Seth Falk
Owner
OUR TEAM
The People Behind the Magic
Hands On Exotics has been bringing exotic animals to backyards, classrooms, boardrooms, and venues across the Greater Toronto Area since 2011. What started with one tortoise at a single birthday party has grown into a full-time team of certified handlers, more than forty animal ambassadors, and a calendar that runs over a thousand events a year.
We're not a zoo, and we're not a petting farm. We come to you, bring the animals, and turn an ordinary event into a story people tell for years.
“Every animal deserves respect, every guest deserves wonder, and every event deserves to be unforgettable”
What Sets Us Apart
Built on Care, Driven by Passion
Animal Welfare First
Every Animal Is Family
Our animals are carefully socialized and live in enrichment-focused habitats designed by our in-house care team. We never compromise welfare for entertainment.
- Veterinary-supervised care and nutrition plans
- Mandatory rest days between events
- Temperature and stress monitoring at every appearance
- Enrichment programs modeled on AZA standards
Education & Conservation
More Than a Show
Every experience includes an educational component. Our handlers teach guests about species, habitats, and conservation, turning entertainment into lasting awareness.
- Hands-on encounters where guests learn how each species lives in the wild
- Conservation status, diet, and habitat covered for every animal
- A small party favour for every birthday-party child
- Educators and presenters with years of exotic animal care experience
Safety & Professionalism
Confidence You Can Trust
Our handlers are trained, certified, and insured. Every event follows strict safety protocols so you can focus on the wonder while we handle the rest.
- Every handler receives in-depth training on every species we bring
- $5M commercial general liability insurance on every event
- Vulnerable Sector Checks for all handlers
- Detailed safety briefings before every encounter
The Hands On Exotics Difference
Without Hands On Exotics
- Generic entertainment with no lasting impact
- Unvetted vendors with questionable animal welfare
- One-size-fits-all packages that miss the mark
- Stressful planning with unreliable communication
- No educational value or conservation awareness
With Hands On Exotics
- No guest limits or per-head pricing — every package fits any group size
- Unforgettable encounters guests talk about for years
- MNR-licensed, vetted animal welfare standards
- Custom-tailored packages for your specific event
- Dedicated event coordinator from booking to cleanup
- Education and conservation woven into every experience
Founder & Lead Handler
Seth Falk
What started as a single tortoise at a friend's child's birthday party in 2011 has grown into Toronto's most trusted exotic animal experience company. Seth's pet tortoise Periwinkle was the original star — and is still with Hands On Exotics today.
What began as a favour for friends quickly became a calling. Seth started adding to his animal family, studying exotic animal care, and refining his approach to creating safe, educational, hands-on encounters.
With over 5,000 events under his belt, Seth's mission has never changed: create genuine connections between people and animals that inspire wonder, education, and respect for the natural world.
Every handler we hire, every animal we raise, and every event we deliver reflects that original passion.
5,000+
Events
13+
Years
40+
Animals
Certifications & Skills
MNR LicensedVulnerable Sector CheckedExotic Animal CareIn-Depth Handler TrainingWildlife Education
Our Journey
Milestones Along the Way
2011
A Tortoise Named Periwinkle
Seth Falk brought his pet tortoise Periwinkle to a neighbourhood birthday party. The kids were mesmerized, the parents were thrilled, and an idea was born. Periwinkle is still with Hands On Exotics today — our original little star.
2013
First School Bookings
Local schools started requesting educational animal presentations. Our roster grew to include hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and a macaw named Cairo.
2015
MNR Licensed & Growing
Received our Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Custodian Licence. Hired our first full-time handlers and expanded into corporate events.
2018
Toronto Film & TV Debut
Our animals started appearing on set for film and television productions. Handler expertise and on-set safety protocols became a key differentiator.
2021
10 Years & 5,000+ Events
Celebrated a decade of bringing joy to events across the GTA. Launched our animal-assisted therapy program and expanded our nightlife partnerships.
2024
The Future Is Hands On
Now serving over 1,200 events per year with a team of certified handlers, 40+ animal ambassadors, and a reputation that speaks for itself.
Our Handlers
Meet the Team
Every handler is certified, passionate, and deeply committed to animal welfare and guest safety.
Karina Fensterer
General Manager
Bailey Darrah
Assistant Manager
Kayleigh Pollock
Head Zookeeper
Why Families Trust Us
MNR Licensed
We hold an active Custodian Licence issued by Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Every animal in our care is registered, legally documented, and housed under conditions that meet or exceed provincial standards. Your family interacts only with animals whose welfare and provenance are fully verified.
In-Depth Handler Training
Every handler we bring undergoes rigorous, species-specific training before they ever work an event. This means documented enrichment plans, hands-on competency assessments, and emergency protocols reviewed annually. Animal wellbeing is never negotiated — it is the foundation every experience is built on.
Secure Payments
All transactions are processed through Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment provider. We never store your card details. Deposits are held in escrow until after your event, and our cancellation policy is clearly stated before any charge is made — no fine print, no hidden fees.
Trusted by & Featured In
Bell Media
And hundreds of private events, schools, and venues across the GTA
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