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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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