For more than 30 years, a small non profit based in Gretna grows peoples interest in animals through school visits, birthday parties, and interactions. Kip Smith is second generation with Wildlife Encounters.
"Dad started working in zoos and working on animal enclosures and things like that. He got started working with tigers and bears. Jim Fowler, who is from Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom, contacted them to do some school programs with them with animals and they just kind of really saw a really big need there," Smith said.
Now, more that 50 animals are among the species Smith brings into the schools. And community places. For the 4th year, Ashland Public Library has had the the non profit out. The librarian says it always leads to an increase in their summer reading.
"They'll going to look for books for any animal not just the ones they saw here today. Any animals that interest them," Tanya McVay with Ashland Public Library said.
Watch the video above to find out more about Wildlife Encounters, including a unique name for an alligator they house.
