Creatures of the Night event focuses on animal education
Children usually trick-or-treat at their human neighbors' homes, but on Friday evening in Succop Nature Park some kids collected candy from their winged and furry neighbors.
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania held an educational Halloween event at the park for children who scare easily but still wanted to enjoy the holiday. The night, which was part of an annual series held at the Butler park and two others in the area, saw children paraded around the park by torchlight from one nocturnal creature to the next.
The creatures themselves were Slippery Rock University students wearing full-body animal costumes. Each one taught the group about another species that, according to the park's environmental educator Ryan Stauffer, is one of their neighbors.
“All the species they're going to see tonight are native to Western Pennsylvania,” Stauffer said. “We rotate out the animals too, so there are always some new ones each year.”
The Audubon group makes and modifies the costumes. This is the event's eighth year, Stauffer said.
Chris Kubiak, the director of education for the group, said they wanted to keep things light for the crowd, while still being informative.
“It's not presented in a dry, scientific way,” Kubiak said. “We have a little fun with it.”
That's where the actors come in. Members of Slippery Rock University's Kappa Delta Rho fraternity volunteer as the animal actors.
SRU student David Steiger, 19, of Butler, stood dressed as a flying squirrel.
“I tell them what they eat, how they fly, how they climb trees,” Steiger said. “Our fraternity does it every year.”
His flying squirrel impression apparently left an impact on 7-year-old Ava Brennen, who said it was her favorite part.
Liam Brennen, 5, said he liked seeing an owl.
He wasn't referring to Ben Warren, the SRU student dressed as a large owl. Rather, he meant the 4-year-old screech owl that Kubiak showed the crowd. The tiny bird was hit by a car and placed with the Audubon group after recovering.
“It held onto the guy's finger,” Liam explained.
Sheila Brennen, the children's aunt, was also pleased.
“I liked it,” Brennen said. “I like things like this for children around here.”
