‘Animals of the Night’ educates children

Annual event to have food, drinks, live animals

The+12th+annual+Animal+Of+the+Night+event+will+be+5-8+p.m.+Friday+in+Moscow.

COURTESY OF PALOUSE-CLEARWATER ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE

The 12th annual Animal Of the Night event will be 5-8 p.m. Friday in Moscow.

EMMA LEDBETTER, Evergreen news editor

The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute is hosting its 12th annual Animals of the Night event from 5-8 p.m. Friday in Moscow.

The free event will take place at PCEI’s 26-acre nature center, said Program Director Heather Huston Bell.

Animals of the Night will host expert educators from WSU, UI and other local organizations, Huston Bell said.

“We find a ton of community members that are really passionate about something,” said Frankie Curet, assistant program coordinator and AmeriCorps volunteer.

Huston Bell said the event is set up as a circuit, and the first area participants walk through is a spider and amphibian exhibit.

PCEI’s newly completed greenhouse is the next stop for event participants, where they will have the opportunity to interact with different educators at their tables, Huston Bell said.

“You can just wander through this large exhibit … learning about canines and felines from the Wolf Education and Research Center,” she said.

The greenhouse will also have facilitated exhibits about bats, beavers, skunks and raccoons, Huston Bell said.

The last stop on the event circuit is the raptor area, she said. The WSU Raptor Club will showcase some of its birds for participants at this location.

Huston Bell said PCEI will also have a celebration area with a bonfire and free s’mores for participants.

For those interested in food at the event, Hunga Dunga Brewing Company will be selling tacos and beer. Apple cider from Wilson Banner Ranch can be purchased with a donation.

Curet said the event has something for both students and families with children.

“We’ve got a bunch of kid-specific activities, highlighting our nature school that we have on the facility,” Huston Bell said.

Face painting and a touch table with earthworms are a few of the exhibits for children, Huston Bell said.

The event is completely free for participants, though donations are welcome, she said.

“We have done this event for cost in the past, and all proceeds went to our education program,” Huston Bell said. “What we try to do now is make it no cost. The public is welcome to come … any donations benefit our education program.”

Event parking is very limited, Curet said, but there will be a free shuttle leaving every 20 minutes starting at 5 p.m. from the Rosauers parking lot.

The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute is located at 1040 Rodeo Drive, Moscow.