Terry Vandeventer — known as “the Snake Man” — visited Lower Elementary School last week with his program from the Living Reptile Museum.
The Snake Man has presented programs on reptiles to two million school children and other groups throughout the state during the past 42 years, including numerous visits to Kosciusko and Attala County schools.
As he took snakes out of his traveling museum to show the enthralled children, he incorporated safety into the program and urged students to treat snakes with respect.
“When you see a snake, take two steps back and walk away,” he said.
During this visit, he showed the children a milk snake, a corn snake, a king snake and a chicken snake. He provided interesting facts about each, pointing out coloring, skin patterns and habitats.
As he showed a snake skin, the explained the process involved in snakes shedding their skins four times a year. He also showed a snake egg and 
explained the process by which a snake makes its entry into the wild.
Vandeventer said his interest in snakes began at the age of four in his mother’s garden.
From that beginning with snakes, frogs and other wildlife at his childhood home, he said his interest grew. In the ensuing years, he has come to be recognized as an expert on reptiles and as a wildlife personality.
Throughout the year, he visits schools, libraries, museums and nature festivals, and he also presents safety and hunter safety courses.
