Scales and Tails Animal Reptile Rescue kindly let us borrow some of their snakes for a photoshoot last year. We had so much fun then, that we decided to team up with them again — this time for World Snake Day on 7/16!
MIMOSA and Scales and Tails Animal Reptile Rescue
We got together with Sean and Meg Braud, the founders of Scales and Tails, to talk about (and meet) snakes and their work in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The husband-and-wife team started rescuing reptiles in 2021 and hasn't stopped since. Now officially a nonprofit, they're operating outside of their home with a dedicated reptile room but hope to be able to expand one day. Right now, they're working to raise $3,000 to purchase a shed to house more reptiles. Help them out by donating here!
They've spent a long time learning (and are still learning) how to care for these animals and want to provide people with that information, too.
Sean and Meg explained that people often surrender their pets because they're unsure of how to care for them, are moving, or are in a situation where they can no longer care for them.
Keep scrolling to read through our Q&A with them!
Meet Some of the Snakes at the Scales and Tails Animal Reptile Rescue
While you'll find a variety of animals at the reptile rescue, including leopard geckos and bearded dragons, we wanted to learn specifically about their snakes!
Some of the MIMOSA team met them at the Shoppe and got to know a little bit about these scaly friends. They're Scales and Tails ambassadors who you may get to meet at a show.
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Ed — A 32-year-old Ball Python. He's a favorite of theirs and the eldest of their crew.
- Puddin — A Sarahan Sand Boa who we first met at our last photoshoot with Scales and Tails.
- Stevie Wonder — A Burmese Python. On a trip to LSU Vet Med, where Meg works, they discovered that he's actually blind! Hence the name. He's about 3 years old and 7 feet long right now but will grow to be at least 16 feet in length. Because he'll grow to be quite large, they're hoping to build a larger enclosure for him one day.
Q & A with Scales and Tails Animal Reptile Rescue
*Minor edits made for clarity.*
MIMOSA: What is the purpose of your rescue?
Meg: We want to provide people with a place to surrender animals that they cannot, for whatever reason, take care of. We want to unite people with adopted pets that they've always wanted that can be rescued instead of bought. And we want to be able to give people the education they need to properly take care of these animals and the support that they need while taking care of them.
Meg: And show people that they're really cool and really fun and not scary.
MIMOSA: What's the #1 thing someone should know before adopting a snake?
Meg: This is a pet you're going to have for a while. This is a pet that's going to live 40 years maybe, depending on the type.
Sean: They're not like tortoises where they can live 70-100 years, 150 years, but they do take some time. It's not like an impulse buy; it shouldn't be an impulse buy. And feeding is going to be a thing for some people.
Meg: They eat mice; they eat other animals.
Sean: That's something not everybody wants to do, but it's part of it. Do your research. Like everything, you should do your research before you buy anything. Like I said, no impulse buys because those always lead to some kind of trouble down the line.
Meg: They take time and commitment, and they're not just something that goes in a tank to be looked at. They need interactions, they need a person, they need a guardian, a parent, a friend.
MIMOSA: What do you wish people knew about snakes?
Sean: Just how amazing they are. And they're not really any scarier than a dog or a cat. Everything can hurt you, in a sense. As long as you do what you're supposed to, like read their body language. Once you've been around an animal long enough, you can kind of see when they're scared, when they're happy, when they're mad, so you just kind of learn their languages just like you do with any kind of animal.
They're a little different than dogs and cats because we're so used to dogs and cats, so that's kind of what we go and base everything on. But they have emotions, bonding, all that kind of stuff, just like every other animal. They're just a little different in showing it.
Meg: The human-animal bond is getting stronger. Like sixty years ago, people didn't have their dog sleeping in the bed with them and stuff like that. So that's kind of the situation with reptiles, too. They're becoming more of a family member than just a pet, and so we're having to learn more about them and find those people that want this kind of family member. Everyone's different. A pet that works for me might not work for you and that doesn't mean it's right or wrong. So we just have to find the people that these guys work for.
You asked what I wished people knew about snakes. Just like a cat or a dog, they are a little life. They deserve care and attention and the chance to be with people who want to put that work in for them. They deserve it, too. They're just a little scalier.
MIMOSA: Anything else you wanna add?
Sean: Reptiles are awesome. Everyone should get one! Not everyone should get one, but you shouldn't be as afraid of reptiles. They get bad raps.
Meg: I think the symbolism of the MIMOSA cuff is perfect because I think people see night or day, black or white with snakes, especially...they're bad, they're scary. I always think about the jungle book with Kaa. Snakes are here for a reason. They're a huge part of the ecosystem. While these guys aren't native to us, they're still very sweet.
Sean: They keep everything in harmony. And if you're afraid of snakes or anything like that, try to come to one of our shows and handle them. And realize that they're not that bad, they're cool.
Meg: The thing that breaks my heart the most is when people are like "the only good snake is a dead snake." You hear that all the time and it's like these are our family members. We love these guys, so first off, that is sad. But secondly, native snakes are such a huge part of our ecosystem. There are snakes that eat rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. There are snakes that are pest control. There are snakes that, I mean, even the ones that burrow have something to do with the landscape. I think the whole stereotype of snakes needs to change and I think it is.
Sean: It is changing. Those expos, there's thousands of people that come to each of those expos and they get bigger. Last year there was like 4,000 people, they expect 6-8 thousand this year. And the trade's getting bigger and people are realizing that they're not scary, they're actually cool.
Meg: While we support these guys as being pets, we're always gonna advocate to adopt. We're always gonna say if this is a pet that you want, there's a way you can find one to rescue because there are so many animals.
And it's the same thing with cats and dogs that need good homes. So we're always gonna encourage people to look for a rescue-type situation before purchasing. It's easy to go to a pet-store or expo, or something like that. Like I said, we support these guys as pets, but if you could rescue, that's always going to provide an animal with a home that it deserves.
The MIMOSA Team Meets the Scales and Tails Animal Reptile Rescue Ambassadors
Some of the team here at MIMOSA couldn't wait for the Scales and Tails Animal Reptile Rescue visit. And so when the time came to meet the reptile rescue's ambassadors, they jumped at the chance!
How Can You Support Scales and Tails Animal Reptile Rescue?
Sean and Meg want to keep spreading the word about their rescue for education, surrender, and adoption purposes. Here's how you can help!
- Follow Scales and Tails on Instagram
- Follow Scales and Tails on Facebook
- Donate to their Fundraisers
- As a growing rescue, their current goal is to raise $3,000 to purchase a shed to house more reptiles. Help spread the word or make a donation!
- Visit a show or reptile expo where they'll be set up.
Get In Touch with Scales and Tails Animal Reptile Rescue
They have a website in the works, but the best way to get in touch right now is via Instagram, Facebook, or email at Reptilerescuescalesandtails@gmail.com.
If you're looking to adopt a specific reptile, Meg explained that if it's not one they currently have, it's possible there could be one at the rescue in the future. They'll make a note and reach out if one becomes available.
Published 7/16/24; Last Updated 7/16/24
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