Sunday October 21 is Reptile Awareness Day, and I’m guessing you’re not sure how to feel about that. At each zoo we go to, responses in the reptile house are consistently the most varied that you’ll see across the zoo. It’s almost a sure bet that in any reptile house, you’ll find a child begging a parent or older sibling to come look at the snakes, much to their dismay.
Many zoos boast large reptile houses. The Milwaukee Zoo has a nice reptile house, although it is stuck a bit further back in the zoo. Brookfield Zoo boasts their “Swamp” near the zoo’s South entrance. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo has a “Creatures of the Night” exhibit, where they display nocturnal alligators.
But did you know that in Chicago’s west suburbs you can find a reptile house that rivals that of many larger zoos? Out in Aurora at the Phillips Park zoo, you’re able to see alligators, turtles, lizards, and even a large python.
Phillips Park Zoo is very small. Their outdoor exhibits are limited to elk, an otter, a cougar, wolves, and birds. The whole zoo might take you 30 mins to loop, even if you’re dragging two toddlers by your side. But the reptile house surpasses any expectations you might have created due to the zoo’s outdoor appearance.
The most captivating part of the house is clearly the two American Alligators in the pool in the middle of the room. One of them is nearly 12 feet tall, and in the small enclosure invokes some surprised looks and choice words from unsuspecting visitors. While the alligators capture your attention, you can navigate around the room to look at box turtles, iguanas, and some smaller snakes, until you see it: the python. In the back corner of the room is a tremendously large python that will surely make every parent hold on a bit tighter to their children – especially if you take time to focus on the structure it’s being concealed in. On the other side of the house is a long shuffleboard-like area where the tortoises and turtles can walk around. The room has several heat lamps, so these animals have no worries of suffering from the Chicago winters.
In the summer time, stop by to watch the tortoises meander across the grassy areas of the zoo – but don’t forget to stop inside the reptile house…I promise it’ll make your trip worth it!
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