Public

We have had so much fun watching the rabbits grow.  It is amazing how much they grew each week.  It has been a learning experience for the kids and they can be very entertaining!  They will go to their new homes in a short time.

We can't wait to see the progress we have made!

Come join us, bring your gloves and tools (shovels, hoe, wheelbarrow) if you have some and come make a difference! We will work till about 12:00--but come when you can!

March 29th;   The courtyard looked great right after a good rainfall that watered the plants that were added to the flower beds. 

Battling the heat, smells of sweat, aching muscles, small rain storm  and then mud Stacey Magnesio, Shelly Pruitt, Carrie Adams and Dylan Adams run inside for cover as the rain started to fall. 

We have been given two new snakes recently by the Eddleman Family.  Their family has had all sorts of reptiles for many years.Their schedule's became to hectic and the snakes were not being handled as much as they use to in the past.  Wayna Eddleman brought them into my class and told the kids all about them.  We could tell it was a difficult choice b/c she had them for so long.  She was so wonderful w/ the kids and told them all about their habits and how to care for these awesome snakes.

One is a female Black-Neck Garter Snake with beautiful colors (see picture below )and  a great personality.  She has had babies in the past. (Her species can bear more than 20 young, which erupt from their embryonic sacs almost immediately and shed within a few hours.)  She likes to eat pinkie's (hairless baby mice; hence the word, "Pinkie")  but loves fish.  We set up her tank with a pond like fishing area for her to fish in.  After she ate her first fish out of the little pond she layed in front of the pond for hours waiting for another.  She is now in the library so all children at KES can see her and watch her eat a fish.  4th Grade is also interested in her for their animal adaptions unit coming up.   She is now getting a lot of attention and is being held by many teachers who have never held a snake before and are "facing their fear's of snakes  They are amazed by her gentleness and docile nature.

I recently went to a reptile exhibit in San Antonio.  There were so many reptiles to look at and hold.  I started talking to the South Texas Herpetology Association and looking at their wide variety of snakes including several rattlesnakes.(All were in locked glass boxes)  They are dedicated to educating the public, especially children, with accurate knowledge on the natural history, conservation, proper care and treatment of reptiles and amphibeans.  They also provide for the rescue of unwanted, mistreated and distressed reptiles and amphibeans.  I told them about the Grant KES recieved and our mission to expose children to a wide variety of animals.