Getting to Know you 
Olds Gazette - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - Stan Siegenberg

     How do you get a roomful of rambunctious kids and impatient seniors to be extremely quiet? Just stroll around with a snake in your arms.

    Dean Harper is the owner and operator of Wrappin About reptiles, and the Olds resident earns a living out of handling, and educating people about reptiles, and other exotic animals.

     Last Wednesday, May 19th, Harper made a visit to the Mount View Lodge, to entertain and inform an audience, which consisted of lodge, as well as Mrs. Hales grade three class from the Olds Elementary School. The crowd may have been complete opposites on the age spectrum, but during Harper's presentation, every single spectator had exactly the same expression.

    "They were all wide eyed," chuckled Harper. "What we got today was the typical reaction. The kids eyes are wide open, and its the same with the adults."

    Most people, young and old are intimated by reptiles. But Harper insists that the reptiles he's holding are never his concern. It's the people in the audience that are much more unpredictable. And by the time he's finished his presentation, those attitudes have usually transformed, anyways.

    "We watch the crowd," said Harper.  "We're not paying attention to the animals in our hands.  We trust them and we don't need to.   We watch the people react.  That way, if we see a person that looks a little nervous, we'll take a wider circle around them to keep them very calm."

    By the end of Harper's presentation, numerous spectators seemed ready to take a reptile home.

    "It's being said that by 2010, one in every three households is going to have a reptile as a pet," told Harper.  "If you look at the statistics over the last 10 years they are going through the roof."

    Harper believes that since our society is in a constant rush, people are purchasing reptiles as pets because they're independent and low maintenance.  He says that depending on the species, a snake can go 3 months without eating, as long as they have fresh water.

    "You can go on a two or three week vacation, and come back, and your animal is fine, and very healthy," responded Harper.  "If you have a bird, or a cat or a dog, you can't do that."

    Harper says the biggest roadblock to people owning reptiles is misinformation.

    "All we hear is that (reptiles) have salmonella," shrugged Harper.  "So we checked with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), out of Atlanta.  Surprisingly, at the top of the list for (transferring) salmonella, is guinea pigs.  How many petting zoos and pet stores have kids playing with guinea pigs?"

    Next on the CDC's list for transmitting salmonella is fish aquariums.

    "From all the bacteria in there," explained Harper.  "Whenever you put your hand in that tank, to clean it or whatever, and if you have an open sore on your hand, your going to get sick with something.  Or at least you'll have a good chance."

    The top two reptiles that transfer salmonella, are iguanas and aquatic turtles.  but according to Harper, that's only when the owners aren't taking the necessary steps to keep their pet's environment clean.

    "Those are two of the most popular ones that people don't maintain," added Harper.  "If the turtle is in stale, stagnant, dirty water, and it's hot, warm, or moist, that's what salmonella needs to thrive.  Iguanas, same thing.  The droppings don't get cleaned up, they crawl through it, and then you're handling them."

    Harper insists that keeping yourself and your reptile healthy, is all about proper maintenance.

    "Washing your hands after touching the animals, is what we always promote when we're doing our shows," assured Harper.  "Even with the people who don't touch them, we still encourage them to wash their hands.  It's a good habit to get into, anyways."

    Harper's love for reptiles has even earned him a little piece of the Hollywood spotlight, as he's been hired to supply reptiles for such flicks as Shanghai Noon, and Lake Placid.

    "We've gotten a good reputation, and now, we're always getting called," said Harper.  "We actually have four big projects coming up this summer that we're really excited about.  In Western Canada, we're one of the leading reptile wranglers."

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