanner bed.





Here are some recent photos of her playing ninja in the mulch at the center. Seriously, trying to pick out one end from the other was tricky in the thumbnails... I think I uploaded her butt, mostly.

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[Caligula13]

haha very cool, so is that newspaper all about you?

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[RayRay]

Originally Posted by Caligula13

haha very cool, so is that newspaper all about you?

It's about Raytown (the city I live in) but we got front page.

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[Caligula13]

haha, i just meant cause it's apparently all about your town, guess the pun didn't make it through haha

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[RayRay]

Originally Posted by Caligula13

haha, i just meant cause it's apparently all about your town, guess the pun didn't make it through haha

It is pretty funny that RayRay lives in Raytown, though it won't be forever. LOL

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[RioBravoReptiles]

What a beautiful snake!
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It's a shame that showing them off to the public almost invariably works out not quite as one might hope or expect.
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Good luck!

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[RayRay]

Originally Posted by RioBravoReptiles

What a beautiful snake!
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It's a shame that showing them off to the public almost invariably works out not quite as one might hope or expect.
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Good luck!

Thanks!
And no... it doesn't. I've had a lot of positive reactions, and a lot of good questions from people (everything from local species to captive husbandry). I am still leery of the media because they keep misconstruing things.

We have fended off some impulse purchases of large constrictors and the notion that snakes are novelty pets.

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[John_White]

Well done!

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[RayRay]

Here are some other pictures of Felony on display. These are just of her, specifically.

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We do have other snakes to show, from a hognose to corn snakes to burmese pythons to give people an idea of the variety we keep. A few of my boas are there, too... but only the ones with a high tolerance for handling.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[TammyJamaica]

This is nice.

Right now here in Jamaica I have to be hiding my snakes from the public as the ignorant and stupid people "in charge" here (The government Veterinary Services Division) are posting large ads in the local papers for anyone seeing anyone with ANY snakes or other "strange" creatures, to immediately report them. It is SO sickening.

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[RayRay]

Originally Posted by TammyJamaica

This is nice.
Right now here in Jamaica I have to be hiding my snakes from the public as the ignorant and stupid people "in charge" here (The government Veterinary Services Division) are posting large ads in the local papers for anyone seeing anyone with ANY snakes or other "strange" creatures, to immediately report them. It is SO sickening.

It is... That's part of the reason I wanted to do this so badly.
I know a lot of people in the hobby don't want to put themselves or their animals out there for fear of what might be said or if they/the animals will be actively persecuted.

We have a place to do this (also insurance) and the means to do so. Some one's gotta do it. Might as well be me.

I feel like I'm going out on a limb doing this, but so far it has been really positive and the animals tolerate it really well. I wouldn't do it if they didn't.

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[morti]

Great work there RayRay! I do love positive publicity!

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[Samhain]

It makes me proud to know one of our creations is doing good for the speices. You are setting a great example for all who love these snakes and want to get into them.

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[Sakara]

good stuff RayRay you do make her look huge hehe

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[RayRay]

Thanks guys... This animal really makes me proud and I'm glad I have the help I do with her. She really is getting big, though. She'll be 10' by the end of the year, very easily. She's pounding those rabbits now, and there's no looking back. She really does have a wonderful temperament, but with her increasing size, I doubt I'll be draping her over shoulders in the future and I'll just be letting people pet her.

We practicing "flooring" her, where she gets run of the floor and I direct her head and she has plenty of room to escape when she has had enough. This is just another trick she's probably going to master. She would rather fly than fight, something to use to our advantage when trying to "control" an animal that should be 16' long. She already knows where her tote is, which is awesome. I taught her that trick early on.

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[ioctoberdrums]

good on ya ray ray. now if we can just get journalists to know the difference between venom and poison......

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[RayRay]

Originally Posted by ioctoberdrums

good on ya ray ray. now if we can just get journalists to know the difference between venom and poison......

That's an uphill battle. Been there and tried.

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[reticguy69]

its an awesome site seeing snakes out and about educating (properly educating) the weary and mis-informed. but extra special to see kids and snakes

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[BRITTani]

Lookin great Rach!!! Have fun with everything tomorrow and let me know how it goes!

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[kaotik94]

Raytown and RayRay...awesome.....front page is awesome too...good job Ray

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