Reptile Fever Wows Crowds 
Williams Lake Tribune- Tracy Wrafter

Reptiles of all descriptions delighted  audiences last weekend at Boitanio Mall.  Mortimer the turtle was a favorite of the kids and adults alike.

           Dean Harper and James Barbas are the proud owners of more than 280 reptiles, including some Movie and TV Stars.  Their "collection" ranges from Garter Snakes to giant Pythons and Tortoises to Tarantulas.  Together they have one of the largest reptile companies in Canada which enables them to offer a wide variety of animals for mall shows, fairs, festivals, and schools all across Canada.

        Wrappin About Reptiles, which wowed the crowds last weekend at Boitanio Mall, is based out of Olds, Alberta, approximately 30 minutes south of Red Deer. 

        Dean Harper has been dealing with reptiles since he was 5 years old, when he caught his first Rattle Snake.  His passion has only grown from that point to where today he has the privilege of wrangling reptiles for the TV and Movie Industry.

        Some of the reptiles that were displayed at the show in Boitanio Mall have been in Movies and TV.  Harper and Barbas's Rococo Toad starring in a Beechums cold medication in England and Sweden. 

        The two owners provided information and interactive shows while discussing endangered species, good and bad pets and everything in between.  At the end of the show they allowed the audience to have photos taken with the reptiles.

        Wrappin About Reptiles animals are all captive born.  When they are at home they have much more area to move around in.  The display cages that they were in are merely for audience to see the reptiles up close, and they don't live in them permanently. 

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