Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery welcomed 40 visitors to celebrate spooky season with the Creepy Crawly event! Kids of all ages explored a variety of hands-on activity stations, including:
• Build-a-Bug Station where creepy crawlies came to life using building blocks and cardboard cutouts
• Creative Corner featuring insect rubbings, paper plate snakes, and “bugs in a jar” crafts
• Temporary tattoo and bug goggle station for some themed fun
The highlight of the night was the Exploration Station hosted by Evie Cecil from the University of Kentucky’s Department of Entomology. With an incredible display of live and preserved insects, attendees were invited to get an up-close look at critters you may not see every day. The live specimens included a praying mantis, tarantula, and a hissing cockroach that visitors were allowed to hold; if they dared! For those more apprehensive in the crowd, the preserved specimens provided an equally interesting learning opportunity (with the dung beetles being deemed the favorite for nearly every boy in attendance).
New volunteer Mark Yost made rounds during the event, introducing visitors to Quadro, our resident black rat snake. Several brave guests even conquered their fear of snakes and gave Quadro a gentle pet! The evening concluded with a night hike on the hatchery's nature trail led by Evie. Equipped with headlamps and flashlights, the group was able to find and observe several creepy crawlies including grandaddy long legs, ground beetles, moths, and countless species of spiders. Despite finding several of the same species along the trail, the participants maintained entomological enthusiasm, spreading excitement each time another creepy crawly was found. This event was a great reminder of how impactful bridging the gap between community and nature can be, earning respect and admiration for animals that are often disregarded or feared. Who knew you could get so much excitement for creepy crawlies?
We are so grateful to everyone who joined us, as well as our dedicated volunteers and partners who helped make the evening memorable. A huge thank-you to Friends of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery for sponsoring the event and providing supplies. We couldn’t do it without you!
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