09/04/2026
“The hardest part of loving animals is losing them." Captain Jim Yates, USN
Hollywood Yowzer died in my lap late Tuesday night—finally free from the aggressive arthritis that prompted us to retire him in the spring. He was 23 years old, a shy and gentle Pueblan milk snake who graced the necks of thousands of kids as a “snake scarf” for the past two decades.
If you or one of your children ever had the privilege of holding Hollywood, would you please share a photo in the comments in his honor? I’ve shared a few of our family photos, including the first one of him just out of the box in our living room (with two surprising travel companions!) and two pics with us working.
Hollywood will be greatly missed, but he will also be greatly remembered. Good friends always are! Thanks for sharing your memories of this amazing ambassador for his kind.
(Keep reading if you’re interested in a little Hollywood history.)
Raised from an egg by renowned North Dakota naturalist and falconer, Dale Sayler, the stunning snake earned his original name, Yowzer, because of his beautiful markings. Wildlife rehabber and close pal of Dale’s family, Nancy Fachman, connected us when a diagnosis of cancer moved Dale to find good homes for his animals.
Providentially, we had just learned that Schmiddy, our first education snake, suffered from osteomylytis and must be retired as an active education snake. (You can read his story in Saving Schmiddy at your public library!) We gratefully replied that we were interested.
Dale called and interviewed us before he re-homed his snake (always a good practice!), and Yowzer arrived on a cold day in December in a UPS box lined with Hothands. He was tucked in a muslin bag along with two tarantulas (for Nancy!) in breathable plastic tubs.
Yowzer quickly became our most popular and requested education critter. Local children dubbed me the “Snake Lady” and renamed the snake Hollywood because he seemed to love to have his picture taken. His calm nature led him to be still at the slightest grip on his neck and he seemed to stare into phone cameras greeting the paparazzi like a seasoned movie star.
For twenty years, tens of thousands of children (I wish I had counted!) lined up to meet him. Some of them, in due time, even brought their own children to meet Hollywood! What a privilege it has been to love such a beautiful and gentle snake. What an honor to teach others about the value of all snakes and our responsibility to them.
Thanks to all of you who shared my joy and who learned so much, like I did, from Hollywood. He will, indeed, be missed.
