Cool critters

There are some very unique residents at the Okanagan Science Centre and Elise Huffman wants to tell you all about them.

Huffman is the resident animal expert of the Polson Park facility, but it is not cats and dogs that her focus is set upon.

Currently, Huffman has a crested gecko, blue-tongued skink, corn snake, several hermit crabs and other critters residing at the science centre.

She runs several programs through the OSC to educate people about the animals.

Huffman said there are many things people may not realize about caring for such unique animals when they get one as a pet. Their diet, lifespan and unique needs all must be taken into consideration.

“We actually have quite a number of breeders in the area, which is really nice,” said Huffman.

Responsible breeders allow people to own such animals without having to take them from the wild.

“The vast majority of the animals in the pet industry are wild animals that have been harvested or collected,” said Huffman, noting all of her animals were rescues. “There are wild animals and wild populations being affected by our using them as pets.”

She said there are several hundred thousand such pets in the province.

Huffman is very knowledgeable - and passionate - about the animals and is on a mission to educate people about the many facets of the creatures.

“I want them to leave with some knowledge about the animals and something to think about when it comes to animal care and the pet industry. I just want people to walk away from here looking at animals a little differently than when they came in, especially animals like these guys,” she said.

One of the unique things about having the animals at the science centre is people can get up close and personal with them under Huffman's watchful eye.