Shreya Sriram, 10, of Buffalo Grove enjoys holding Lucky the American alligator Wednesday at Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Snakes, lizards and alligators made their way Wednesday into the Indian Trails Public Library — some around the necks of lucky patrons.
The reptiles arrived at the Wheeling library as part of a presentation by Jim Nesci of Cold Blooded Creatures in Homer Glen.
Shreya Sriram, 10, of Buffalo Grove beamed and said, “ I love reptiles,” as she held an alligator in her arms.
Other children rode on Bubba, an 8-foot-long, 200-pound American alligator that has been trained by Nesci to be docile.
“You couldn't get him to open his mouth if you tried,” Nesci said.
The alligator is the second “Bubba” that Nesci has owned and taken on television programs such as “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee” and “The Today Show.”
His presentation is designed to dispel myths about reptiles, such as snakes being evil and slimy, and educate people about conservation.
Twelve children lined up to hold an albino Burmese python as Nesci pointed out its value to humans because of its diet of grain-devouring rodents.
Not everybody, though, was eager to take a hands-on approach to learning about reptiles.
“I quit,” Rose Johnson, of the library's children's services department, said jokingly when a 5-foot-long alligator was placed in her arms.
Jim Nesci with Cold Blooded Creatures gave visitors an up close and personal look at this monitor lizard and other reptiles he brought Wednesday to the Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Amanda Logan sits atop an African spurred tortoise during a reptile presentation Wednesday at Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Nathan York, 6, has a black-throated monitor lizard placed on his head during a reptile presentation Wednesday at Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Kids hold a albino Burmese python Wednesday during a presentation by reptile expert Jim Nesci at Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Rose Johnson, of childrenÂ’s services at Indian Trails Public Library, reacts as Lucky, a 5-foot-long American alligator, gives her a kick Wednesday at the library in Wheeling.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Jen Jacobs reacts to a python being placed on her neck Wednesday at Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Caleb Samuel, 3, of Arlington Heights takes a ride Wednesday on Bubba, an 8-foot-long, 200-pound American alligator, at Indian Trails Public Library. Bubba has been trained by Jim Nesci with Cold Blooded Creatures.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com