It’s for sure this time: The Reptile Zoo, a popular haunt for reptile-loving kids since 1996, will close its doors permanently on Feb. 16.
The once-busy 7,000-square-foot roadside menagerie in Monroe first announced its closure last October. Zoo owner Isaac Petersen said then that the attraction suffered during the pandemic and has since been burdened by rising costs. The October media coverage drew visitors to the zoo on Highway 2, leading to a brief comeback that ends this week.
Will there be another return? Very unlikely. There’s no turning back when you rehome the many (130 currently) reptiles that drew in tens of thousands of visitors over 30 years.
Did you know Crested Geckos use their tongues to clean their eyes? (Image courtesy The Reptile Zoo)
Off They Crawl
According to news reports, most of the zoo’s creatures have already been adopted and will head out to their new homes starting next Tuesday, February 17. Reptile rehoming to other zoos or places with the knowledge and equipment to care for them will continue through Feb. 28, said Isaac Peterson, zoo owner and son of zoo founder Scott Petersen, a zoologist, educator, and author.
As of Wednesday, February 11, a few reptiles were still in need of adoption, including an Amazon Tree Boa, several alligators and crocodiles, a host of venomous snakes, and others. See the list on The Reptile Zoo website. Isaac was clear last fall that all the animals in the zoo would be placed in vetted, appropriate care should the zoo close permanently:
“I’m not going to be dumping any animals,” he told Seattle’s Child. “If I don’t feel like you’re going to be able to house the animal or I don’t think you can do it in a safe way, I’m not going to sell or adopt an animal out if you’re going to get your arm bitten off.”
Scott Peterson, aka ‘The Reptile Man,” showing animals in a school (Image courtesy The Reptile Zoo)
The Reptile Man Plays On
The zoo’s closure does not mean the end of Scott Petersen’s popular reptile shows, however.
The family keeps several reptiles used in public educational performances separate from the zoo’s collection. Scott and his family will continue to offer mobile zoo shows in schools, libraries, and at other locations. In fact, the Reptile Man website touts the shows as “Washington’s #1 school assembly.”
They’ve certainly done enough of them: The Reptile Man has visited more than 800 schools and performed at events throughout the region. Scott Peterson was once featured on “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” You can still book a show on The Reptile Man website.
