Upcoming Events

Meet our animal ambassadors at these community events:

Past Events:

Halloween Land 2023 at Unity Park, Richmond

October 28, 2023 @ 10 am–1 pm

Free Admission 

Hosted by Urban Tilth, join us for thrilling activities, spooky surprises, and heartwarming moments for all ages to enjoy.

Trick-or-Treaters can explore a mesmerizing pumpkin patch, where they’ll pick the perfect pumpkin to take home and carve into a jack-o’-lantern masterpiece. 

For the little ones, we have a special costume parade, where they can showcase their creative and spooky outfits while enjoying a friendly competition for the best costume award. Our parade will be led by the enchanting Halloween Land characters, providing unforgettable memories for everyone.

Animal Day at the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens

October 29, 2023 @ 10 am–1 pm

Free with Garden admission

Join us at this celebration of animals including interactive booths and displays, crafts, tours, live animals to see and touch, and more!

  • 10:00-1:00pm: Meet slithering, stealthy snakes with Things that Creep!

  • 1:00–3:00 pm Visit with live animals with the Lindsay Wildlife Experience educators! 

  • Learn all about busy bees and watch them work in a demo hive

  • Explore the fascinating world of pollination with Garden docents

  • Check out some fascinating flyers and crawlers with the Essig Museum of Entomology

  • Animal themed body paint tattoos 11am-3pm

  • Get to know the coastal birds of the Bay with educators from the Shorebird Park Nature Center

  • Get crafty at our kids craft station and make an animal mask

  • Take a little stroll with Garden volunteer Sal Levinson to explore butterflies and host plants! Space is limited. Reserve your spot that day at the Garden Kiosk.

    • Host Plant Stroll 1:00 pm–1:30 pm

    • Butterfly Stroll 2:00 pm–2:30 pm

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See an excerpt from our May 2021 newsletter:

Enjoy Outdoor Activities and Wildlife Viewing Safely

rattler by Larry Cox.jpg
gopher mario capitelli.jpg

Hiking and outdoor activities are a wonderful way to celebrate warm, sunny weather. Snakes are out enjoying the sun too!

These two snakes were recently spotted in the East Bay. Can you tell them apart? The first photo is a Western Pacific Rattlesnake, the only species in the Bay Area dangerous to humans. The second is a gopher snake, harmless to humans and boon to gardens as they control rodent populations. Educating yourself about local wildlife keeps you safe and enhances your enjoyment of outdoor spaces.

ON THE TRAIL:

If you spot a snake while hiking or in a wild space, consider yourself lucky and admire from a distance. Keep pets on-leash and stay on established trails.

Here's a wonderful article by Stephen Nett:

Snakes on a Trail: Tips for Hiking in Rattlesnake Country

And general outdoor safety advice from the US Forest Service

IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS:

Snakes share space with humans, like the gopher snake pictured above. With the exception of the rattlesnake, Bay Area snakes are harmless to humans. All play an important role in the ecosystem.

If you have concerns about a snake, the organization Got Snakes? offers support services including removal, property inspections and a free 24 hr. identification by photo service.