<em>Terry “Rock” Moeslein, Assistant Education Director/Interpretive Naturalist
Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, Virginia</em>

Why not have native animals at your zoo? It is easier to find local species from wildlife rehabilitators.  They are easier to maintain in a native climate and find local support for their health and well-being. But there are other valid reasons why a typical zoo might consider keeping animals more often found within their state or local area.

Generally the zoos in the past hundred years were places where people could go to see rare or very unusual animals - sometimes for free and sometimes at a cost.  Except in the larger cities, people of the 1800’s to early 1900’s were more aware of the wildlife and wild places in their areas than are many people today.  Children explored the local woodlands, swamps, creeks and meadows.  People hunted, trapped and ventured into or lived in rural areas.  One would commonly see bald eagles and owls, raccoons, fox, muskrats, deer, chipmunks and bear.  Then, as today, local animals were not always seen as exciting as new and exotic ones.  People went to the zoos to see the variety of new and unusual animals.
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-1047 aligncenter" title="barredowl" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/barredowl.jpg" alt="barredowl" width="581" height="389" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Barred owl</strong> <em>(Photo: Karl Rebenstorf/Virginia Living Museum)</em></p>

<p style="text-align: left;">We typically think of animals from other countries as being the most interesting and less likely to be seen or known by our guests.  For many people, any animal that is different from what is normally encountered is more engaging.  However, due to time constraints and technology, fewer families know much about their own neighborhood beyond identifying the common birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and plants.

Today, children and families can learn about the world and its animals through special television programming or the Internet.  There are Distant Learning opportunities where schools’ students can talk with scientists, researchers or people of knowledge in various fields.  Nature DVDs can take us to and teach us about places most people will never have the opportunity to visit.  Information and images are readily available, but life’s first-hand wildlife experiences are slipping by. We can see it all, but we’re missing important parts of the experience. People and especially children are spending less time exploring their outside world, their neighborhood, their yards or the local parks.  And while we have access to worldwide imagery, we need better access to our own area’s natural partners and connections.  Images and information cannot compete with real experiences.  The Internet and High Definition Television cannot match the reaction that a living animal with its subtle movements, smells, sounds or instantaneous antics can elicit in us.  There is a valuable link made when we physically and emotionally interact with wildlife and wild places and share it with people we know.  If we are to encourage people to care about wild places and animals, it is important to bring animals and people in closer contact, to personalize our experience.  This is the place where zoos, knowledgeable staff, inspiring educators and easier viewing can lend a hand.

In 1987, the 21-year-old Peninsula Nature and Science Center became the Virginia Living Museum.  Our focus changed.  We were to showcase Virginia‘s native plants, animals, habitats and regions, educate children through adults about the importance of varied ecosystems both local and worldwide, teach about conservation and earth care and to continue its planetary science programs.  The transition was easy on paper, but it required the addition of many more animals and an expanded and dedicated animal care staff.  The education staff also expanded to disseminate its lessons to schools, day care facilities, retirement homes, teachers, libraries and the visiting public. In 2009 the VLM became one of only a handful of institutions to be accredited by both the Association of Zoos &amp; Aquariums and the American Associations of Museums.
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-1051 aligncenter" title="raccoon" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/raccoon.jpg" alt="raccoon" width="652" height="476" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Raccoon </strong> <em>(Photo: Karl Rebenstorf/Virginia Living Museum)</em></p>

<p style="text-align: left;">In the past 33 years, I have worked as a wildlife rehabilitation director, an interpretive naturalist, a science educator, a camp counselor, a trip leader to far off places, a field biologist and a teacher of regional, wild flora and fauna.  It continues to delight me to teach anyone the importance of relationships and wonderment of life on earth.  I do not ask for someone to love snakes or spiders, but I hope that after some time, an appreciation, respect or at least a tolerance of these or other creatures will come from our shared experiences. Such conversions cannot happen unless we are in the presence of the animal. But it is not only the animals that we display that make an impression.

A valuable lesson that I learned 30 years ago is that people are more excited to see what they do not expect to see.  While visiting southwest Florida, I was told to visit the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge where I would see Roseate Spoonbills.  As an enthusiastic birdwatcher I was delighted to go.  And there I saw Roseate Spoonbills.  It was cool to watch them.  I was excited.  Overly excited?  No.  I knew that they would be there.  However, when the Black-necked Stilts flew in close by I was beside myself with real excitement.  I knew little of the area and never knew that the Stilts frequented the Refuge.  They were the surprise – the special treat.  Yes, it is exciting to see the lion, the giraffe or the turkey.  You’re supposed to.  It’s on the map.  You expect to see it.  It will be there.  But what if a Red-tail hawk swoops down to catch a mouse in or just outside the enclosure?  Or people watch a wild opossum or some quail as they walk between two enclosures.  Real, unexpected wildlife encounters create excitement, special moments for your visitors, families, members and additional interpretive interaction that can be shared between staff and your guests.  Your guests might first think…..<em>

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