Off the scales

From Godzilla to the Geico gecko, reptiles seem to demand prominence in the popular imagination. And why not? By being so ancient-looking and unabashedly scaly, and occasionally running for public office, they’ve earned it. From the looks of some of them, it wouldn’t be surprising if in another 50 million years reptiles are again running the place.

So, it might be wise to pick up some safety tips for sharing the world with them. Luckily, such counsel is available at this Saturday’s reptile fair, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Placer Nature Center, 3700 Christian Valley Road in Auburn. Our sources say local reptile specialists will be available, but there’s no telling whether that means the specialists are local reptiles or just people who know about them. Learn how to handle the beasts, what to feed them and which sorts make the best pets. Call (530) 878-6053 for more information.