Reeves Reptile Rescue

Tara and Dru Reeves watch as their two sulcata tortoises, Duckie and Sheldon, as Sheldon finishes eating Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. The tortoises live in a custom-built gated enclosure with shaded areas to keep them cool. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Tara Reeves watches her husband Dru lock the gate to a tortoise enclosure Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Dru Reeves describes the eating habits of two sulcata tortoises, Duckie and Sheldon, as the eat a meal of fresh greens and squash Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Dru Reeves lets Tango, a veiled chameleon, hang from his fingers as he raises the animal for a photograph Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Dru Reeves reaches into a box of crickets while feeding reptiles in a basement room with his wife, Tara, on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. Initially, all of the Reeves' reptiles could be housed in the room, but the rescue has since grown to engulf their entire basement. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Tara Reeves holds George, a rescued Chinese water dragon, for a photo Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Tara Reeves cradles Fritz, a four-foot-long, 15-pound tegu lizard, before setting it down to roam about their basement Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Tara Reeves holds a White's tree frog after feeding reptiles Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Sally, a ball python, wraps around Tara Reeves's arm as it sniffs at her head Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Tara Reeves watches her George, a rescued Chinese water dragon, as it crawls onto her shoulder after eating Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Reeves Reptile Rescue in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)