What animals can you see at SEWE?
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition is back this year in the Lowcountry, and the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary has an extravagant animal show in store for attendees.
SEWE will get an up-close look at alligators, bobcats, foxes, birds of prey, snakes, and much more!
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary will have its animal show on Friday, February 14 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The following animals are just a few that attendees could see if they attend the animal show.
A general admission ticket is required to attend the animal show, to purchase, click here.
Moe the Barred Owl
Moe the barred owl, who only has one eye, is one of the birds of prey that attendees will have the opportunity to meet at SEWE. Amy an official with the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, says Moe was unfortunately hit by a car and sustained major head trauma. His eye ruptured and an ophthalmologist removed it, making Moe unable to be released back into the wild.
Amy says this is a common occurrence with birds of prey, because of their monocular vision, they do not have peripheral vision.
“We have a number of animals that will be at the Gaillard [Center] this weekend that – unfortunately – are trauma victims by car accident,” said Amy with Busch Wildlife Sanctuary.
Bowtie the Alligator
Bowtie is a 2-year-old alligator who lives at the sanctuary and he has a long life ahead of him. Officials with Busch Wildlife Sanctuary say alligators can live up to 100 years in captivity.
“If an alligator is fed by a human one time it’s never allowed to live in the wild again, and that was his particular case,” said Amy.
Bowtie was fed by a human when he was a baby which ultimately doomed his life in captivity.
“That’s why things like SEWE are so important to teach people these things because often it’s our best intentions but sometimes really backfire,” Amy added.
Aztec the Corn Snake
This will be Aztec’s first time at SEWE! Busch Wildlife states that corn snakes prefer drier areas, typically found in pine and flatwood habitats.
When asked about how Aztec is doing during his first Sewe Amy said, “So far so good, we had the Gala last and we’re going to be doing the shows at the Gaillard, so I think he will really enjoy it.”
Chewy the Screech Owl
Chewy is also missing an eye, similar to Moe, and Amy says this is also most likely due to him being hit by a car.
Amy said, “When these poor little guys get hit, often times the eyes really take the brunt of it.”
Chewy is fully grown, officials say when they hatch they are about the size of a cotton ball – little white fluffs – and they are fully grown by the time they reach 3 months.
Amy added that the first couple of weeks, screech owls are doubling in size every day. They eat lots of bugs when they are small, and move on to eating lizards and small rodents when they are fully grown.
