Children and their families celebrated the end of a successful Summer Reading Program at the Blair Public Library and Technology Center with a special presentation by Wildlife Encounters.
Beckham Hiles was quick to raise his hand for an opportunity to volunteer to hold an animal. Though he didn't know what kind.
Wildlife educator Jillian Lenz asked Beckham to close his eyes before she placed an American alligator named Captain Crunch in his hands.
“Whoa,” he said as he opened his eyes.
Lenz also introduced the children to Tater Tot, an armadillo; Snickers, a boa constrictor; Oliver, a kinkajou; a blue macaw named Pickles; and a baby red kangaroo named Chuck.
Wildlife Encounters, located in Gretna, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about nature while offering a home for animals in need.
Library Director Brooke Zarco announced program participants read 178,475 minutes this summer. There were 628 participants in this year's program.
