ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
To follow up on Cricket's comment about contacting the USDA/APHIS, she's
absolutely right. However, you may need a permit for some arthropods. For
example, we are in the process of expanding our live animal collection to
include additional insects and arachnids. Most don't need permits, but if
you need to transport certain animals across state lines, like butterflies
from an out-of-state breeder, then you will be required to have a permit if
you intend on keeping them captive.
Good luck,
Rob
Rob Fox
Associate Director/Director of Education
Da Vinci Science Center
3145 Hamilton Blvd. Bypass
Allentown, PA 18103
484-664-1002 x116
http://www.davinci-center.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cricket Brooks
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 11:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: live animals
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*
If it hasn't already been mentioned, anyone thinking of adding a live
animal display should consult the USDA/APHIS website to determine
licensing and paperwork requirements under the Animal Welfare Act.
This currently applies to warm-blooded animals only, so fish,
arthropods, reptiles and amphibians may be a simpler way to start.
(With the caveat that Salmonella is a potential concern if the public is
allowed to handle reptiles, and a hand-washing station is therefore a
must.)
Here's a link to a brief fact sheet.
http://tiny.cc/Si1kT
Best of luck,
Cricket
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Headwaters Science
Center
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 9:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: live animals
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****
Hi Skoshi,
We are a small science center located in northern MN. We keep a fair
selection of live animals as a permanent part of our exhibit floor.
They are among our most popular exhibits and our animal programs are
among our most often requested programs. We offer general animal
programs, programs on specific groups of animals or programs centered
around environmental adaptations. We also offer an animal themed
birthday party. We also keep a small selection of live plant exhibits.
We allow visitor handling of some of our animals on a 1 visitor to 1
staff supervision ratio. Our exhibit floor always has active staff
participation. Once in a blue moon we get a negative comment about the
cruelty of keeping animals in cages. For the most part we get positive
comments about the interaction with the exhibits. We try to keep our
enclosures habitat friendly, although this is always a work in progress.
We have on occasion had people with a snake or spider phobia come here
on purpose to get used to the animals. They do not always want to
handle the animals, they just don't want to be terrified of them. This
allows a controlled environment in which they can slowly work up to
touching them.
If you choose to have live animals, be very aware that they take space,
daily care and a feeding budget. We have an aquaculture display of
tilapia fish with a food dispenser which gives visitors a small amount
of fish pellets for $0.25. This goes a long way to help feed the other
animals. You may also want to consider security and liability issues.
We currently house the following animals: 1 chinchilla, 4 species of
snakes, 4 species of lizards, 6 species of turtles, 3 species of
amphibians, 2 raptors, 6 species of other birds, 5 species of spiders, 4
species of insects, 1 millipede and around 15 species of fish, some
tropical, some native. During the summer months our collection of
invertebrates increases with local animals. Most of our animals have
been donated over the years as unwanted pets. We have as much fun with
our animals as the public does.
>Hello,
>I am curious about the role of live animals in science centers. If you
are
>not an aquarium or zoo, do you still have live animals? If so, what
kind of
>animals do you have? What type of programming do you do around them?
Are
>they always on display or only on display under direct supervision by a
>staff member or volunteer? Does anyone keep reptiles? Do you have
>problems with visitors being upset by having animals on display out of
their
>natural habitat? Any information would be appreciated!
>Thanks,
>Skoshi Wise
Anita Merritt
Collections Manager
Headwaters Science Center
413 Beltrami Ave. NW
Bemidji MN 56601
218-444-4472 Fax: 218-444-4473
[log in to unmask] www.hscbemidji.org
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the
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Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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