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APPEAL TRIBUNE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017
Life in the
Valley y
sanews@salem.gannett.com
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN MUCH/APPEAL TRIBUNE
Stayton and Silverton residents received an exotic treat when Steve Lattanzi brought his Creature Feature Reptile Show to town on Thursday, June 29.
Wrapped around his fingers
‘Reptile man’ fascinates gathering at Silverton park
JUSTIN MUCH
STAYTON MAIL
All eyes were wide and focused
when the cape forest cobra raised its
head, seemingly to get a better look at
the guy with a grip on him at Silverton’s
Coolidge McClaine Park.
“Reptile man” Steve Lattanzi
brought his show to the communities of
Stayton and Silverton Thursday after-
noon and evening, eliciting rapt atten-
tion has he pulled each of his unique
pets out of its designated tub.
The anticipation of the show brought
scores out in Silverton, enough interest
that the show’s venue made an im-
promptu move from the Silver Falls
Public Library to park’s picnic shelter.
The libraries in Stayton and Silverton
sponsored the visit.
Lattanzi, whose background includes
herpetology, biology and entomology, is
an educator, zoo owner and wildlife
expert who has been delivering his
“Creature Feature Reptile Show” for 25
years.
The tail end of the show featured a
hand-on experience as several adults
aided Lattanzi in pulling up Buttercup,
a 13-foot, 70-pound Burmese python,
which the kids could collectively hold
and smell. Another “petable” was Dai-
sy, a 4-foot alligator.
Stayton and Silverton town libraries hosted the event. Silverton’s show moved to Coolidge McClaine Park due to high turnout.