An Earth Day event celebrated all creatures great and small, along with plants and conservation and preservation groups Saturday at Arts in the Sunset in Amarillo, with proceeds benefitting the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
Booths three deep lined the walkway on the east side of the arts complex, with the center section, the A.J. Swopes area, hosting various bluegrass bands including Bomb City Bluegrass, the Grass Daddies, Joe Ed & Friends, and Yvonne Perea with Savannah Thomas, and Moses Morin, presented by Eurth Injon Music Productions.
People swarmed the WWWRC booth, which held alternating wildlife including a black and white possum, large box turtle, skunk and a very cute Nutria, which resembles a beaver but is in a different family. The animal is native to South America and is a semi-aquatic rodent, with a long skinny tail. A Nutria also has white whiskers, rather than the black whiskers of beavers, and digs burrows in banks, not dams.
People were able to pet the animals on site and learn about them through the center’s employees.
\u201cIt was truly a wonderful event with an incredible turnout \u2014 our hearts are so full,” Stephanie Brady, executive director and founder of WWWRC said. “Thank you to everyone who came out to support us and be part of such a special day. A sincere thank you to our amazing vendors, talented musicians, dedicated Game Wardens, the Potter County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, the falconers, Texas Master Naturalists, and the entire team at Arts in the Sunset. Your generosity, support, and willingness to pour into this community made all the difference.”
“We couldn\u2019t have asked for a more meaningful and successful event to honor Earth Day and our wildlife. Thank you for being part of it,\u201d she added.
One participant brought her friendly burros to share with the visitors. The burros seemed to relish the attention of the crowds, with youngsters brushing the coats of the burros who were housed in a mobile pen.
Vendors had all kinds of items for sale, including plants, jewelry, breads and everything under the sun, for customers milling around the area.
Texas Parks & Wildlife had a Master Naturalist booth, which had displays of different insects and butterflies. They also had scooped up seeds in a ball, which could be watered and would spread wildflowers. Some of their game wardens with trucks and equipment explained their work to the crowds.
The Museum of the Plains in Perryton also joined the celebration, with some of their exhibits and literature.
Texas Tech’s School of Veterinary Medicine brought their mobile truck, and the Potter County Sheriff\u2019s Office was also part of it being a successful event.<\/p>\n