SNAKES! REPTILES INVADE CAPE LIBRARY

Seven-year-old Abby Withers slowly reached out her hand to pet the 5-foot bull snake as it passed before her. She shivered a bit, made a face, but then smiled.

"I was really scared," she said, "but it was kind of cool. It felt like a slimy basketball. But now I'm not as scared."

That's the lesson Missouri Department of Natural Resources naturalists Tiffani Addington and Lisa Asmus hoped youngsters would learn during Friday's presentation.

The naturalists brought Windy, the bull snake, to Cape Girardeau Public Library's Fantastic Fridays program. Children had a chance to see the snake up close and pet it, if they wanted.

More than 90 people attended the program. A 9-foot python was scheduled to attend, but the big snake wasn't feeling well. Windy was the substitute.

The naturalists took turns holding the long, thin snake during 90-minute program. Windy slithered around their necks, through their hair. At one point, the snake coiled up inside Asmus's pocket.

But the snake is harmless, the naturalists explained.

"I think by watching us handle her and listening to us talk about her, people are a little less afraid of snakes," Addington said.

Justin Rhodes, 8, and Travis Cobb, 11, said they aren't afraid of snakes and thought the snake's underbelly felt soft and slick.

Jessica Baker, 7, and Kyla Valleroy, 9, didn't want to touch the snake, at first, but they summoned up their courage and reached out their hands.

"It felt kind of wet," said Valleroy.

"I was scared, but now I'm not because I touched it," said Baker.

Meaghin Reeves, 7, decided it was best to keep her hands to herself and let the snake pass by without touching it. "I thought it was cool, but I'm not going to touch it," she said.

Missouri is home to 52 different types of snakes, the naturalists explained. Only three of those found in Southeast Missouri are venomous.

But Missouri is "a good snake state," Addington said, as Windy wound her way inside Asmus' shirt.

Many types of snakes like forests, and Southern Missouri has lots of forested land.

The naturalists and the snake are based at Trail of Tears State Park, north of Cape Girardeau.

The program on snakes is among the most popular put on by the local park. School groups and Scout troops are among those who often schedule a snake visit.

"Snakes get a bad rap," said Addington. "Once you get used to them, they're not so bad."