Youngsters learn about critters

PRESCOTT – Shawna Adams, a wildlife biologist, was at the Nevada County Library Wednesday afternoon to talk to children about animals.

While some of the children were expecting larger animals, such as lions, none were on hand. However, there were a couple that filled the bill nicely, the first being the Colombian Red Tailed Boa Constrictor. Adams said these snakes never stop growing and can be identified by the color of their tail. This one, she told the children, was getting ready to shed. She pointed out the difference between snakes and lizards are snakes don’t have eyelids or ears while lizards to.

To show her point, Adams brought out a Eurasian legless lizard. She told the children this lizard can shed its tail and grow another one and showed how it blinks and where its ears were. The youngsters weren’t fascinated being in close proximity to the lizard or boa constrictor.

Next up was what can only be described as the favorite, a large rabbit. The rabbit, she said, was barely a year old though it was huge. It will eventually reach a point where it weighs more than 20 pounds. Adams said this breed of rabbit was originally raised for food and its fur.

This was followed by a parrot. Adams compared the parrot to a two-year-old that never grows up. She told the children parrots are social animals living in large groups. When separated, she said, they will get attached to one person. The parrot constantly interrupted Adams, who would tell it to be quiet and be ignored. This, she said, was because the bird was jealous and wanted all of her attention.

The final animal was a Eurasian Eagle Owl, the largest breed of owl in the world. This owl, she said, has a six-foot wingspan and is an apex predator, meaning it has no natural enemies in the wild – other than man.

The show, though, began with Adams bringing out a veiled chameleon and telling the children about its prehensile tail and how it has five toes, not two as it appears.

Snacks were provided by the Prescott Rotary Club, Lions Club and Cash Savers. Sonic donated ice cream cones for the children.