Nature Center's 'Good, Bad & Unwanted'

The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center is hosting "The Good, the Bad and the Unwanted" this Friday and Saturday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30. Last year's fall event at the nature center, "Creatures of the Night", attracted over 1,000 visitors. The year before brought over 1,500. According to the center's assistant manager, Steven Juhlin, this year's event is centered on a showdown between native and exotic species in Missouri.

"Visitors will meet four native species characters along the Nature Center's White Oak Trace trail, each having some concerns about an exotic species that's moved in to the area," Juhlin said. However, Juhlin said the travelling shyster armadillo character, Milo Dillow, who peddles exotics while guiding the walk, says there's nothing to worry about.

"But the native species don't agree with Milo and explain that if there's a showdown between them and the exotic, they may not survive," Juhlin said.

After meeting these four native species along the White Oak Trace trail, visitors pass through the old western town where the showdown begins to unfold. The scene becomes intense as the two sides begin to duel.

Will the sheriff arrive in time? Will the native animals lose their habitat? Will the invasive species take over the town? What can you do to help them? Join the crowd this Friday and Saturday evening at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center to find out.

Each evening begins at 6:30 and the last show will be 9:30. Free tickets with show times will be handed out at the door each evening. Guided walks are approximately 30 minutes. There will be games, crafts, presentations, vittles and music as well. The event is for all ages and is held at the Conservation Nature Center in Cape Girardeau County Park North. For more information about "The Good, the Bad and the Unwanted" call the nature center at (573)290-5218.