The first thing you should know about James McNamara is that when he pulls into your driveway, he brings about thirty animals with him. The second thing you should know is that within ten minutes, your kids will be wearing some of them.
James runs Hands On Critters, a traveling educational animal show based right here in Klamath Falls. His collection has grown to more than sixty exotic animals — geckos, lizards, snakes, frogs, scorpions, tarantulas, poison dart frogs, green basilisks, a frilled neck dragon — and the undisputed star of the show, a dwarf caiman named El Chompo. Every animal is hand-raised from a baby, with about a month of one-on-one training before it ever goes to work. Only the tamest make the trip.
The business started just before COVID, when James was still living in California. He saw the Shriners and St. Jude's commercials on television and was inspired to bring his animals to kids who needed a bright day. Friends told him it would never get past the red tape. Then COVID hit, he moved to Oregon, and he started small — birthday parties, word of mouth, little school visits, about twenty animals. The naysayers were wrong.
His inspiration goes back further than that. As a kid, James was glued to the TV watching Steve Irwin — "the greatest to ever do it," he told me. By age five he was catching lizards, snakes, and bugs, and this was before the internet was big, so he learned about them the old way, from books and encyclopedias.
Today the mission is bigger than birthday parties. James takes his animals into schools, youth correctional and mental health facilities, and community events — anywhere a kid could use a spark. Ask him about his goal and he doesn't hesitate: children's hospitals. St. Jude's, Shriners, Doernbecher — he's calling your name. His favorite memory is from his first CityFest at the event center, where he saw thousands of children in one day, including kids in wheelchairs who had been at Doernbecher. He knelt down and gave them their own private moments with the animals, and it brought him to tears. One of those kids later painted a picture of El Chompo. It hangs framed in his house.
Now for the part I did not expect. When James set up in front of us, I figured I would be taking pictures while my kids did the handling. Instead I ended up with his largest snake wrapped around my wrist like a new accessory before she settled in across my shoulders — and I can honestly report it was surprisingly relaxing. But the real story was my youngest daughter, Josie. She is normally our shy one, and she bubbled over with joy and enthusiasm, handling snakes, lizards, and frogs with no fear at all. That is exactly what James means when he talks about breaking fears and sparking interest. I watched it happen at my own house.
James is great with kids, patient with every question, and brings a positive energy that makes the whole visit feel like an event. Half his mission, in his own words, is getting kids outside, off technology, and connected to something real — their first animal experience, something they will remember. When he's not running shows, he's a serious fisherman, bordering on professional guide territory — a road I traveled myself once upon a time, so we had plenty to talk about after the animals were packed up.
If you want Hands On Critters at your school, birthday party, or event, James makes it easy. Find him on Instagram at @handsoncritters (look for the tree frog on the pink flower), email him at James25psg@gmail.com, or call or text (209) 914-5966. All ages and groups are welcome.
Fair warning: your kids are going to ask for a gecko on the way home.
