Wild day at Lewiston library

: “Is it slimy?” a child asked Joshua Sparks of Sparks’ Ark as he holds a boa constrictor Monday morning at the Lewiston Public Library. Sparks, of New Gloucester, also showed an Australian sugar baby, a barn owl and a snapping turtle. All of the animals were either his pets, young wild animals he will release when able, or wild animals that were unable to be released back into the wild.

: Delaney Nyberg, 5, of Lewiston, is undaunted by the 8-foot boa constrictor shown by Joshua Sparks of Sparks’ Ark in New Gloucester on Monday at the Lewiston Public Library.

: Children raise their hands to ask questions about Puff, Joshua Sparks’ bearded dragon, at the Lewiston Public Library on Monday morning. Sparks runs Sparks’ Ark, an animal removal and rehabilitation center in New Gloucester, while his father, David, runs another operation in Windham. Along with humane removal and rehabilitation, the father and son team do outreach and educational programs throughout the state. To see a video of the reaction to Sparks’ 8 foot boa constrictor, visit sunjournal.com/sparksark07012013.

: Gwendolun Scherrer, 7, and her brother Beckett, 9, of Turner, keep a close watch on the Madagascar hissing cockroach shown by Joshua Sparks of Sparks’ Ark in New Gloucester on Monday at the Lewiston Public Library.

: Joshua Sparks of Sparks’ Ark in New Gloucester shows his pet boa constrictor Monday at the Lewiston Public Library.

: Larissa Brown and her daughter Alena, 8 months, of Poland, watch as Joshua Sparks of Sparks’ Ark in New Gloucester shows how long the neck of a snapping turtle can be Monday at the Lewiston Public Library.

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