Aiken County residents touch plants and animals

Two-year-old Abby Lewis and her brother, Kinsey, 4, enjoyed touching and learning about different animals during Touch an Animal Day on Saturday. Here, SREL Outreach Program volunteer Kacee Poppy holds up a box turtle for the siblings to touch. Staff photo by Ashleey Williamson.

What do a red-tailed hawk, a possum and a 6-foot Canebrake rattlesnake have in common?

All three were available for an up-close and personal introduction on Saturday at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory's Touch an Animal Day, held at the University of Georgia-SREL Conference Center.

The event, which drew more than 600 people to the conference center, allowed children and adults to get a first-hand lesson on plants and animals that are native to South Carolina.

"Most children want to touch the animals when we give talks, particularly at the library or at schools," said Whit Gibbons, director of the Outreach Program at SREL. "We don't have time for everybody to touch everything, so this is an opportunity for them to see everything up close and get a chance to hold something that they've seen us talk about."

Reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds and insects lined the walls of the conference center, and, in the middle of the room, a large display of various plants were on display, including native fibers and portions of oak and palmetto tree trunks.

Knowledgeable staff and volunteers stood at each station with the plants and animals and offered information to those who approached, as well as answered questions.

"These are all experts - there are students and faculty and technical staff that do research on these animals, so they know all about them - you couldn't ask for a better teacher," said Gibbons.

Children of all ages marveled at the collection of live animals that usually only exist on television or movies but were now in person and within reach.

"I'm really amazed by this snake. I didn't know rattlesnakes got that big," said Donna Derrick, wide-eyed and enthralled by the 6-foot rattlesnake on a table in front of her.

"I bet you more people in Aiken County have touched a rattlesnake than any other county in the country," Gibbons said. "I'll bet it's a record."