Articles: reptiles

Frank Alligator Robb is the Chicago Animal Person of the Year. Hear Alligator Robb talk about his experience,  catching Chance the Snapper, which made national news headlines, on my WGN Radio Steve Dale’s Pet World Show. When volunteers from the Chicago Herpetological Society failed to catch the stray alligator swimming in the Humboldt Park Lagoon,…

A funny thing happened to me in Buffalo Grove while waiting for my sister. I met Dave DiNaso’s reticulated python; I was very impressed with his snake and told him so. And he recognized my voice. Next thing you know, Dave Ninaso of DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles can be heard HERE on my Steve Dale’s…

I begin my Steve Dale’s Pet World WGN radio show HERE about Illinois House Bill 3390 which just passed the Illinois House of Representatives. This bill, which was supported by Illinois State Representative Diane Pappas (D-45thdistrict) with co-sponsor Allen Skillicorn (R-66th district) and created with Marc Ayers, Illinois Director of the Humane Society of the United States will…

ReptileFest is the largest education show about reptiles in America. The show is today (April 13) and tomorrow April 14 at  Northeastern Illinois University at the Physical Education Complex, located at 3600 W. Foster Avenue, Chicago. Hundreds of various reptiles and amphibians will be on display (representing around 200 species), a kind of a hands-on zoo.…

I can’t believe it’s still “a thing,” spontaneously buying red-eared slider turtles. Back in the day, in the 1950’s and ‘60 into the early 70’s, these turtles were commonly kept as pets. Typically, though, they suffered from poor care. Their habitats were plastic containers with a plastic tropical looking palm and a small place to…

TERRIFIED of fireworks – so many pets are. What do you do? Well, hopefully, you begin now, rather than wait until July 3 or July 4.  Dr. Jennifer Styrsky of CEVA Animal Health and I offer tips HERE on my WGN Radio show, Steve Dale’s Pet World. We talk about jollying dogs by putting them…

Get this lovely fellow: When investigators turned up at Jason Littel’s cabin in East Troy, WI following up on complaints of sexual assault, they found 400 animals, many hognose snakes, various species of smaller reptiles and various frog species. Turns out Littel was charged with five counts of first degree sexual abuse, and use of…

Coyote Peterson is the host of Brave Wilderness, a YouTube channel show, and I’ve been a fan for a long time. He also speaks around the country. I am posting this particular episode because he features an animal we happen to have as a pet: a northern blue-tongue skink. Even this wild skink, which Coyote…

People can deal with record low temperatures by putting on another layer of protection or not even venturing outdoors. Animals, however, have no choice in the matter. In Florida—in the water and on land—animals are paying a price. Iguanas are falling like coconuts from trees and appear to be frozen. The good news: Those that…

Reptile Awareness Day was October 21, in case you missed it. Some reptiles make great pets, including Northern Blue-Tongue Skinks. This is our pet skink, Cosette. Other great beginner reptile choices include (but aren’t limited to) Bearded Dragon lizards, Leopard Geckoes and Corn Snakes. Indeed, reptile pets bring a bit of the natural world into…