Kidsday: We love exotic animals

Pythons, koala bears, chinchillas! Have you ever seen one? Probably. Have you ever held one? Probably not!

We have!

At the Quogue Wildlife Refuge we held a python. We know what you're thinking: Pythons would squeeze you to death. But not this particular one. His name was Monty and he was huge. Brynn was petrified.

When we were holding it, it seemed like it was throbbing in our hands, but it was just breathing. "It almost felt slimy," Julia said. "We thought we were going to get bitten, but actually he was really nice and we had a great time."

We really love animals, but probably no one loves them more than Kayla. When she went to Australia two years ago to visit her uncle, she had the opportunity to hold a koala bear. She said the bear had to be declawed before kids were allowed to hold him.

"It was so soft," Kayla said, and "so gentle! It was like holding a small puppy."

Kayla really loves animals! She has two pet chinchillas. Really. No joke. She says: "Sometimes they're a little rowdy. They always try to nibble on my hair, but they're so cute."

But that is not all -- when she is through playing with the chinchillas she also has a dog, two cats and a gerbil.

Not everyone has as many animals as Kayla, but you can find out so much more about them and other wildlife by visiting the Quogue Wildlife Preserve. You should visit and maybe you will become a huge fan of animals like we are. Call 631-653-4771, or visit online: quoguewildliferefuge.org

Snack food taste test

We did a taste test with 42 fifth graders to see if they liked Pirate's Booty Aged White Cheddar Puffs or Smartfood White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn better. Twenty kids liked Smartfood and 22 kids liked Pirate's Booty. Here are some of the comments that popped out to us. "I didn't choose Pirate's Booty as the best because it was too salty." And, "Pirate's Booty is really cheesy and crunchy. It has lots of flavor to it. It is a great snack!" And last but not least, one kid said he liked Pirate's Booty better because it melts in your mouth.

--Kidsday Reporters Emily Bazarewski and Olivia Bozuhoski

CLASS OF THE WEEK: Claire Belmonte's fifth-grade class, Pulaski Street School, Riverhead