BUTLER TWP — Many people are afraid of snakes.

Naturalist April Claus of Harmony knows the reptile, at least in Pennsylvania, is almost always harmless.

Claus attempted to help children understand snakes, as well as other reptiles and amphibians Thursday at her annual Let There Be Slime presentation at Alameda Park.

“In general, people have very little knowledge about what lives in Pennsylvania,” she said. “I want (the children) to be a little more comfortable with the native species.”

Claus said education is the best way to prevent people from being afraid of nature, particularly animals like snakes.

“People are scared of what they don't know,” she said.

Claus spoke about frogs, turtles, salamanders and snakes, showing examples of each to the dozens of children in attendance.

She put to bed false beliefs that toads will spread warts and warned about the few species of reptiles and amphibians that are potentially hazardous.

Of the 20 species of snakes that live in the state, only three are venomous — the copperhead, the timber rattlesnake and the eastern massasauga. None are all that common and will typically leave people alone.

A lesser known threat to children are red-spotted newts.

The salamander is incredibly poisonous to eat and can make a person sick if they touch one and don't wash their hands afterward.

“If you ate this newt tonight, you probably wouldn't wake up tomorrow,” Claus said.

An appearance by a box turtle was popular with children in the crowd.

Even though the turtle can live for a century, Claus told attendees not to get too attached to the idea of keeping one as a pet.

“It's actually illegal to take them home with you,” she said.

Naomi Eberle, 8, of Butler said her favorite animal on display was the turtle.

“They can be really cute sometimes,” she said of the species.

Naomi said she has seen turtles in the wild, but has never attempted to pick one up.

“It was a snapping turtle,” she said, reminiscing. “I didn't want to hold a snapping turtle.”

Byron Geyer, 10, of Fenelton proved he wasn't afraid to be around snakes when he helped Claus feed a garter snake.

“It was pretty cool,” he said about seeing the snake devour a worm right under his nose.

Claus said the garter snake is very common and can live anywhere.

“They're adaptable to any situation, and will eat almost anything,” she said.

Byron said he hoped to convince his mother to let him to get a pet snake, but wasn't confident he could find one that fits her requirements.

“She said I could get one that doesn't eat mice,” he said, acknowledging the rodent is the dinner of choice for many pet snakes.

Cadin and Conner Helfrich of Butler Township were looking for salamanders in the creek after the show.

Cadin, 5, said his favorite animal there was the turtle, while Conner, 3, said he liked the snakes. Both boys said they had a lot of fun at the presentation.

“I liked all of it,” Cadin said, unable to pick a favorite part.

Their grandmother, Fae Rahiser of Connoquenessing, agreed it was a good educational opportunity for young children.

“They really enjoy it,” she said, adding she takes them to different nature shows at the park. “It's neat.”

While Rahiser said she liked the event, Cadin said his grandmother wasn't a fan of all the animals there.

“She doesn't like snakes,” he said, smiling.