Lizards, tortoises and snakes, oh my! Southern Utah reptile expert shares enthusiasm, education

ST. GEORGE — The expressions on the kids’ faces differed, some in amazement and others quite nervous, when looking at the black and white striped king snake gazing towards them, slithering around the hand of its handler. Those who were nervous would soon make a new friend.

Children and adults got the Leaping Lizards Reptile Experience at the children’s museum, St. George, Utah, Jan. 14, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

Lacey McIntyre, a local reptile expert and enthusiast, gave an educational show to children, parents and grandparents for the grand opening day of the lending library, the Story Castle. The show included her displaying and helping youth to experience, and even touch, a king snake, a bearded dragon and several tortoises, including Sulcata that are native to Africa.

The show was held at the St. George Children’s Museum within the Canyon Media studios’ communication room on the Tuacahn theater stage. Another reptile show will be on Sat., Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. This show will be in the same location and at the grand opening of the Desert Discovery Exhibit.

McIntyre said she’s loved reptiles since she was young, growing up in Indianapolis, and has work experience prior to starting Leaping Lizards Reptile Experience. During the years 2014-19, she was an administrative assistant, then took over the outreach and education program for The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. She moved to St. George after attending college in Nashville, when her husband got a job working as a scientist at the Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument.

“I have over 19 reptiles in all,” McIntyre said. “Nine tortoises and turtles, six lizards and four snakes.”

They started the business after an addition to the family. She left the reserve to focus on being a mother. They have a small 1-acre property in Ivins which has become a “mini” reptile preserve.

“We have become a little unofficial rescue,” she said. “We have taken in some reptiles who needed help, but only from people who surrendered them.”

Children and adults got the Leaping Lizards Reptile Experience at the children’s museum, St. George, Utah, Jan. 14, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

McIntyre said they will not take in every reptile turned over to them, as they don’t take domestic reptiles and they are limited in what they can do. The ones she has been rescuing are mainly Russian tortoises, which are not native to the area. Those tortoises tend to get dumped or escape as they grow rather big, she said.

McIntyre explained, for domestic species the Red Cliffs Reserve is better equipped for rescuing and rehoming them.

“Tortoises have always held a soft spot in my heart,” she said. “If I could, I would have 100 of them.”

She has Sulcata, Leopard and Russian tortoises. She does have a couple of turtles, red-eared sliders, McIntyre said. She explained there was so much misinformation and misconception about reptiles that causes issues, from paranoia to the abuse or killing of such animals. This was one of the reasons she does the shows — to educate.

“I absolutely love it,” she said. “I love taking them to schools and other places and educating the kids about them, so they end up liking the animals.”

Children and adults got the Leaping Lizards Reptile Experience at the children’s museum, St. George, Utah, Jan. 14, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

Leaping Lizards Reptile Experience is available for parties, school functions and corporate events. The prices depend on the function. McIntyre added all the prices are on the business website and vary according to how many reptiles you want present for the event.

She said many kids have fears and are nervous about them, but by the time she finishes the show, the kids aren’t afraid and touching reptiles, including the snakes. She has not yet seen a kid too afraid to touch the reptiles by the end of the show.

The same reaction was encountered during her show on Jan. 14 attended by St. George News. Not one kid was scared, at the end of the show, to touch the king snake she was holding. All were smiling and several stayed to hang out with their new friends even after the reptiles were put away.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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