Survival of the Fittest

Toni Walker

Editor

news@steelcountrybee.com

Every summer, the summer reading programs have a theme that library’s can use when promoting their programs. This year, that theme sports-related: “Ready, Set, Read.”

In keeping with that theme, Daingerfield’s Friend of the Public Library sponsored Zooniversity on June 9, who taught children about animals and their survival skills. Owner and Wildlife Educator Allison Blankenship called the program “Survival of the Fittest.”

After laying the ground rules for the children to follow to keep both themselves and the animals safe, Blankenship introduced the first visitor from Zooniversity, a Vingeroon named Squirt. Squirt is an arachnid that is related to scorpions that can be found in the desert area of south Texas. Vinageroons, have a rather unique form of self-defense. If agitated, they can emit acetic acid—a mild vinegar, that will keep predators from having them for dinner.

Many of the animals Blankenship showed the students are nocturnal, which, Blankenship explained, means they are awake at night. The next animal Blankenship introduced to the children was Miss Prickles, the Madagascar Lesser Tenrec. Closely resembling a porcupine or headgehog, the tenrec uses its bristled fur to make it less appetizing for predators. Blankenship explained to those in attendance that, just as they could not sling their hair at someone they do not like, neither can the Tenrec.

Blankenship’s next visitor had several of those in attendance squirming. “Megabyte” is an African Ball Python. This beefy 4-foot snake is really just a big chicken who prefers to curl into a ball and hide rather than come out to meet people. Blankenship used Megabyte to teach children about camouflage, and also taught them that she is not venomous. Rather, she wraps her body around her prey and holds it until the heart stops beating.

Blankenship’s next guest can be found anywhere, including cities. Oscar, the Virginia Possum, was found on the sidewalk of the Galleria in Dallas, according to Blankenship. Although Zooniversity strives to release animals back into the wild if at all possible, Oscar will live with them as a teaching animal the rest of his life, due to the damage done while he was laying on the hot sidewalk in the summer heat.

Blankenship then brought out a visitor from Argentina. Chica, the Argentine Red Tegu came to Zooniversity after the family that purchased here realized they could not afford to feed her anymore and took her to the local animal shelter. According to the Zooniversity website, this species is on the CITES Appendix II List (may be threatened with extinction unless international trade is tightly controlled).

The final animal the children were able to meet was from Pennsylvania, and cannot be found in the wild in Texas. Lone Star Luke is a groundhog who had been orphaned when their mother was killed by a farmer. His two brothers have been released back into the forests of Pennsylvania. Luke, however, was smaller and needed more attention, and therefore has become “imprinted.” Blankenship explained that this meant that Luke did not know he was a wild animal, and if he were released, would do his best to find people.

Zooniversity does numerous library programs each summer, and uses the animals to teach children about the world around them. Blankenship also tried to impress on those present the reason many of the animals were not suitable for household pets.