Kids learn about reptiles at the Copperas Cove library

By PAMELA GRANT

Cove Leader-Press

Children (and, in some cases, parents) squealed with delight and fear as Michael Foux showed off a variety of lizards, snakes, turtles, and more.

Foux, lead presenter for Austin Reptile Shows, showed off his variety of scaly friends during three separate one-hour presentations on Thursday as part of the Copperas Cove Public Library’s ongoing Summer Reading Program.

“We just want to foster an appreciation of nature through the reptiles here,” said Foux. “Everyone is always really excited to see the animals…even for some of the kids that maybe don’t like reptiles, there’s still excitement as they are seeing something new and interesting.”

Foux said that he hopes that he might inspire the children just like he was inspired by an animal presenter when he was young. When Foux was in the 3rd grade, he said that a presenter brought an enormous boa constrictor which left an impression on him to this day.

Foux said that his earliest memory of being fascinated with reptiles was when he was 4 years old and his father caught a garter snake which was shedding it’s skin while he held it.

“I’ve just been hooked ever since,” said Foux.

Foux began his reptile presentations after his wife, a teacher, asked him to present for her 2nd grade class. It only grew from there and now Foux does reptile presentations as a full-time job. 

Foux taught the children in Thursday’s classes about 12-15 different types of reptiles, reptile diversity, and some adaptations.

He taught the excited audience about words like “nocturnal” and “carnivore”. He told the class about how the African spurred tortoise uses his claws to dig underground to avoid harsh sunlight and how the hognose snake might throw up and spread poop all over itself and play dead when threatened to make itself unappealing to potential predators.

Keri Brown brought her kids and nephews, Chelly (3), Malachi (8), Revel (7), and Jaaziel (7), all of whom loved the reptile show.

“The boa constrictor was my favorite. He is even bigger than me!” said Malachi. “It was epic!”

Jaaziel said that his favorite was the tortoise.

“It has to dig in the ground,” said Jaaziel. “It makes no sense. Just bring it inside.”

Jaaziel was surprised to learn that tortoises can’t just come inside and that digging in the desert to find shade might actually be a pretty good idea.

Brown said that it was her first time attending one of the library’s Summer Reading shows and that she was very grateful that the library offers programs like the one held on Thursday for free and to the public.

“I thought it was pretty interesting,” said Brown. “I liked the snakes, especially the boa constrictor. That was pretty cool. And the blue-tongued skink was really cool too. I’d never heard of such a thing.”

She said that the Summer Reading Program is very good for helping children to continue to learn even over the summer when they are not in school.

The Summer Reading Program continues next week with the Coryell Co. 4-H Ambassadors at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, a field trip to Ogletree Gap Park for the teenagers starting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and A Real Mad Hatter Pirate on Thursday at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m.