Crawling Critters
Are you a sucker for weird animal facts? Love to spend time with 4, 6, or no-legged friends? Check out these upcoming events all about the little (and maybe not-so-little) crawling and slithering critters here in Atlanta. Start planning your animal encounters at the Atlanta Science Festival, taking place March 9-23.
Animals in Motion: Biomechanics Day at Zoo Atlanta | March 9th 11:00 AM
Presented by Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Tech
Ever wonder how orangutans swing, or how an elephant trunk works? Join us at Zoo Atlanta to celebrate the diversity of animals on Earth and the incredible ways they move. With help from biomechanics experts at the Georgia Institute of Technology, guests can participate in live demonstrations and presentations sure to generate excitement about biomechanics and applications in Bio-inspired Design. No matter your age, you’ll walk away engaged and inspired to learn more about yourself and the natural world.
Salamander Stroll | March 9th 11:00 AM
Presented by Amphibian Foundation, Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve
Come on out to Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve in Decatur and witness wildlife with regional experts from the Amphibian Foundation. Become ‘citizen scientists’ and perform an amphibian ‘bioblitz’ inventory of the preserve documenting salamanders and frogs in one of the last strongholds for amphibians inside of the perimeter! Everyone and their families are encouraged to attend and bring your cell phones to upload images of what we find to iNaturalist.
No registration necessary.
Tiny Monsters of Sibley Pond | March 16th 1:00 PM
Presented by National Park Service
Join the National Park Service staff for a tiny monster hunt! Discover the extraordinary bio-diversity of strange, weird, and amazing creatures that live in Sibley Pond. Search through leaf litter, dig through detritus, collect critters and more! This is a hands on, get your fingers dirty field investigation. What tiny monsters will you find lurking in Sibley Pond?
This event repeats March 17th at 1:00 p.m.
No registration necessary
Bugs Bonanza: An Adventure into the world of insects! | March 9th, times vary
Presented by Fernbank Museum
The smallest creatures teach us the biggest lessons about life. In the world of entomology, every bug has a story to tell, and each one is more exciting than the last. Discover and explore the miniature world universe filled with six legged creatures!
Little 5 Points Pollinator Parade | March 10th 1:00 PM
Presented by Little 5 Points Business Association
Join the L5P Business Association’s Pollinator Parade! Dress up as pollinators and meet at Sevananda, our local health food store. First, you’ll learn about the vital role of pollinators from guests speakers of the Environmental Protection Division and Georgia Tech. While there, you’ll enjoy healthy snacks and discover how pollinators impact our food. Then let’s share our love of pollinators with the town! We’ll parade thru L5P, visiting stores adorned with flowers & plants. Let’s celebrate nature and education together!
SPIDERS IN MY HOUSE! Puppets + Science = MAGIC! | March 10th 1:30 PM
Presented by Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts’ award-winning Digital Learning department invites ASF audiences to join us online on Sunday, March 10th at 1:30pm for a live, interactive, fun-filled program that celebrates the wonderful creatures we call SPIDERS! This program is created for curious learners ages 6-12 but is fun for the WHOLE FAMILY! Part science class, part puppet building workshop, with a little bit of puppet show thrown in, you’ll learn about the attributes, life cycles and behaviors of spiders plus build your own spider marionette!
A Bug’s Life in the Urban Forest: The wonderful world of Insects on the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum | March 16th 10:00 AM
Presented by Trees Atlanta
Calling all insect lovers for a special sensory edition of What’s Happening on the BeltLine: A Bug’s Life. Local experts will lead us on a walk of the Atlanta Westside BeltLine Arboretum where we will discover the vast networks of insects living right under our nose in our Atlanta Urban Forest. Learn how trees, insects, and people are all part of the same cycle and what we can do to support the urban forest, insect communities, and human health. This exploration along the Arboretum will challenge you to take a closer look at the interconnected world of these misunderstood organisms. Following the walk will be a special presentation of edible insects in our environment.
Not Just Newts: Behind the Scenes at the Amphibian Foundation | March 16th 2:00 PM
Presented by the Amphibian Foundation
Atlanta is home to a unique nonprofit dedicated to the conservation and research of amphibians amidst a global population decline. In 2016, the Amphibian Foundation formed to focus on conserving two of Georgia’s most imperiled species (Gopher Frog and Flatwoods Salamander). Since then has begun working on other native and globally endangered amphibians. Closed to the public, this is a chance to see the conservation collections and meet Foundation staff working hard to save these vital and sensitive animals from extinction.
Biology of the Despised: Snapping Turtles | March 17th 2:00 PM
Presented by The Amphibian Foundation
The Amphibian Foundation seeks to elevate awareness of the global amphibian declines. Here in Atlanta, AF also works to address some of the urban pressures impacting reptiles as well. This year, we’re dispelling myths about one strong jawed, misunderstood critter: Snapping Turtles. AF has been working with the community for many years to help people discern facts from fiction when it comes to our local wildlife. Come explore these awe-inspiring animals, and let’s see how much of that fear is actually fascination.
Urban Slug Walk | March 17th 3:00 PM
Presented by Georgia State University – Geosciences
Feeling sluggish? So are we! Come on out on a slug filled adventure where we’ll use our eagle eyes to search for these slimy and fascinating creatures, and learn all about them as we hike through a local park! Download the iNaturalist app beforehand, and we’ll use that to identify what we find and contribute data to the Atlanta SLIME (Snails and slugs Living In Metropolitan Environments) project.
No registration necessary.
Life in the Stream: A Journey into Salamander Biology | March 17th 3:00 PM
Presented by Kennesaw State University
Slither into the world of salamanders at a local stream in Cascade Springs! Discover the secrets of their fascinating life cycles, from tiny eggs to elusive adults, through engaging hands-on activities and expert-led field excursions. During this interactive event, you’ll become a salamander scientist by identifying various salamander species and locating salamander eggs, larvae, and adults. Join us on a journey into the hidden lives of these extraordinary amphibians!
