Inside Brad’s World of Reptiles: Managing Alligators and Exotics

I had the privilege of interviewing Justus Humble-a reptile handler at Brad's World Of Reptiles about handling alligators. You can see the full video on the NewsTalk KIT Facebook page!

a hand is holding onto an alligator's head

Owen: What made you wanna get involved with Brad's World of Reptiles?

Justus: As a kid, I always loved Steve Irwin and the Kratt brothers. Then I saw an Indeed ad looking for a yard boy at a reptile sanctuary. I started there just as a yard boy, and eight years later, here I am managing an exhibit, wrangling alligators, and wrestling rattlesnakes.

Owen: Tell me about this alligator. What are some interesting facts about alligators our audience should know?

Justus: Her name is Alice. They grow a lot depending on heat and food intake. She grew up in colder Oregon, so she grew at a much slower rate than big Bubba over there, who grew up in San Diego and is eight feet long—even though Alice is actually half his age.

Her eating habits also depend heavily on the time of year. From late November through February, she goes into "low power mode" in a specialized winterizing enclosure and eats almost nothing. Once it warms up in the spring, she starts eating a rat every week or so. In the summer heat, when we keep them outdoors, she's constantly warm and ready to eat every five to six days to get energy and grow.

Owen: How old is she?

Justus: She's about 10 years old, kind of our little teenager. They live about 60 to 80 years, so they have pretty much a human lifespan.

Owen: Is there any worry that Alice would ever hurt people?

Justus: It's really not an issue at all. I've been bit by her literally one time in eight years, and I honestly put the blame on myself—we were hanging out, and she got startled and popped my hand. I just needed a couple of Band-Aids. Alligators are really lazy and just stay in the same spot most of the time.

Owen: How is it traveling with these different animals together?

Justus: It can be chaotic, but it's honestly the birds that cause the chaos more than the gator. The gator is easy. The birds have the mental capacity of a seven-year-old, a lot of spunk and personality, and they have a lot of energy.