Yeaw Nature Center naturalist Kristen Angelini (center) demonstrates monarch butterfly behaviors to NatureFest visiting sisters Aspen (left) and Hazel. Parents are Ashley and Paul-Michael Sosa.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - From reptiles to spiders, raptors and bats - including California’s recently adopted State Bat of the Pallid species - Effie Yeaw Nature Centre went scaley, buzzy and batty.

Held Sunday, June 7, NatureFest is the center’s largest event, this year hosting nearly 800 visitors at the Carmichael facility.

Along with nature-oriented programs, creatures great and small were paraded.  The Save the Snakes organization presented a gopher snake called Sunflower and an expertly handled rattlesnake.

“The exhibit of live bats (curated by NorCal Bats volunteers) was a big hit,” reported Nature Center executive Rachael Cowan. “People are fascinated by them. Once you study them up close, you learn they are wonderful creatures, that do us a favor by eating insects.”

A skunk, a tarantula spider and a red-tailed hawk were introduced by Gabe Kerschner, who runs Wild Things Animal Sanctuary in Placer County.

Wildlife sanctuary operator Gabe Kerschner introduces a red-tailed hawk ambassador called Tesla.

Kerschner’s rescued animals feature on television and in hundreds of school programs every year. For NatureFest, his rock-star ambassador was a Capuchin monkey called Tito. The South American native entered the USA as a pet and was eventually surrendered to live with others of his species in Kerschner’s refuge.

Visitors were invited to vote on their favorite local animal or plant species. The river otter – common in the nearby American River – swam to first place in popular preference.

More than 40 organizations interacted with visitors during the open day. “We’ve been doing this event for 15 years,” said Rachael Cowan. “We had a great flow of visitors. Our exhibitors provided amazing demonstrations and activities. NatureFest is a wonderful way for everyone to interact with nature.”

NatureFest sponsors included: Fred and Betsy Weiland, SMUD, Carmichael Water District, Save the American River Association, Sacramento Area Creeks Council, California Native Plant Society, Betty Cooper. For information on Effie Yeaw Nature Center events, visit www.sacnaturecenter.net.