Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo Celebrates 5th Anniversary with Discovery Channel Star Dusty Crum, Free Scout Admission and Major Youth Education Program

MONROEVILLE, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo will celebrate five years of bringing the exotic pet community to Western Pennsylvania with its 5th Anniversary Bash, September 12–13, 2026, at the Monroeville Convention Center.

To mark the milestone, the expo is bringing nationally known Everglades python hunter and television personality Dusty “The Wildman” Crum to Pittsburgh for two special presentations and an extensive free educational program for Scouts and young attendees.

Crum is best known for appearing on Discovery Channel’s Guardians of the Glades, the television series that followed Crum and his crew as they hunted invasive Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades and worked to protect the region’s native wildlife.

His television appearances brought viewers directly into the Everglades and helped introduce a national audience to the serious ecological problems caused by invasive Burmese pythons.

Crum will give one special presentation Saturday and one Sunday focused on the invasive Burmese python problem in the Florida Everglades, what is happening to the ecosystem, what he has experienced firsthand and why the work being done to remove these invasive predators is so important.

For Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo organizers, Crum’s appearance provides an opportunity to connect two sides of exotic animal education: celebrating responsible reptile and exotic pet ownership while showing families the serious consequences that can occur when non-native species become established in ecosystems where they do not belong.

All Scouts and Scout Leaders Invited Free

The invitation is not limited to any one Scouting organization or program.

Organizers are developing the Scout experience around Crum’s presentation and educational activities throughout the expo, giving Scouts an opportunity to explore subjects connected to reptiles, amphibians, wildlife, conservation, ecosystems and invasive species.

The educational programming is being designed around topics that may relate to requirements found in various Scouting badge and advancement programs.

Every participating Scout who attends the program will also receive a custom-designed commemorative scouting-style Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo patch, while supplies last.

The idea behind the program is personal for the expo’s ownership.

One of the owners is a former Scout leader and understands firsthand how difficult it can be for volunteer leaders to continually find activities that are educational, exciting for young people and affordable for families.

The Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo emphasizes that it is a privately operated event and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by or officially connected with any Scouting organization.

The free admission and educational programming are simply the expo’s way of giving back to Scouts, volunteer leaders and local families.

Organizers Ask Scout Leaders to Help Spread the Word

With the anniversary event approaching, organizers are making a special appeal to Scout leaders throughout Western Pennsylvania and surrounding communities:

Advance notice will help organizers prepare enough commemorative patches, educational materials, challenge materials and giveaways so participating Scouts can receive the full experience.

Troops, packs, crews, dens and other Scout groups are encouraged to attend.

Scout leaders can visit PittsburghMegaReptileExpo.com for event information and to let organizers know their group plans to participate.

A Show-Wide Discovery Challenge for Scouts

The educational experience won’t end when Dusty Crum’s presentation is over.

Participating Scouts will receive a special Discovery Challenge that sends them throughout the expo searching for information and answering questions using educational signs located around the show.

The challenge is designed to encourage Scouts to engage with the educational side of the event rather than simply walking through the venue.

Questions will encourage participants to learn about reptiles, amphibians, animal care, conservation, ecosystems and other topics represented throughout the expo.

Participating Scouts will also receive 10 tickets for special free prize drawings, with drawings scheduled three times each day on Saturday and Sunday.

The goal is to turn the entire expo into an interactive learning experience and encourage Scouts to read, ask questions, explore and discover.

Passport Book Challenge for Other Children

The educational activities aren’t limited to Scouts.

Other children attending the Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo will be invited to participate in a separate Passport Book Challenge.

Children will travel through the show answering questions and discovering information using educational signs located throughout the expo.

Participants completing the Passport Book Challenge will receive an Honorary Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo Jr. Herpetologist Certificate recognizing their accomplishment.

Organizers want children to leave the event having done more than simply seen animals. They want young visitors asking questions, reading, interacting with knowledgeable vendors and discovering something new about reptiles, exotic animals and the natural world.

Dusty Crum Brings a National Television Story to Pittsburgh

Dusty “The Wildman” Crum became known to television audiences through Discovery Channel’s Guardians of the Glades, which documented Crum and his crew working in the Florida Everglades to locate and remove invasive Burmese pythons.

Now Pittsburgh-area families and Scouts will have an opportunity to hear directly from Crum in person.

The invasive Burmese python problem in South Florida has become one of the country’s most recognizable examples of the damage an introduced species can cause after becoming established outside its natural range.

Crum has spent years working directly in the Everglades and will bring those firsthand experiences to Pittsburgh.

His two presentations will give families and young people an opportunity to hear about the python problem from someone who has personally worked in the environment affected by it — and whom millions of television viewers have watched doing that work.

For the Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo, that message fits directly into its broader emphasis on responsible exotic animal ownership and public education.

Reptiles and other exotic animals can be fascinating pets and educational ambassadors, but ownership comes with responsibilities.

Prospective owners should understand an animal’s adult size, lifespan, habitat requirements, feeding needs and long-term care before deciding to bring that animal home.

Most importantly, unwanted exotic animals should never be released into the wild.

The Everglades provides a powerful example of why responsible ownership and public education matter.

Five Years of Bringing the Exotic Pet World to Monroeville

For five years, the Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo has worked to bring exotic pet vendors, breeders and educators from across the United States to Monroeville.

The expo gives families an opportunity to experience the exotic pet hobby while meeting people who have spent years — and in some cases careers — working with particular animals and species.

Participating vendors include specialists from throughout the exotic pet community who can help educate visitors about animal husbandry, habitats, feeding, behavior and responsible ownership.

The event also gives people who may never have interacted with certain species an opportunity to see and learn about them in person.

For organizers, the 5th Anniversary Bash is a celebration of the vendors, attendees, families and exotic pet enthusiasts who have helped support the Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo during its first five years.

It is also an opportunity to introduce another generation of children to reptiles, conservation, responsible pet ownership and the people who have dedicated their lives to working with these animals.

Remote Media Interviews with Dusty Crum Available

Television stations, radio programs, newspapers, podcasts and other media outlets interested in covering the Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo’s 5th Anniversary Bash are encouraged to contact organizers in advance.

The opportunity allows local media outlets to speak directly with Crum before he arrives in Monroeville about his television experiences, his work in the Everglades and the invasive Burmese python problem.

Potential interview topics include:

• His experiences on Discovery Channel’s Guardians of the Glades
• Behind-the-scenes stories from working and filming in the Everglades
• The invasive Burmese python problem in the Florida Everglades
• What Crum has witnessed firsthand while working in the Everglades
• The effect invasive pythons can have on native wildlife
• Why invasive-species education matters
• His experiences tracking and capturing large Burmese pythons
• Responsible exotic animal ownership
• What Pittsburgh-area families and Scouts can expect from his presentations

Media outlets interested in attending the expo can also contact organizers regarding on-site interviews, photography, video opportunities and event access.

A 5th Anniversary Built Around Education, Families and Community

The September event is intended to be more than another reptile show.

It is a celebration of five years of the Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo and the community that has supported it.

For its anniversary, organizers want to introduce even more families to the exotic pet world while creating opportunities for young people to learn.

The expo is especially hoping local television stations, newspapers, radio stations, community publications and online media outlets will help spread the word about the free Scout initiative before September 12 so Scout leaders have time to organize their groups.

Scout leaders interested in bringing their Scouts are strongly encouraged to visit PittsburghMegaReptileExpo.com and let organizers know they plan to attend so enough complimentary patches, educational materials and giveaways can be prepared.

Event at a Glance

Important Scouting Disclaimer

Media Opportunities

• Advance remote television, radio or podcast interviews with Dusty Crum, subject to scheduling and availability
• Interviews about Discovery Channel’s Guardians of the Glades
• On-site interviews and coverage with Dusty Crum
• Interviews with Pittsburgh Mega Reptile Expo ownership
• The invasive Burmese python problem in the Florida Everglades
• Conservation and invasive-species education
• Responsible reptile and exotic animal ownership
• The free Scout admission initiative
• Scout and youth educational programming
• The Discovery Challenge and Passport Book Challenge
• Behind-the-scenes event setup
• Interviews with participating exotic animal vendors, breeders and specialists
• Photo and video opportunities featuring reptiles and exotic animals