Holidays bring four calling birds, three prairie dogs,
and more to LCC Science Center

By Tom Miller

After a short holiday break, the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center at Laredo Community College is open with more for you in 2002. For the comfort of our visitors and our resident specimens, 12 new sunshades have been installed.
We've also moved our Saturday hours to afternoons. Our new Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Many new plants have arrived and our native animals collection has increased.

More animal exhibits
Last fall we welcomed 11 new alligators; they are wintering inside our Living Lab and will be released this spring to their wetland display area. From the Western part of the Río Grande Watershed have come three prairie dogs. Our two females appear to be pregnant, so look to new pups this spring in a new exhibit.Also, we have acquired a very exciting new mammal, a four-month-old female bobcat; her antics are sure to be pleasing to observe. A young raccoon is also to be exhibited. To complete a modest collection of native mammals we are looking forward to procuring javelina, opossum, and other small animals.
More student tours
We look forward to a busy spring school field trip schedule. We support the new tide of environmental awareness, particularly the interest in Laredo's part of the Río Grande watershed. We encourage all teachers to sign up early for their dates at the Center. Our school visitation courses continue to be popular. These are offered to local school students for a nominal entrance fee of $3 for one hour, $4 for two hours, and $7 for five hours. Weekend visitors can tour the Center with entrance fees of $4 for adults and $2 for senior citizens and students.

More volunteer projects
As we approach our third anniversary, we thank all those who volunteer their time to help Laredo Community College operate this important learning center. Volunteers are still needed for Nature Trail improvements, exhibits, and to guide student groups. We also welcome sponsors for our exhibits.
By all means, come visit us in 2002 on the north side of the Laredo Community College campus. You can find us under the windmills.

(Tom Miller is the Director of the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center.)