P R IN T :
Arts& Culture
Wednesday, Feb. 6,2013
Reptile expo slithers to Wilsonville
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David Beasley
Associate Sports Editor
Broods of reptiles, amphibians
and insects infested the Portland
Metro Reptile Expo, slithering
and crawling into the Wilsonville
Holiday Inn last Saturday.
Following the reptilian rampage
was a horde of lizard enthusi
asts and connoisseurs. Treated to
exotic sights and experiences, the
expo crowd had their hands full
with excitement and an eagerness
to see amazing creatures around
every table comer.
The Northwest Reptile Expo
runs three times a year. The Jan.
26 Portland Metro meet up marked
the 13th presentation since the
semi-annual event began. This
installment seemed to be packed
with more vendors, using twice
as much of the hotel’s space com
pared to prior events. More people
were present than in expos past as
well, extending a giant anaconda
of a ‘hand-stamp’ line through the
hotel.
The parking lot was crammed
with visitors’ vehicles. No spots
remained open for long. Lining
the curbs that surrounded resi
dent trees and bushes were cars
squeezed bumper to bumper.
Trucks pulling trailers loaded and
unloaded equipment and creatures
in the back entrance lot.
Snakes wove through the
crowd, wrapped around their own
ers’ necks, getting an-..up close
and personal view of the event.
Despite the advertising specifi-
Passersby during the Metro Reptile Expo at the Wilsonville Holiday Inn saw a gecko perched atop a log in his case.
Attendees got a chance to marvel at reptiles, amphibians and insects. They also had a chance to buy the reptiles and
the supplies necessary to take care o f the new pet.
cally instructing that all personal
pets be left at home, 'brave expo
goers brandished their reptilian
friends proudly. No one seemed
to mind toting the creatures, as
they produced positive and some
times timid reactions from each
encounter.
Inside, the loud and bustling
atmosphere was kept lighthearted
and comfortable by the cheerful
vendors. They helpfully educated
the masses about their scaly com
panions, cautioning them of dan
gers and specifications while also
showcasing the beauty of the dif
ferent species. One helpful vendor
even taught a mother and daughter
how to handle and take care of
their soon-to-be new pet snake.
“It does seem like a lot of
responsibility,”
said
Tanya
Wellbrook, mother of three. The
duties of owning an exotic pet
can be very daunting and require
keen attention to habitat, food and
general health of the animal. The
expo experts were well versed in
explaining scaly precautions, unfa
miliar from needs of furry ’com
panions.
Reptile-inspired jewelry was
available for purchase at a hand
ful of tables across the venue. Pet
food ranging from crickets, worms
and mice were being doled out for
hungry critters.
At a table selling insects
and spiders, a game of
Plinko was offered. For the price
of a dollar, contestants had the
opportunity to drop a ball in the
game board and win candy, or if
they were really lucky, roaches!
Yes, people buy pet roaches. While
not everyone can appreciate such
an odd pet, some find the durable
bugs quite fascinating.
“Yeah, they can survive a nucle-
■ ar war but not a water dish,” said
Mark Foster, a young vendor at the
spider table.
Don’t foi-get, even lizards
need doctors. A vet offering free
checkups was posted at tire event.
Different supplies, lights and deco
rations were stocked at various
vendors. Heat rocks, heat pads heat
lamps were displayed, available
for purchase. Terrariums of every
size, food dishes and boxes of mer
chandise decorated the tables. On
a few table tops were beautifully
sinister looking carnivorous plants.
The only thing missing from the
meat- eating jungle scene, was a
sign reading: “Feedlne, Seymour!”
Flocks of children ran around
with their parents close behind.
Peering inside cages and terrari
ums, they soaked up the informa
tion. The temperature inside the
hotel was very, warm, it seemed
the heat was turned up for the cold
blooded reptiles, or all the heat
lamps mixed with body heat reso
nated the warmth.
After 2 p.m. some of the ven
dors began marking down prices
by 10 to 20 percent. It was an obvi
ously successful day for the Expo
and the vendors. With so many
attendees and available products
at Saturday’s expo, future events
are likely to have similar success.
Speaking of which, they’ll be back
in Wilsonville this year on Aug.
17.
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