Herpetarium Lab
Campus: Short Feature
There is a place on BGSU’s campus where you can be surrounded by creatures that do amazing things, like lick their own eye balls or climb surfaces using the thousands of tiny hairs on their fingertips for gripping. The place is the Herpetarium, located in the Life Sciences Building on the BGSU Campus. The Herpetarium also known as the Herpetology Laboratory or Herp Lab for short, is home to over 55 species of snakes, lizards, frogs and turtles/tortoises.
The Herp Lab was started by Dr. Eileen Underwood, who serves as its directer. Dr Underwood, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at BGSU for more than 20 years, holds a PhD in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology - not Herpetology. Her passion for reptiles and amphibians was sparked by a project she began with her son to select a pet that wouldn't aggravate his asthma. That first pet led to a collection of reptiles and amphibians that eventually outgrew the Underwood household. Coordinating with the Biology Department at the University, Dr. Underwood was able to launch the Herpatarium in 1997.
The Herpetarium has as a goal to increase the general understanding and appreciation of reptiles and amphibians. “Our research is based on learning how we can work with organisms that are becoming common in the pet trade but that we don’t know much about, while dispelling myths and fears through teaching the public and giving them an appreciation for living creatures,” Dr. Underwood explains.
The Herpetarium offers lectures and tours by Dr. Underwood and the lab's volunteer staff. As her teaching schedule allows, Dr. Underwood also takes the animals out to local schools. Demonstrations are arranged for different age groups and include an overview of each animal being shown. Different species are involved depending on the length of the event.
In an average 30-45 minute demonstration, Dr. Underwood & her volunteers will show 3-4 snake species such as boas and pythons, as well as several lizard species such as geckos and bearded dragons. Hands-on activities are encouraged and range from petting a snake’s scaly body to more exciting activities such as letting a lizard jump on your head.
“Most of the younger children express that they didn’t realize how strong or friendly snakes can be, while older adolescents comment on the different colors of the animals and how ‘cool’ their unique features and even body temperatures are,” says Dr. Underwood.
The reptiles and amphibians the lab keeps are not considered dangerous, and according to Dr. Underwood one of the staff's favorite parts of the job is "playing" with the animals. “Playing” refers to keeping the lab’s inhabitants social and receptive to human contact through regular handling by the staff. "Playing" helps prepare the animals for the lectures and demonstrations.
The volunteer staff at the lab include community members as well as students at the university. Everyone receives special tranining and must pass required tests. The volunteers participate in all aspects of the Herp Lab, and allow the lab to maintain a schedule of open hours during the university's academic sessions.