Animal Mania at Muncie Children's Museum

The Muncie Children's Museum welcomes two new creatures to our family of animals: a chinchilla and an American Alligator named Blue!

The MCM is proud to have Blue, the American Alligator, on temporary exhibit, and a female chinchilla that will be a permanent fixture at the museum.

Blue is a three year old alligator that is two feet long and really likes to eat fish, crickets and mice. Although Blue is only two feet long right now, he has the potential to one day grow to an impressive 15 feet in length and weigh 1,000 pounds! American Alligators are one of two crocodilians native to the United States; the other being the American crocodile. Blue will only be at the museum through August so come and see him soon!

The newest member of the museum's animal family is a female chinchilla. She does not have a name yet, but visitors are encouraged to submit a name for the chinchilla naming contest. Five names will be drawn by staff members and placed on voting bins for visitors to cast their vote. The highest voted name will be given to the chinchilla, and the visitor who submitted the name will be awarded a one year MCM family membership.

Want a chance to see and interact with the newest additions to the MCM's animal family? Come to the Muncie Children's Museum every Wednesday, at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m., for "Wildlife Wednesdays", when MCM educators focus on a different MCM animal. Visitors will learn about the animal, what animal family they are a part of, feel the animal and ask any questions that they may have. Visitors will also get to participate in animal-related story time and an animal-related craft.

For more information on any of the Muncie Children's Museum, call (765) 286-1660 or visit www.munciechildrensmuseum.com.

The Muncie Children's Museum provides hands-on, educational and innovative learning. The Museum is located at 515 S. High St. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $6 a person ages 1-100.



Find Downtown Muncie on myspace and facebook and follow us on twitter.