Mother Nature makes some of the cutest and cuddliest babies around – and she has a large brood! From fuzzy furballs to itsy bitsy and creepy crawly, young wildlife come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Join Charlotte Nature Museum for the May Creature Feature event, Nature’s Babies,Saturday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Spring means lots of new animal babies and we’re wild about meeting some of the season’s recent arrivals. Did you know that young Madagascar hissing cockroaches are called nymphs, and that a baby fish can be called a fingerling? There will be opportunities to visit with some of nature’s fledgling residents, from hatchling box turtles [Terrapene ornata], mice ‘pups’ [Mus musculus] and Sebright chicks, to mealworms, butterfly chrysalis, moth cocoons and more. Make sure to flash a toothy grin at Snappy, our resident juvenile American alligator [Alligator mississippiensis]. While celebrating newborns, fawn over other animal-related information such as the differences between wild and domesticated animals and how to care for pets and livestock.
How do baby animals survive and thrive? It can be a jungle out there, but just like humans, wild animal parents often protect, care for, and teach their offspring skills they need to live in their environments. Did you know that tiny baby seahorses, or ‘fry’, stay close to their protective fathers by clinging to plants with their strong tails? Little ones can explore their innate kinship with baby animal friends and discover more about their development and how they learn to fend for themselves. Museum Naturalists and exhibitors from Steritech and Animal Rehabilitators of the Carolinas will present information about understanding and identifying wildlife species, what to do if you encounter a baby animal in the wild, and how to help protect habitats and ecosystems.
It’s not quite naptime, little ones – first, crawl into the Naturalist Lab to make pinecone baby owlets. Curious ears will perk up for the Puppet Show “Growing Up Wild” and special Story Time including “Baby Animals on the Farm” by Liza Alexander, “Flip, Flap, Fly!” by Phyllis Root, and “Baby Otter” by Ginger L. Clarke. Trails End Store will feature items for sale including turtle-in-egg and frog-in-egg plush animals and mammal and snake books.
Creature Features, supported by The Guild of Discovery Place, Inc., are monthly special events and include crafts, Puppet Shows and storytelling. Creature Feature activities are free with Museum admission. Admission: $6 ages two and older, younger-than-two and Members are free. Parking is free.
Charlotte Nature Museum is located at 1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte. Hours are: Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday noon – 5:00 p.m.; and closed on Monday.
