Snakes-N-Scales

Corporate Party/Picnic/Camp Out
When your business has a family-get-together you need entertainment that will keep everyone from the CEO, to his 3 yr old grand-niece, interested, amused and very happy. Our instructors,with strange and exotic snakes,alligator,frogs,spiders,turtles,lizards or sea animals in tow, are experts at enthralling and informing all ages and interest levels with a combination of story telling,jokes,factoids,and anecdotes that will be the hit of the party.

The Great Reptiles
This show brings a 5-7ft American Alligator, a 5ft Water Monitor Lizard and a 15-17ft, 80-100 lb Burmese Python, among others, to your event. These are the biggest reptiles in any show in NJ. Our instructors are experts at enthralling and informing all ages and interest levels with a combination of story telling, jokes, factoids, and anecdotes. Learn and be amazed with a combination of humor, awe and compassion for creatures to which most people rarely get this close.

Radical Reptiles
Instead of little bearded dragons and corn snakes, what everyone else can bring, we offer you a greater variety of substantial critters that include Monitor lizards, African tortoises or Snappers or Softshells; and the real stars of the program are the Anaconda, the Burmese Python and the Alligator.
This is a more dynamic choice of animals than others can bring. Perfect if you’ve seen the other shows already, you want something different or maybe your child is just too advanced for the other show!

Please read on for a brief! summary of a few of the choices we can offer. There is nothing like us, of that you can be sure!

Join Us! NJ, NY, CT and PA In our Passion for the odd and unloved animals of the world. Here you will find Reptile programs with snakes, turtles and alligators, of course. But we also have aquatic animals, like clown fish, catfish, salamanders and crabs. We do a unique Weird Animals and Magic Show or a Snake Experience presentation that allows an unrivaled hands-on access; or we can bring the big guys, our 100+ pound gator, 100+ pound python and we've hardly begun!

Our shows are thematic so you can choose which show you prefer or have us back many times and not see the same show! We use jokes, stories, "animal's eyes" views of the world, anecdotes, factoids, question and answer and a gentle, controlled, touching experience to make children laugh, think and feel. They will laugh because it's fun, so they will remember it. They will think thanks to our engaging, experienced teachers. They will touch the animal so they will feel it's reality and hopefully someday, when they look back on this day, remember and understand that these creatures are our neighbors on Earth.

Birthday Shows:
Strange World of Reptiles - basics with small reptiles, lots of hands on, great for the younger set-this is the Only show that can be used for comparison with others, they have no others!

The Giant Reptiles - big reptiles, 100+pounds alligator & python plus monitor lizard and snapping turtle--It's a real Wow! show!

Reptile Magic - kids magic with the animals as part of the act

Radical Reptiles - good intermediate program, some exciting animals, like anaconda, alligator but some touchables still

River of Monsters - aquatic animals you rarely keep as pets! Electric catfish

Shark Party - the animals of the coral reef, with a magnification camera so you see all you want to

Weird Animals - they are weird, mata mata, amphiuma, a beetle that plays dead- you've never heard of them ...that's how weird they are!

Insects & Spiders - Creepy crawlies made fun and exciting

Dinos & Fossils - Learn about the Dinosaurs using fossils and live animals, great for anyone under age 10

School Assemblies -- Libraries -- Scouts
The Great Reptiles- A 7ft 100 lb Alligator, 14ft 100+ lb Burmese Python, a Monitor Lizard, Snapping Turtle -- A great presentation that accommodates 300 kids at once!

Radical Reptiles - 7 reptiles of astounding interest, Anaconda, Alligator, Monitor, Python, Snapper--A great show for a smaller audience to get closer to some of the more exotic species

River VS Ocean Animals -- An aquatic show with animals from both fresh and salt water from all over the world. A great compare/contrast

Through Another's Eyes -- Anti-Bullying done in a new way, through looking at the world from the animal's perspective

Endangered Species -- Using paired sets of a live and non-live animal we look at the state on conservation now-from White Rhinos to Pandas, Monitors to Puffer fish!

Tropical Rain Forest -- Animals from many countries, all TRF, fun show on what can be a challenging topic for many, not us! Cane Toad, Tree Python, Tegu Lizard, Tarantula, Crocodile Turtle

Dinos & Fossils -- Learn about the Dinosaurs using fossils and live animals, what is a paleontologist? How do we learn from fossils?

About Us:
Snakes-N-Scales and Turtle Tales founded 1996, by Bill Boesenberg. THE largest Animal Outreach Educational Organization in NJ.

Snakes-N-Scales comprises a collection of over 300 reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and sea creatures. Nearly all reptiles and amphibians are rescued from unfortunate situations.

Regular guest on The Sunny Side Up Show, and "The Pet Stop" and has been featured on the TV shows, "Wild About Animals","Fox News Magazine."

Regular presenter for Montclair School of Conservation, The Newark Museum, Tenafly Ntr Ctr, Great Swamp Outdoor Ed Ctr, Trailside Ntr Ctr, Bayville Library, Mahwah Library, Sparta Library, Jersey City Libraries, and hundreds and hundreds of schools.

Why Choose Us?

We perform 1400 Shows Per Year. Which shows our depth and durability.

We have 4 Full Timers and 6 People Per Weekend!, (Bill, Erin, Jack, Ken, Kerri and Amanda), So the time you want is more available and the people are professionals. Since we have Multiple People To Cover illnesses or accidents, our cancellation rate is zero, barring severe weather.

Bill has 30 Years Experience working with reptiles, more than double any competitor. He is a recognized Expert In His Field. And everyone here is trained by, and works for, him. He is available to speak to; He Answers the Phone when you call.

About 90% of our Animals Are Rescued. When you patronize us, you help them, and help us help more of them. We don’t send money to others to do good works, We Do It Ourselves.

Our instructors are Men and Women, to provide equal opportunities to have good role models, for boys and girls.

We’re Serious, With A Sense of Humor. We understand that safety is most important, but after that, this should be fun!

Discounts Are Available for Schools, Libraries, Scouts, Veterans, Police, Firemen and Teachers!--Just ask!

Bruce Springsteen Used Us Two Years In A Row!!! What else can be said!? We have also performed for stars such as Rosie O'Donnell, and James Gandolphini.

And Unlike Our Competitors - We don’t make our living by selling animals, our philosophy isn’t a card game, we’re not a discount toy store, nor are we clowns, in costume, with snakes round our necks, and this isn’t a retirement or second job.

We Are Completely Professional Program Performers and Zoo Keepers, All Day, All Week, All Year.

And We Love What We Do!

Our Pressssident!
Bill, the Presssident, is a 30-year experienced, recognized expert in the field of reptile care (herpetology), who decided to make his life’s goal the education of people about these misunderstood creatures. His credentials are unmatched in NJ. Bill's expertise and good natured humor appeal to all who surround him. His programs are informative, educational and fun.

When you hire a member of Snakes-N-Scales you receive the benefits of Bill’s expertise since all employees are specially trained and qualified. Many are certified teachers; all have a wide experience with children and an excellent command of animal handling and showmanship. Everyone at Snakes-N-Scales is dedicated to making our visit a fantastic experience, full of insight, knowledge, discovery and wonder. Whichever program you choose will be an adventurous exploration into the animal world providing experiences that will last a lifetime.

Bill’s experience is impressive: he has repaired countless turtle shells that were struck by cars, hatched endangered turtle eggs, mended broken legged frogs, nursed 100 lb pythons, pulled lost alligators out of people’s pools, treated sick vipers and rattlers, performed surgery on injured and dead mother snakes and turtles to rescue the eggs for hatch and release, answered dozens of calls from local police for snake identification and capture, caught loose monitor lizards on the turnpike, rescued injured venomous snakes, and he has opened his home to become a haven for hundreds of orphaned reptiles.

His studies of reptiles have taken him to places such as California, Florida and West Virginia. He studied crocodiles in Venezuela, South America. And of course he continues his work in New Jersey where he resides.

He also studied bottle-nosed dolphins in Florida. He assisted in emergency surgeries of birds of prey, raised native NJ mammals such as opossum and woodchuck, rehabilitated adult and baby bats, cared for tamarins,(monkeys), meerkats, (mongoose), fenec fox, and tenrec, raised parrots, tarantulas and scorpions!!

Bill is a self taught Herpetologist. Studied in Florida, California, W. Virginia, Venezuela and New Jersey. Known as the NJ Crocodile Hunter!

Founder/Director of the New Jersey Herpetological Rescue Society

First New Jersey State Reptile Rehabilitator.

Herpetological consultant for Bergen County Zoo, Turtleback Zoo, Trailside Nature and Science Center, Popcorn Park Zoo, Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, Tenafly Nature Center, Weiss Ecology Center, Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, Schiff Nature Preserve, Camden Discovery Aquarium, Jenkinson's Aquarium and the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Author reptiles and amphibian section “Wildlife in Education: A Guide for the Care and Use of Program Animals” NWRA pub. 2004

Author children’s picture book,” I Am Snake:A Story of Self-Discovery” pub. 2005

Volunteer consultant for Poison Control Hotline,in the management of snake bites.

Herpetological and Paleontological book reviewer for American Association for the Advancement of Science

As a Paleontologist, discoverer of outcrop, "Carnosaur Creek" and a Daspletosaurus vertebrae

All shows require 1 table of 6 ft in length. Many shows require 2 tables and a chair. We provide mics, table cloths and floor protectors.