Alligator River/Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge P. O. Box 1969 Manteo, North Carolina 27954 Contact: Bonnie Strawser - 252-473-1131 Back to News Home Page

News Release

October 3, 2008

Save the Date! Wildfest 2008 Saturday, October 25 from 11 'til 3

USFWS Photo


Photo by Eve Turek

Did you know that mullets can jump twice their body length out of the water or that some lizards do push-ups to make themselves look bigger than they really are? Did you know that monarch butterflies pump their wings to warm up on cold mornings so they can fly? Or that some tortoises create tunnel-like burrows that can be up to 40 feet long? Could you climb through a tunnel like that? Could you master feats like these?? Join us at the new Manteo College of the Albemarle Campus (old Manteo Middle School) for Wildfest on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 11 until 3 for the first-ever WILDLIFE OLYMPICS. Try your hand at mimicking wildlife behavior. Come and start your quest for knowledge, strength, and skill. Children of all ages are encouraged to come and participate. The Wildlife Olympics is just one small part of the 2008 Wildfest, a wildlife-oriented family fun day. Other activities include the Rock-climbing Wall, casting animal tracks, fire activities, learning to track red wolves, seeing artifacts from Native Americans, making fish prints and bird feeders, and more. Smokey-the-Bear and all the other life-sized critters will be there-- dancing to music by Steve-the-Dream... Everyone is invited; the event is free to the public. For more information, call 252-473-1131 ext 230. Volunteers are needed to assist with activities...no advanced knowledge or skills necessary.... call today to sign up!