Rocky Mountain Reptile Rescue

Brett Neilsen and the Rocky Mountain Reptile Rescue

Images of snakes and reptiles send a chill running through most people, but the Rocky
Mountain Reptile Rescue’s founder Brett Neilsen spends his time saving the poor misunderstood creatures. Brett Neilsen, the President of the Metro State Student Combat Club, has a cold-blooded hobby. After working for two years at Pet Co, Neilsen realized that reptiles in Colorado were being mistreated, malnourished, and stunted in their natural development. In 2010 Neilsen founded the Rocky Mountain Reptile Rescue. This provides safe homes to reptiles throughout Colorado as well as informing people about reptiles and their needs as pets.

Despite a growing number of anti-snake legislations, Brett defends the mistreated animals. “After working for years with these animals I realized the problems were 90% human instigated.” According to CDA Press “Nearly any animal can be potentially dangerous. Statistics on animal attack fatalities show encounters with bees/wasps (.18 deaths per million people) and dogs (.07 per million) are far more lethal than snakes (less than .02 per million).”

After accidents with snakes hit the news “the media took it to mean snakes are evil.” Brett states before citing the mistreatment of the snakes involved in the accidents. Denver’s own Kyle Dyer just underscores the reality that any mistreated or traumatized animal will fight back. The good news is that “like humans, animals that experience trauma can be helped.” According to Care2’s Make a Difference website. This isn’t stopping the movement of anti-snake legislation that prohibits taking snakes across state lines and bans the sale or trade of snakes in many states around the U.S. According to Neilsen even animal rights activist groups such as PETA and HSUS are promoting anti-snake legislation that would ban Burmese Pythons and Boa Constrictors from being allowed as pets. “These laws will cause worse problems globally.” According to Neilsen.


Neilsen, who has been featured on CBS-4 Denver, also performs educational kid-friendly shows for the Colorado Wildlife Experience. “I’ve established a name.” Neilsen states calmly when asked about his activism. “I like working with misunderstood animals. I’ve always been fascinated by animals.” Soon the Rocky Mountain Reptile Rescue might find itself facing its own skin shedding change. The Rocky Mountain Reptile Rescue will soon be renamed as Reptile 911 for the emergency services it provides.

Neilsen’s Wildlife Experience show can be seen every first Sunday of the month from 10a.m. to 2p.m.
The Rocky Mountain Reptile Rescue can be reached at RMReptileRescue@gmail.com.