Creepy Crawly
Boonsboro couple’s reptile show is a living, learning experience
By Charles Jeffries
When Joseph Wolfe was a child, a relative won a little green lizard at a fair and didn’t know what to do with it. “They reached out, and 13-year-old me was over the moon about it,” Wolfe says.
From that anole, Wolfe’s love of reptiles grew, and now he owns 17 creatures, most of which are considerably larger than that little anole. Garnet is a six-foot, 20-pound boa. Baby is a four-foot Argentine Black and White Tegu. Griz and Cash are bearded dragons.
“Reptiles are like a drug to me. Once you have one you just have to get more,” he says.
His girlfriend, Abigail Ballard, thinks the same way. “I got my first reptile four years ago,” Ballard says. “I bought a bearded dragon then I kind of wanted this one, then that one.”
The two met when Abigail’s bearded dragon got sick, and she posted to Snapchat asking for advice. A mutual friend saw it and reached out to Wolfe, an emergency medical technician and a combat medic with the U.S. National Guard. The two started dating and their love of reptiles remains a common bond.
But the two don’t just collect reptiles. They have created Wolfe’s Exotic Encounters, a reptile show for children’s parties, senior citizen centers, or any business looking to add some unusual pizzaz to an event. Wolfe says he recently had an inquiry about bringing his reptile show to a bachelorette party.
“Really, there’s no occasion we would turn down. Anyone who wants to make an event a little more interesting because it helps people understand how to take care of reptiles,” Wolfe says.
Often reptiles are given as pets but the person getting the gift loses interest or doesn’t know how to properly care for these creatures. Wolfe tries to bridge that gap for people. The couple’s show typically lasts between 30 and 45 minutes, and then they allow guests to handle the reptiles, take photos, and ask questions so the couple can help people with their specific needs.
Shows include several reptiles, but not all 17 at once. They vary their guest appearances based on the clientele and the personality of the animal. The big lizards and big snakes are usually the star attractions. Most of the reptiles don’t mind being handled by strangers, but some remain with Wolfe or Ballard, even though they might be part of the show.
Education is always part of the show. Wolfe and Ballard try to inform people that it’s important to do research on all aspects of owning a reptile. Many live for decades and people could end up buying an animal that will outlive them. Knowing the reptile’s diet is also key. Wolfe and Ballard breed bugs that the animals eat and work with local farms to acquire produce.
“A few people told us, ‘Hey, you love animals. You really know alot about these. You should teach people about them,’” Wolfe says. So they are.