Editor’s note: A photo caption was updated to reflect the proper spelling of an attendee’s name.

On the fourth floor of the Texas Science & Natural History Museum, members of the education team displayed microscopic images of feathers and fur. In the basement, visitors stood in line to touch an endangered Eastern Indigo snake.

These and other animal education activities took place for Texas Wildlife Day.

“Texas Wildlife Day is an event that our associate director, Dr. Pamela Owen, started about 10 years ago,” education coordinator Mariam Nouri said. “Due to COVID and the pandemic, it was brought to a halt, but we’re now bringing it back.”

The museum hosted multiple outside organizations focused on animal education and conservation, including regional chapters of the volunteer group Texas Master Naturalists. At tables throughout the first floor, the volunteers gave lessons about different wildlife creatures and hosted a crafting activity making paper bats.

The event also featured WILDcenter, which does live presentations with animals. They brought  snakes, turtles and raptors along with animal products like snakeskin and snake eggs.

Senior student associate and UT student Amanda Holly, a member of the education team, showed visitors feathers under a microscope as part of the event. Holly said she enjoys working part-time at the museum.

“I did an internship here and I just really loved the museum,” Holly said. “It was a gem, finding it. I really enjoyed engaging with community members.”

Among the attendees was Elisabeth and Joseph Makwara, along with their son, Remi. Elisabeth Makwara said they have enjoyed visiting the museum since it reopened in 2023, following extensive renovations.

“We’re very thankful that it finally opened,” she said. “I have a six-year-old son that I homeschool and he loves fossils. We have to give him what he’s interested in.”

Alex Donovan, the senior events program coordinator for the museum, said that it’s a net positive for people to understand their local wildlife.

“You don’t need to know the name of every bug that’s around you,” Donovan said. “But just knowing that they’re here, they’re important, they’re all serving a purpose, I think is a just way for people to feel more connected to their communities.”