Zoos & Aquariums
Overlooking the spectacular Sundial Bridge and
adjacent to the the
McConnell Arboretum is the Turtle Bay Museum with exhibits and
see-through encased living habitats for snakes, frogs and a variety of
amphibians. While some frogs such as the bullfrog are predators that thrive
heartily, the red-legged frog, a native to Redding, has often been compared
to the canary in the coal mine. It's demise and near extinction has forced
the annual Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Contest to turn to other species
for the jumping competition.
The California red-legged frog's historic
range extended from Point Reyes National Seashore and Redding inland southward
to northwestern Baja California. Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa
Barbara counties support the greatest occupied habitat today, but this beloved
frog made famous by a Mark Twain novel, entered the endangered species list in
1996.
Amphibians are known to be
weak species, having survived on Earth for millions of years. With that in mind,
one must contemplate man's fate as radical ecosystem changes could one day claim
many other species, including humans. In Redding's scenic Cascades, a California
Department of Fish and Game survey was ordered when it appeared the numbers of
Cascade mountain frogs were in decline, possible a direct result of trout
planting programs. That study alone has raised eyebrows and pointed to a need
for close monitoring of such projects that may increase one desired species,
while pushing another to the brink of distinction.
The Turtle Bay Museum and
campus offers educational exhibits to inform the public and increase awareness
about California's ecosystem. (more information about this subject is available
at www.biologicaldiversity.org)
Turtle Bay Museum's permanent exhibits
include underwater fish viewing, fish tanks, interactive displays, a gift store,
outdoor cafe and rotating exhibits. Visible River, walk through historic
re-creations and self-guided exploration and play stimulate your understanding
and challenge ideas about science, art, history, and human nature.
Location: McConnell Arboretum
and Gardens, 840 Auditorium Dr., Redding, CA Call: 800-TURTLEBAY
www.turtlebay.org
The
largest city north of Sacramento, Redding is the county seat of Shasta
County
and the center for government, retail trade, wholesale trade, commerce and
recreation. Redding, bisected by the Sacramento River, is located along
Interstate 5, equidistant between Seattle and Los Angeles, 160 miles north
of Sacramento and 230 miles north of San Francisco.
