The best way to overcome fears is to confront them head on and learn and that is why we love seeing these types of news stories! Recently in Australia, where everything can kill you, Sharna Ayton and her Tamworth Reptile Awareness show worked to change some perceptions.

“It’s about giving reptiles a voice and getting awareness out there that they’re not such bad animals,” Miss Ayton said.
....

“I grew up on a farm and could never understand why (some people) hated them and always shot them.”

Huge kudos to Ms. Ayton and every other person who takes time to do educational outreach! We Salute you!
Read more about this outreach event here.

Police have a rough time with some suspects and it is even worse when that suspect escapes after being in police custody! Thankfully the staff at New South Wales Police Department also have a sense of humor (and compassion when it comes to reptiles):

A danger noodle, apprehended in Cronulla last week, escaped custody and bamboozled those on duty when it decamped across a keyboard (looking for a mouse?!). Luckily, the nope rope was coaxed back to its holding cell (bag), with custody transferred to a local snake catcher.

Get the full scoop and the giggles here.

Speaking of compassion, Sydney snake catcher Sean Cade and the staff of the Ingleburn Veterinary Hospital saved a venomous Red-bellied black snake from a net in backyard.

'It would have kept struggling and struggling and struggling and because of the diameter holes in the netting and the thickness of the snake it wouldn't be able to swallow anything,' he said.

Read the full story and watch the video here.

And speaking of videos, we saved the best for last. Sometimes you get hangry and really don't want it on video. Sometimes you are a hangry monitor that just doesn't care. This amazing video from 2013 at Alice Springs Golf Course, shows the hunt and feeding of a Perenties Monitor. If this is the first time you have seen the video, please kow it is