‘They get such a bad rap’: Meet Lottie, Anderson Humane Wildlife’s ambassador snake

Lottie, an integrated milk snake, serves as an ambassador for the Anderson Humane Wildlife Center in Elburn. This nonvenomous snake participates in educational programs aimed at promoting understanding of snakes. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com

How can you be afraid of an animal whose keeper lovingly refers to it as a “little noodle?”

That’s the goal with Lottie, an integrated milk snake that Stephanie Francza, program manager at Anderson Humane Wildlife Center , has recruited as an ambassador to help people with their ophidiophobia.

“She’s going to educate people about snakes and the many misconceptions about them,” Franczak said. “I mean, look at this little noodle, who could be afraid of that?”

Stephanie Franczak, wildlife program manager with Anderson Humane, holds Lottie, an in