Santa Fe College Zoo visits nursing home

The Santa Fe Community College Teaching Zoo stopped by Tri County Nursing Home for a  special visit to show and tell our residents about a  variety  of animals and reptiles that they care for each day during their training at the college.   A 20-month course is available for eager students who wish to work and care for over 200 animals.  Conservation Education Specialist Tara Jacobs  brought in some pretty amazing reptiles  along with  her  student helpers,  Le'Shea Upchurch and Heather Cummings.  The students took each reptile around for a birds eye view to a captivated audience of smiling residents. Turtles, lizards, snakes and gators, oh my!  Did you know a Gecko lizard has spots like a leopard? Most residents thought they were all green like the Geico insurance lizard.  The turtle was a cutie, and he was  from South America. Now that's a long way from home, but our gator felt right at home as the residents touched his cold reptile skin.  The king snake was coiled right around student Heather Cummings arm, however, residents did not touch this smiling guy. Tri County Nursing Home residents were amazed and delighted by Tarah's amazing zoo and her student helpers that were on hand to help show these magnificent creatures. Perhaps   they will pay us another visit very soon. 

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A resident of Tri County Nursing Home pets an alligator during a Santa Fe College Zoo visit.

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