Riverside Reptiles Education Center

06/01/2026

An adorable hatchling Eastern Painted Turtle shares a sunny perch with an adult in our Turtle Pond. 🐢 The Eastern Painted Turtle is Connecticut’s most abundant turtle species and one of the most adaptable. These colorful reptiles thrive in a wide variety of wetlands, including ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving streams. Their ability to live in diverse habitats has helped them become a familiar and beloved sight throughout the state. Moments like this offer a glimpse into the next generation of turtles growing up right here in our pond!

05/31/2026

Join us in one week for our **Flash Tattoo Fundraiser** with Sacred Body - A Tattoo Gallery in Enfield, CT. Come get a Riverside Reptiles-inspired tattoo and help support the lifesaving work of Conservation & Education Reptile Rescue.

*More art flash coming soon!*

A portion of the proceeds will go toward rescuing and caring for reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish in need.

Not ready for a tattoo? Stop by anyway and say hi - some of our animals will be there!

📍Sacred Body Tattoo | 27 North Main St, Enfield, CT
📅 Sunday, June 7th
⏰ 12 PM – 4 PM
💵 Prices start at $100

Mark your calendars and help us make a difference, one tattoo at a time!

05/30/2026

This Rapids Clubtail Dragonfly (Phanogomphus quadricolor), sporting a dented eye, landed right in front of me while I was exploring a nearby stream the other day. Dragonflies are among nature’s most effective aerial predators, helping keep mosquito and biting fly populations in check. They may be small, but they do a big job for all of us. Have you thanked a dragonfly lately?

05/26/2026

This male Bold Jumper caught his reflection in the camera lens and immediately started showing off his dance moves ❤️. Bold by name, bold by nature.

05/25/2026

A HUGE female American Bullfrog in our turtle pond at RREC! 🐸💚 American Bullfrogs are the largest native frog species in Connecticut - and all of North America. This impressive female can lay up to 5,000 eggs at one time! Even more amazing, it can take a tadpole up to 3 years to transform into a frog. Stop by RREC and see if you can spot her in the Turtle Terrace pond!

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

I found a really cool insect at Riverside Reptiles Education Center that I had to share!

Meet the Pigeon Tremex (Tremex columba), a species of horntail wasp. Like other horntails, it has a short abdominal projection, or “horn,” at the tip of the abdomen. Females also possess a long ovipositor enclosed in a sheath (visible in the photo), which they use to lay eggs in diseased, dying, or freshly cut hardwood trees.

The larvae tunnel through the wood as they feed and develop before eventually pupating. Despite their intimidating appearance, these wasps are completely harmless to humans and cannot sting.

05/23/2026

Happy World Turtle Day! 🐢

Over half of the world's tortoise and freshwater turtle species are threatened or extinct! Six out of seven of the world's sea turtle species are threatened! Major threats to turtles include habitat loss, harvesting for the pet & food trade, and accidents during human interactions (ie vehicle strikes).

Remember!
🗑️ Clean up after yourself - never leave trash outside.
🌳 Never release pet turtles into the wild or take wild turtles home as a pet.
🚗 Help turtles cross the road in the direction they are facing!
✨ If you have the means, consider donating to one of the many turtle conservaton projects occuring globally.

05/21/2026

🇺🇸 We’re OPEN on Memorial Day! 🇺🇸

Riverside Reptiles Education Center will be open on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th, and we’d love to see you!

Spend the day exploring your favorite reptile zoo, where you can see over 100 amazing species on exhibit. From snakes and lizards to turtles, tortoises, crocodilians, and more, there’s something fascinating around every corner.

Throughout the day, guests will also have the chance to personally meet some incredible reptiles up close and learn more about these amazing animals from our team.

Make Riverside Reptiles part of your Memorial Day plans and enjoy a fun, educational, and unforgettable experience for the whole family!

📍 Riverside Reptiles Education Center
132 South Rd., Enfield, CT

🗓 Open Monday, May 25th — Memorial Day

For more information, please visit us at:
www.riversidereptileseducationcenter.com

05/17/2026

The baby Wood Turtle loves his krill!