Creepy Crawly Critters Crawl Into The Lawrence!

On Saturday, November 2, families and nature enthusiasts gathered at The Lawrence Hall of Science for the Creepy Crawly Critters event, a celebration of spiders, snakes, and scorpions just in time for the spooky season. Costumed visitors explored the Animal Discovery Zone and Outdoor Nature Lab to meet some of the world’s most misunderstood creatures.

The event featured live displays of fascinating critters like Florida’s jumping spiders, Australian huntsman spiders, and a bioluminescent Desert Hairy Scorpion named Delilah, who glowed under a blacklight. Scarlett, a striking black widow spider, quickly became a favorite among the young attendees. As children peered into tanks and whispered in awe, one young boy remarked, “Spiders are cool as long as they’re in that sealed container!” 

“This is such an exciting opportunity for people to connect with creatures that we might be afraid of and that we can be curious about,” said Claudia Bustos, Executive Director of Public Engagement at The Lawrence. “This might be a lot of people’s first up close encounter with a spider, and that opens up a world to see things differently back home when we see spiders in our own backyards.”

UC Berkeley graduate students were on-site, sharing their research and inviting guests to view the spiders up close. “The main goal for the exhibit is outreach,” explained Kathy Nagel, a PhD student. “We want to show people the kinds of spiders they might see around here and that they don’t need to be afraid of them. A lot of people don’t get a chance to see a Black Widow up close in a safe environment.”

Trinity Walls, another PhD student, shared her personal journey of overcoming her fear of spiders. “Since I was really young, people always told me spiders were scary, that they were going to bite you or chase you. So I started doing little experiments, just waiting near spiders to see if they would bite me, but they never did. Eventually, I realized that not everything I was told about spiders was true,” she said. “Now, I want to help kids and families get rid of their fears too.”

A highlight of the event was an educational video showcasing spiders “singing and dancing” to communicate with each other, offering a glimpse into the fascinating ways these creatures interact. Hands-on activities were abundant, including a 3D printing station where UC Berkeley graduate students demonstrated a cutting-edge printer capable of creating spider figurines in seconds. Unlike traditional printers that build objects layer by layer, this new technology uses light to form entire shapes at once, impressing young explorers with its speed and efficiency.

The event also featured an innovative light projection display, where layers of light were projected against the wall to form an image of a spider. By shining light from multiple angles, each layer added to the overall shape, creating a detailed, dynamic representation of the spider. This technology allowed attendees to see the spider’s intricate structure from different perspectives, providing a unique and engaging way to learn about these fascinating creatures.

In the Animal Discovery Zone, families attended special editions of Critter Connection to meet the museum’s resident snakes. Children squealed with delight as educators introduced them to the reptiles’ fascinating behaviors. “The snake’s scales are so smooth!” one child exclaimed as they reached out to touch a friendly serpent.

For many visitors, Creepy Crawly Critters was more than just a Halloween-themed event—it was an exciting chance to explore the fascinating world of spiders, snakes, and scorpions. The Lawrence Hall of Science invites critter enthusiasts of all ages to continue discovering the wonders of the natural world with us. There’s always something new and thrilling to explore!