Contact: Steven Leibman or Grace Per Lee
802-864-1848 ext. 125 or 131
sleibman@echovermont.org or
gperlee@echovermont.org
SEA LAMPREYS USHER IN VERMONT & NEW YORK DISCOUNT
BURLINGTON, Vt. -- In case you haven't been to ECHO Lake
Aquarium and Science Center lately - or even if you have - make
sure to visit starting February 16th to go "mouth-to-mouth" with
live sea lampreys, a new addition to the popular exhibit, Attack
of the Bloodsuckers! And as if lampreys aren't enough, also
beginning that Saturday is ECHO's Vermont & New York Discount,
where every resident gets $2 off admission through April 28th.
Landlocked sea lampreys are a much-maligned - and perhaps
misunderstood - parasitic fish species living in our very own
Lake Champlain. Best known for their round mouths full of
circular rows of tiny teeth, these creatures are also the
subject of scientific research for their anti-coagulant
properties.
Older than the dinosaurs, there's no question that the
lamprey's peculiar form of adaptation has served them well over
millions of years, except for when they're being served up for
dinner! That's right, some people find these jawless fish quite
appetizing. In certain parts of Europe - France, Portugal, and
Sweden, to name a few - they are considered a delicacy. In fact,
in some areas overseas, the lamprey has actually been
overfished, becoming a "species of concern." But most folks in
the Champlain Valley are concerned with them for their parasitic
nature, which makes their presence at ECHO an exciting
opportunity for discussion.
ECHO's sea lampreys are native Vermonters, provided by the US
Fish and Wildlife Service. They will add a fascinating dimension
to Attack of the Bloodsuckers!, which features live leeches and
hands-on experiences like "Mosquito Cockpit." This special
exhibit was created by the same folks who brought Turtle Travels
and Tree Houses to ECHO, and is sponsored by the American Red
Cross, Chittenden Bank, Vermont Department of Agriculture, and
Vermont Department of Health.
Attack of the Bloodsuckers! is produced by EEC! - the
Environmental Exhibit Collaborative (ECHO Lake Aquarium and
Science Center, Burlington, Vermont; EcoTarium, Worcester,
Massachusetts; and the Children's Museum of Maine, Portland,
Maine) - and made possible by grants from Jane's Trust, Cabot
Family Charitable Trust, and the U.S. Institute for Museum and
Library Services.
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is based at the
Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, on Vermont's Burlington
Waterfront. ECHO features 70 species of live fish, amphibians,
invertebrates, and reptiles, over 100 hands-on experiences,
major traveling exhibits, and the multimedia Awesome Forces
Theater. The 2.2 acre site is also highlighted by the Lake
Champlain Navy Memorial, ECHO's Eclectic Gift Shop, and seasonal
café. Open year-round, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed most Mondays in
winter. Admission is $7-$9.50; children under 3 and K-12
classroom teachers with credential ID are free. For more
information visit echovermont.org, call 1-877-ECHOFUN, or write
to ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Leahy Center for Lake
Champlain, One College Street, Burlington, VT 05401.
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1.802.864.1848
