FARGO — Some elementary students in Fargo had slimy visitors on Monday, Sept. 29.

Russell Keys, a snake keeper from Carrington, N.D., brought about a dozen snakes into a classroom at Longfellow Elementary. About 80 fifth graders learned biological facts and information about the reptiles.

Keys said he wanted to show students that snakes can be friendly and can be touched under the correct circumstances.

“It’s been fun because not everybody can hold snakes and stuff, and snakes are very interesting,” said Rafe Medhus, a fifth grader at Longfellow Elementary.

“Different, I thought it was going to be slimy and scaly and stuff, it wasn’t. It was just kind of like, it was warmer and kind of squishy,” said classmate Jamie Lindseth.

Keys raises about 600 baby snakes each year.

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