BLYTHEWOOD – Chuck Alberding and his wildlife crew charmed a room full of children at Blythewood Library on Wednesday with a hands-on program aimed at encouraging them to think differently about animals in the wild.
As part of the library’s Summer Learning Challenge, Alberding of Wildlife Geeks engaged his young audience with a ball python, a rare ancient chameleon species, a very strange rocky-looking Amazonian mata mata turtle, a laid-back lizard, a tail-less whip scorpion, a carrot-eating prairie dog, multiple varieties of cuddly guinea pigs, and a lion mane rabbit, all of whom appeared to enjoy being petted by the 80 plus small hands in the room.
The interactive program highlighted the mission of Wildlife Geeks to teach children (and adults as well) to not only appreciate the different wild animal species, but to embrace and protect them.
“Ninety percent of these animals are rescues,” Alberding said. “There are many win-win benefits to adopting these rescued animals.”
When Alberding asked the children what they thought it takes to be a Wildlife Geek, they answered, “research”, “feeding the wild animals”, “patience.”
“These are all important,” Alberding said. “But the main thing is to simply think about wild animals differently. Don’t think of them as an object like a chair or even a pet. Think of them as a being like us and then the way you will think of these special animals and treat them will totally change!
“That is the core of changing people’s perception of wildlife in general, which is key to appreciating and caring for wildlife instead of just taking what is theirs and using it for our own purposes,” Alberding said.
Alberding and his family live just outside Greenville, S.C., in a three-story house that they share with their wild ones.
“The first level of our home houses the cold-blooded reptiles,” Alberding said.
The family’s home and yard is also home to a lemur, a rare large-eared fox, a batch of new-born exotic kangaroo-like animals from Australia, as well as a cat, dog and an outside prairie dog city. But that’s not all …there are also many species of insects, lizards, birds and other wild things on the property.
Throughout the program, the children were consistently asked questions to respond to as a way of helping them better understand and appreciate wildlife. All 40 of them appeared to enjoy every minute, and some expressed their disappointment to see it end.
They left the library not only with books, but with a new enthusiasm for wildlife. Alberding said he hopes that enthusiasm will foster itself in a new respect for all wildlife including insects and reptiles.
Operating for five years under a U.S. Department of Agriculture license, and 100 percent insured, Wildlife Geeks, offers programs for birthday parties as well as school, scouting, library, and other events. Alberding also takes his wild crew to children’s camps and other venues. Wildlife Geeks can be reached at wildlifegeeks.com.
The library program was sponsored by Prisma Health.
