Update from the Nature Center

I've been in my dream job for roughly 5 months now and I have learned a lot. Because I was hired right before the Grand Opening in October, I've gotten to work on designing exhibits expanding our animal collection, creating programming, leading activities, and more. One of my new projects is a field guide of animals you can see at the Nature Center where I work (it's applicable throughout the Gulf Coast though).

I'm having a lot of fun with the field guide. This actually started as something for me to do during down time, when we don't have visitors. I'd like to do a life book of all the species I've seen in their natural habitat and I thought this would be a good place to start.

I see these guys everyday. It's kinda funny - they like to poop on anything elevated, like fallen trees, tree stumps, and cinder blocks.

This one let me get pretty close before he noticed me. Probably not going to live very long, considering the presence of coyotes and Great Horned Owls on grounds.

This is a more recent addition to our animal collection - Octavia the Carolina Wolf Spider. She's really well behaved. Hasn't bit one of us yet. These guys are harmless to humans, but one her size can give a good pinch with her fangs.

This is George the Patent Leather Beetle. He's a cutie.

And here's Red, one of our ratsnakes. Red was actually caught in the building. He's shown here enjoying the nest box we added to his exhibit - it turns out the snake we just moved in with him is a girl, so we're hoping for little ones!

This is Waldo, the Rosy Wolf Snail! He's the bravest snail I've ever met. He rarely hides anymore - he'd rather explore everything on the table when we have him out. These guys are carnivorous land snails and quite invasive in other parts of the world (i.e. Hawaii).

This handsome fellow is Pops, who recently became the proud father of about 200 babies (Smacks, the Mama, is more shy). We caught Pops when he was a baby and hand fed him for months (because we can't help but spoil the animals in our care a little) so now he comes running to the glass when he sees us.

Finally, here is a display I made for the local library! I'm really proud of this display and happy with how it turned out.