International Reptile Rescue’s Beginnings

Hart’s Reptile World has been the premier reptile rescue organization and reptile educators since the 70 ’s. We’ve been educating and entertaining kids and adults alike on how unique and “not-so-scary” most reptiles are once you get to know them.

Our knowledge of reptiles have animal, police and private collectors from around the U. S. and beyond calling for our expertise. In many reptile rescues we have to travel out of state to get the animal as local agencies are frequently not qualified or do not have the facilities to take or house a large or dangerous reptile.

The Human Carpet

Where’s the leaves??

We’ve lectured and exhibited all over the U. S. from Oregon to Louisiana, Texas to Tennessee, North Dakota to Utah and everywhere in between. Our programs are paced to highlight wildlife conservation while also emphasizing the reptiles and amphibians that may or may not be good choices for pets and why.

Ricky Skaggs autographing one of our croc’s t-shirts

Summer Camp trip going rattlesnake hunting

Fluffy
Our first big snake rescue in 1980

Girlfriend Never Called    |    Kids just don’t know their place these days!!    |    Shell We Party?

Hart’s Reptile World - Bio

Hart’s Reptile World is the growing vision of Mary Esther Hart who’s been interested in and collecting reptiles since childhood. For many it’s just a ”phase“ she’s still waiting to outgrow.

During the late 70’s teachers asked her to bring animals to their classrooms or bring students out on field trips.

In 1980 the collection was opened to the public as Hart’s Reptile World. We’ve been rescuing, educating and entertaining families and visitors from around the world ever since.

During the 80’s when reptiles became popular as pets it also meant many got loose. Being well known for her work with reptiles, police and animal agencies from all across the U.S. and Canada started calling for her help and expertise in rescue and training their officers.

We are now one of the oldest Reptile Rescues in North America and known for taking in crocodilians and venomous snakes. Few rescues or shelters are trained in how to safely and humanely work with the larger, potentially dangerous reptiles.

Hart’s Reptile World could not be where it’s at today without the wonderful, dedicated and self sacrificing volunteers we’ve had over the years. Reptile rescue takes a certain kind of confident personality and we are blessed to have our share of volunteers with just that kind of spirit.

We were open to the public for over 25 years but closed in 2002. Our future vision is to have property donated to International Reptile Rescue or leased inexpensively to us where we can build a state of the art facility open to the public.

In 2010, Hart’s Reptile World went Non Profit and is now called International Reptile Rescue.

We hope you’ll join our vision.

I am not a rock!!!       |       Shell we be friends?        |       Wow, you see that Huey?

I’m ready for my close-up       |        Quit hogging the heat lamp!!!       |       Daisy Crocodile