Aliens Among Us, a travelling Royal BC Museum exhibition on the province’s invasive species, will be coming to the Peninsula this weekend.
The exhibition will run from Aug. 13 to early November at White Rock Museum and Archives, 14970 Marine Dr., and invites visitors to interact with some of B.C.’s best-known and least-loved invasive species.
“There are over 4,000 alien species in the province and that number grows each year,” Gavin Hanke, curator of vertebrate zoology at the Royal BC Museum, said in a release. “Some of these aliens are invasive – they spread quickly, threaten native wildlife and are hard to control.”
American bullfrogs, scotch broom, smallmouth bass and purple loosestrife are just a few of the species featured in Aliens Among Us.
The exhibition tells stories of how invasive species arrived in the province, what individuals can do to protect their communities and how these aliens fit in – or don’t fit in – with their environments.
“Invasive species have become a part of our everyday world, and it is surprising to realize which commonly accepted plants and animals are in fact a threat to our local ecosystem,” White Rock Museum and Archives executive director Sharon Oldaker said. “This fascinating exhibit will help inform and educate the community and is an excellent venue for all ages to enjoy.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Royal BC Museum to our newly renovated facility. It is the perfect opening exhibit to feature in our new museum gallery.”
Aliens Among Us is travelling through B.C. between 2011 and 2013. For a listing of dates and locations, visit www.royalmuseum.bc.ca