In South Dakota, the animals are anything but ordinary. In addition to native species like bison, prairie dogs and pronghorn antelope, kids can pet slithering snakes, spot poison dart frogs and walk among dinosaurs that roamed the West 67 million years ago.
In this episode, host Brian Thacker is joined by a special guest — his 10-year-old daughter, Rosalie — for a wild adventure through South Dakota. Their first stop: Reptile Gardens, where Rosalie meets Orville, a giant tortoise celebrating his 121st birthday. She also comes face-to-face with a massive saltwater crocodile, a talented painting parrot and her favorite animal, the adorable axolotl. Then, the duo travels millions of years back in time to the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, where they encounter a Tyrannosaurus rex named Stan and discover why dinosaurs can be the gateway to a lifelong fascination with science.
You’ll hear from:
- John "Johnny B" Brockelsby and Katherine Schliep Larson from Reptile Gardens
- Peter Larson from Black Hills Institute of Geological Research
I feel wonderful seeing all the children and how fascinated they are with animals ... We’ve got this wonderful planet we need to take care of, and so when I see them, I think, ‘By golly, they’re gonna be our future. And, hopefully, they're going to take care of all those things.'
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Reptile Gardens
Get to know some of the critters at Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, home to one of the world's largest and most diverse reptile collections. Meet giant tortoises in their outdoor yard, then step into the Sky Dome, where pythons, cobras and colorful parrots share an indoor jungle with free-roaming lizards and saltwater crocs.
Black Hills Institute of Geological Research
It’s all about bones at this research hub and museum in Hill City. The team here excavated some of the world's best-known T. rex skeletons, including the famous Sue and Stan, and researchers from across the globe come to study the Institute's collection. Get an up-close look at skulls, skeleton replicas, minerals and other fossils.
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