Alaska's Reptile Boom: Breeding Exotics in the Last Frontier

0:00You're listening to Anchorage News today, powered by the Daily News now. Alaska has no native reptiles or amphibians, but a growing number of locals are turning their passion into businesses breeding these exotic pets. Places like the reptile barn are leading the way, offering snakes, frogs, and more to enthusiasts in the last frontier. Businesses really took off during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns gave people time to dive in, and stimulus checks helped them buy enclosures and animals. The state's first reptile expose drew crowds, especially kids who had never seen these creatures up close and showed no fear. Demand exploded as folks finally acted on their interest in scaly pets. Breeder struggled to keep up, selling out fast since Alaskan's rarely encounter reptiles in the wild. Breeding here is tough compared to warmer states. Everything happens indoors with precise temperature controls and winter power outages pulls real risks to the animals.

1:00Most reptiles are legal to own in Alaska except venomous ones, making it easier than in other states. Experts urge new owners to research husbandry trends, set up proper enclosures first, and save up before bringing one home. We'd like to thank our sponsor for making this episode possible. Head in, sound on, lights out, that is the routine, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com.