Reptiles exhibited at Saturday’s Bottle Works event in Cambria City

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Damion and Kevin slithered into the limelight Saturday at Bottle Works in Cambria Town.

Damion, a California King snake, and Kevin, a ball python, where on display screen at the fifth yearly NatureWorks Expo, presented by Bottle Performs and Brandywine Conservancy’s Penguin Court docket.

Extra than 20 conservation and outdoor recreation teams made available interactive shows and video clips to foster like for the outdoors.

Damion and Kevin had been “rescued” by customers of the Cambria County Conservation District when neighborhood owners could no more time care for them.

“In the two cases, the human being who owned them shift absent and remaining them with relatives users who are frightened of snakes,” claimed Jackie Ritko, useful resource supervisor for the conservation district.

“One particular guy moved to Florida and did not just take it with him because pythons are this kind of a challenge down there.”

Neither reptile is indigenous to Pennsylvania.

Men and women generally dread snakes and try out to kill them, but should not.

“They provide a very significant goal, particularly these times when people today are fearful about ticks that are on rodents,” Ritko stated. “The much less rodents you have close to, the far better.”

A western hog nose snake, box turtle, painted turtle and blue-tongued skink (lizard) also ended up dealt with by curious family members seeking to find out much more about wildlife.

Soon after a “pause” thanks to COVID-19, the in-particular person function returned.

“We are fired up to be again,” stated Melody Tisinger, Bottle Functions director of development and functions.

Benscreek Canoe Club, Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania, Laurel Highlands On & Off Highway Bicycling Club, Penn Condition Learn Gardeners, Buddies of the Inclined Aircraft Trails and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Fee were some of the outside groups taking part.

Amber Sanna, a volunteer with Lorain/Stonycreek Climbing Trails, observed her 7-year-aged daughter Amelia crowding the screen desk of the Mountain Laurel chapter of Trout Limitless.

“We wanted to occur and see what we could learn,” Amber Sanna mentioned. “My daughter had a excellent time actively playing with the invertebrates in drinking water and figured out a ton about birds currently.”

Macro invertebrates (water bugs) are indicators of a healthy stream, reported Shane Rudnik, vice president of Mountain Laurel chapter of Trout Unrestricted.

“All these bugs are fish meals,” Rudnik said.

Rudnik mentioned the very small bugs were being scooped from the water that morning.

“We went out this morning and went to a community stream and kicked up some macro invertebrates,” Rudnik said.

Kids employed a chart to identify the form of water bugs.

Amelia claimed the ideal aspect was understanding to scoop the bugs from the drinking water utilizing a spoon.