Through Pati and Pals, I aim to educate people about some misunderstood and often feared animals. Every creature, no matter how small, has value to its ecosystem and deserves to be appreciated.

The unknown is what leads us to fear animals. This is something we have seen historically with the near extinction of wolves as Europeans first settled in the Americas. Only in recent history have these animals been studied deeply and seen for their value as keystone species. By understanding "scary" animals, we are able to gain a new appreciation for them and eliminate our fears.

The difficulty with this in terms of reptiles and amphibians is that they do an extra good job at hiding themselves away. They are, after all, quite small and are easy meals for many creatures. So how can we learn about things that we don't often see?

With my animals, I am able to showcase these creatures and highlight what makes them special. Getting up-close and personal with often unseen animals is great exposure to something otherwise unknown.