Hello!

[ToadilyNuts4Nature]

Thanks for the welcomes!
I love forums like this because they are a place where I can fit in with everyone and no one judges me for being weird.
I love my menagerie, as my parents call it, but being different (most fifteen year old girls won't even get close to a large insect, lizard, or frog, let alone breed roaches to feed them all) makes it hard to find people who understand my weird interests.
Cathy, I totally agree, mantids are amazing. My first mantis was a Chinese, and now I have species from all over the world (got orchid mantids yesterday!!)
You should try keeping them!
- MantisGirl13

YOU'RE ONLY 15!!! Well... you go girl! you're AWESOME not weird! I will be turning 50 in March and I don't remember a time that I was not exploring and bringing critters home, which my parents would make me release eventually! However, over the years, I did learn that the best place for wild animals is in the wild but there some exceptions... I know a lot of people are against keeping wild animals as pets and I would even agree but I find it more appropriate if it's a rescue situation, born already in captivity or caught as babies, and/or as a restorative process. For myself... I am constantly on the look out when I'm outdoors and I have been blessed to have witnessed so many glorious creatures that most people disregard or are not aware that they even exist! Everytime I find something new, I scramble to share it with someone. My family call me a geek/nerd and when I was younger, my school friends & teachers would call me "Biology Girl". How I didn't follow into some kind of veterinary or other animal occupation still baffles me, but I am a scientist/biologist/entomologist... all kinds of ***gists at heart! Will be 50 and always learning! so, I will say this to you... If what you are doing brings you happiness and you are helping/benefiting a species in some way... then keep on keepin' on girl, cause that is AWESOME! Like I said, I've been exploring/discovering/studying all things in nature my entire life and it brings me great joy! I have a retaining wall that leads to my home, which is made of railroad ties and it had been decaying over the last 25 years, turning it into what I call "The Living Wall"! It is home to some many different critters.... bugs, snakes, salamanders & toads. However, I noticed that the number of toads has declined majorly and the insects are ravaging my plants. Therefore, it is my goal to increase the numbers of toads to provide natural bug control. My nephew has a pond where I can collect late season babies and this is the first time that I have housed/cared for toads and this forum has been extremely helpful! In addition to frogs & toads, there are discussions about many other species, which is so interesting & cool! And I agree with you... this is a great place to let my geekness/nerdiness flow!! So, I look forward to learning more about Mantids from you and hearing about what you have learned and what info you have to share!

[MantisGirl13]

Actually, I'm 14, turning 15 in March, so not too long! I want to be a biologist someday, I'm super interested in cytology and medical research as well as entomology and such.

I find it amazing how so many people can just overlook the neatest organisms in creation. I'm fine with being weird though, even proud of it! Lol. I've been called a geek and a nerd and I love it. I love learning and studying all kinds of creatures, and I'm homeschooled, so I have plenty of time to do just that!
Frogs and toads are super cool, I see hundreds of american toads all summer (I camp all summer in MD). I like raising tadpoles and releasing the baby toads too, they are so cute!
- MantisGirl13

[ToadilyNuts4Nature]

Actually, I'm 14, turning 15 in March, so not too long! I want to be a biologist someday, I'm super interested in cytology and medical research as well as entomology and such.

I find it amazing how so many people can just overlook the neatest organisms in creation. I'm fine with being weird though, even proud of it! Lol. I've been called a geek and a nerd and I love it. I love learning and studying all kinds of creatures, and I'm homeschooled, so I have plenty of time to do just that!
Frogs and toads are super cool, I see hundreds of american toads all summer (I camp all summer in MD). I like raising tadpoles and releasing the baby toads too, they are so cute!
- MantisGirl13

AWWWW! You just made me smile! Sounds like a younger version of me! Follow your dreams girl and never lose that love for nature! You are a rare breed of youth these days and I am so glad that you are proud of yourself!

[MantisGirl13]

Thanks!
I don't plan to ever lose sight of my dreams or my love for 'unusual' creatures.
- MantisGirl13