Exotic Animal Zoo Team | Petting Zoo Rental

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MEET THE FOUNDER:

Geoffrey Mantonya is the founder of The Critter Squad, a company many have come to know and love. A true lover of animals, Geoff started a company called Manton Reptiles when he was only 19 years-old. The company’s main focus was towards captive reptile breeding programs. Through his future experiences in the animal world, and through his own University education, Geoff realized the importance of educating the public, so he transformed his business into a wildlife education company. Through this, The Critter Squad was created. Geoff is now 31 years-old and his company, The Critter Squad, is strongly known for their extremely exciting and educating animal outreach presentations. As The Critter Squad moves into the future, Geoff is leading the pack into new worlds. He has started new wildlife endeavors, such as humane animal trapping and release programs, captive breeding programs, and a few other secrets waiting to emerge. Geoff is eager to continue educating the community and making a difference in the world of wildlife.

See Geoff featured on the Today Show when he was 20 years old:

Meet the Team!

MEET Riley:

Riley Mantonya has been around animals her entire life. Within the past few years, she decided to join the Critter Squad team and absolutely loves it. In the beginning, Riley started out as a shy teacher and shortly after starting, she didn’t think she could do it. Riley hung in there and is now one of Critter Squad veteran animal teachers, teaching dozens of after-school classes and other classroom shows a year.

MEET Julia:

Julia Mantonya is one of the longest running employees of Critter Squad. Doing animal presentations and public events since she was around 21, Julia has a lot of experience working with animals. Although she took some time off to get her doctorate in Psychology, she makes still enjoys educating the public on Critter Squad’s awesome animals. Her favorite animals are giraffes, and when she is not working, she enjoys swimming and going camping with her family.

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Meet Ravi:

Ravi Merritt is an educational specialist and the director of our new Kids Zone with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. Ravi is helping to lead the way in the implementation and designing as CSWD heads into a new digital world. He graduated from California Lutehran University with a degree in Philosophy. His favorite animals are either Tiger and Lions or Falcons and Hawks. During his free time he enjoys playing video games and esports, music, comedy and puzzles and riddles.

Meet Tyler:

Tyler Hernandez is an educational with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. Tyler loves going out to his classes and backs up the keepers during his time in the zoo. He went to valley college and studied Photovoltaics. He is a lover of all animals and during his free time he reads, loves gaming and taking care of his pet snakes.

MEET Amber:

Amber Lockspeiser is an educational specialist with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. She is a graduate from the Ojai School of massage. She studied animal massage and her favorite animals are dogs. Her hobbies are going hiking with her dog, going to the mountains, going to the forest, listening to music and watching live bands.

Meet Daniel:

Daniel Cruz is an advanced educational specialist and the animal care director at Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. Daniel started as an educational specialist and has put in lots of time and energy making sure the animals at CSWD have great lives. He is a graduated with a zoology degree from Cal Poly Pomona. His favorite animals is a panther chameleon and during his free time he loves taxidermy, drawing, drumming and taking care of his pets.

Meet Lupe:

If you have ever called into the main office of Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. She is our amazing office coordinator and educational specialist. She does a fantastic job keeping customers happy and is looking forward to taking CSWD to the next level. She graduated with a biology degree from Cal Poly Pomona and he favorite animal is pigs. During her free time she loves sewing and doing crafts.

Meet Lucas:

Lucas Chung Hong is an advanced educational specialist with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders and working hard to advance his educational and handling skills. He is a graduate of UCLA and studied environmental sciences. His favorite animal is a sloth and his cat. His hobbies include cats, cartoons, music and cooking.

Meet Timothy:

Timothy Camerano is an educational specialist with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders and has a huge passion for animals and conservation. He is a graduate of the Moorpark College EATM program which focuses directly on the care, management and training of exotic animals. Tim’s favorite animal is the Rhino and his hobbies include supporting conservation, sports and fund-raising events.

Meet Kevin:

Kevin Martinez is an educational specialist with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. Graduate of Monterey High School Kevin has multiple pet reptiles which led him toward his adventures in educational outreach. Kevin’s favorite animal is the tiger and its most enjoyable hobby is watching movies with his wife.

Meet Rebecca:

Rebecca Aguayo is an educational specialist with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. She is a general ed student who graduated from LAVC with a passion for teaching little ones about animals. Her favorite animal is the black wolf. Her hobbies are amateur taxidermy, playing music and hiking.

Meet Rigo Cervantes:

Rigo Cervantes is an educational specialist with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. He is graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Biology with and emphasis in zoology. His favorite animal is the red bellied black snake and during his free time he loves baseball, hiking, birding and herping.

Meet Mychal Storer:

Mychal Storer is an educational specialist with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. She is a graduate of Turning Point Beauty College in Casa Grande AZ and is in the Zoo Docent program with the LA Zoo. Her favorite animal is the Duck Billed Platypus and her pets. During her free time she loves hanging out with her 3 year old kid and her husband and spends time caring for her pets.

Meet Jared Ortega:

Jared Ortega is an educational specialist with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. He is a graduate of the Moorpark College’s EATM program and Studies Communications and Physical Sciences. His favorite animal is the Bald Eagle and in his free time he enjoys listening to music, going out and exercising.

Meet Kevin Browning:

Kevin Browing is an educational specialist with the Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders. Moving quickly towards being and advanced educational specialist Kevin is always working hard to make sure he puts in the best care possible when doing keeper stuff in the zoo. He graduated from Biola University and studied biblical studies and theology. His favorite animals are the Lion and the Monkey Tailed Skin. During his free time he loves playing dungeons and dragons, rock climbing and hiking.

MEET OUR VETERINARIAN, DR. Daniel Reimer, DVM::

Dan has been a veterinarian at Adler Veterinary Group since 1991. He started working there while in high school, and has been with the hospital throughout his career. He is a graduate of UC Davis, a lifelong resident of Southern California, and has a wonderful wife and daughter. He loves baseball, softball, and his two dogs Sophie and Dryfus. He also has a cat and multiple reptiles.
He became Medical Director when the practice was sold in 2007. Dan has a strong interest in rabbit, small mammal, avian and reptile medicine and surgery. He is extremely dedicated to the practice and his clientele.
Dr. Reimer is a member of the AVMA, CVMA, AAV (Assoc. Avian), ARAV(Assoc. Reptile and Amphibian), and ASGV (Sugar Glider Vet.)

We are proud to entrust the health of our beloved animals to the expert hands of professionals — thank you, All Pets Medical Centre

Want to become a Wildlife Defender? Register for classes today!!!

Meet the Critter Squad Team