F.A.Q

Our staff are paid for the time they take to load the animals and prepare for the show, as well as being paid for the time they are transporting themselves and the animals. Our programs are conducted throughout Ontario, so if we set one price for everyone, we’d end up punishing those who are close by and undercharging those who are far away. Our travel charges aim to cover our gas, vehicle and staff costs for getting to a show, but they don’t always!

Sometimes. We especially give discounts on our travel charges if other events can be coordinated with yours so that we have less driving to do. We may be able to offer discounts at particular times of year, and to some groups if we are especially supportive of their activities. Please bear in mind that many of our customers are non-profit groups, and while we are not a registered non-profit group, we are actually much smaller and have less revenue than many such groups. So, simply being a non-profit group does not mean you will receive a discount.

We do programs year round on a full time basis. Evenings, weekends, holidays, etc. are fine — just let us know your preferences and we can most likely accommodate them!

That is great! We always like to be more efficient and burn less gas. We would give you a 50% discount on the travel cost, as the travel cost would be split between your program and the other one. To see when we may be in your area, visit our ​Events​​​ page.

Usually we can accommodate two simultaneous bookings, and in peak periods such as summer weekends, sometimes we have three crews on the road at different locations. It depends upon the specific nature of the events, so please inquire.

Typically 12-20 individuals of 8-10 species. Snakes are the main focus but we almost always include a turtle or two and sometimes even a lizard. If you have any particular requests, just let us know.

Of course! Custom programs can be created upon request. We’ve done things such as “Everglades Night,” endangered species programs, corporate meet and greets, training workshops, and others.

A typical show features four to five native Ontario snake species, including both species at risk and species that are more common. We try to feature species found in the region of the show. One or two Ontario turtle species are usually included, as are two or three species of exotic snakes — usually following the theme of appropriate pet choices (i.e. corn snakes,) vs. inappropriate pet choices (i.e. Burmese pythons).

Lizards have external ears and may be stressed by loud noises of crowds, children, etc. Due to the hands-on nature of our programs, snakes are much more suitable. We can bring lizards by special request, so please discuss your needs with us. Again due to our hands-on activities, turtles are not suitable as they may transmit Salmonella bacteria. They are also far more likely to bite or scratch than the snakes! We can do turtle-focused programs by request. We do not work with crocodilians, as even the dwarf species can deliver powerful bites, and babies will eventually grow into adults. Crocodilians also require a great deal of space and resources, which we would prefer to devote to our main focus — native Ontario reptiles and amphibians.

Our working collection typically consists of approximately 100 snakes of about 30 species. We need to have enough to be able to rotate them through the programs. Sometimes we have baby snakes that can raise the number of individuals drastically in the short term.

Yes, we also have turtles, including many representatives of Ontario’s native species, and a few lizards and frogs. We have also taken in a few tarantula species from Humane Society sources.  In total our collection includes nearly 150 specimens of about 40 species.

No. And we never will. Cobras are highly venomous snakes and in our opinion they should not be kept in captivity without a very good reason. We don’t have any good reason to work with them. In general, we don’t feel that venomous snakes are appropriate as “pets”. The only venomous snakes we work with are Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes, as they are the only venomous snake found in the wild in Ontario. We feel it is very important to educate the public about this threatened snake species.

Yes, except in very limited circumstances. Because Sciensational Sssnakes!! performs educational programs, which we hope will help protect and conserve Ontario’s wildlife, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has granted us a permit to keep our native animals for educational use. This permit does not allow us to collect species from the wild, which we strongly discourage anyway.

The native species that we use are generally bred in captivity, either at authorized facilities here, or in the United States. A few are wild animals that for some reason are unable to be returned to the wild.

If it was taken from the wild, it can be released only if it is in good health, has not been exposed to any other reptiles or amphibians, and it goes back to the same location it was originally taken from. If not, you should contact your local office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Ask to speak with their wildlife in captivity person for further direction.

No, except in limited circumstances. These animals require extensive facilities and resources to maintain properly, and we have limitations of both. In some cases we have been able to incorporate one of these animals into our collection or have been able to find a responsible home.

Maybe. If we feel that an animal would be a useful addition to our collection, we will take it in for future use in our educational shows or displays. If we are unable to use it, we may also be able to find a good home for it.

Poisonous animals have a substance that is dangerous to health. Venomous animals have a means of injecting such a substance into a victim. Therefore, the best way to describe rattlesnakes (and cobras, etc.) would be venomous.