More than 50 exhibitors representing private and public reptile collections from around the Midwest will be on hand for the 15th annual Reptile Rampage from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday (March 11) at the Lake Forest Recreation Center Gym, 400 Hastings Road, in Lake Forest.

Admission fee is $8 for adults and $5 for children (kids under 3 are free). Proceeds benefit the Wildlife Discovery Center in addition to the Phillippine Crocodile conservation project. 

Reptile Rampage is once again being sponsored by BTG International Inc., an international specialist healthcare company that manufactures CroFab^® (crotalidae polyvalent immune fab (ovine)), the antivenin used at the Wildlife Discovery Center.

Many different types of reptiles and amphibians will be on hand, including crocodilians, lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises. There will be many hands-on opportunities, talk to the expert sessions, children’s activities and much more.  For scout groups, we’ll have a special “patch challenge” too.

The event attracts nearly 2,000 people annually. Some of the featured attractions include “Bubba” the American Alligator, Field Museum of Natural History, folks from the St. Louis and Chicago Herpetological Society, Windy City Reptiles, Reptile Rampage, Inc., the Grove Nature Center, Fish Planet and much more. There will be some dry goods and jewelry for sale too. 

Reptile populations worldwide have been declining due to habitat destruction and fragmentation, poaching, and even global warming.

This event is designed to celebrate the beauty of reptiles, how to be responsible pet owners, and teach people about conservation.

For more information, contact Rob Carmichael at carmichr@cityoflakeforest.com or visit www.wildlifediscoverycenter.org .