On June 9th, 2015 a man named Cecil Shwalbe visited the University of Arizona workshop for journalism bringing 3 turtles, 2 snakes and a Gila monster. These critters of him where creepy, but they also where interesting along with cute because of the 2 baby turtles. The eldest of the 3 turtles is named Bonnie, she is however not the mother of the 2 baby turtles they where found and given to Shwalbe. As he started explaining to the fascinated students how to handle a snake there was a sea of OH’s and AH’s. Courageous students, the workshop director Elena Stauffer and one mysterious lady all handled the venomous black tail rattler. When nobody was paying attention to Shwalbe he brought out a venomous Gila monster and as everyone took pictures only a few touched the skin. It was intriguing along with shocking because one minute your focus is one of the baby turtles climb/ jump off of Bonnies back and then this scary huge lizard is like right behind you. After learning how to take animal pictures and how to care for animals, along with obsessing over baby turtles, Schwalbe slowly started packing up all of his animals. This day will be one to remember for the journalism student, participants and myself. I mean could you singly forget seeing a Gila monster, venomous snake, or the cutest baby turtles!
by Brianna Sanchez