Residents of Old Mine Ranch in Dumfries include llamas, goats, lambs, donkeys, ponies, chickens, rabbits and ducks. View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Many options for young animal lovers

There are plenty of places in the area to satisfy young animal lovers

Date published: 8/31/2006

By COLLETTE CAPRARA

For THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Curious kids love to get up close to the animals they've learned about in books. The following is a sample of numerous spots in the area where young animal lovers can hear a pig grunt, watch a spider spin a web or run a finger through a sheep's fluffy coat.

l The Bug Box

10822A Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania.

Open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Open Saturdays after Labor Day. $2 for a self-guided tour, $3 for a presentation, children under 2 admitted free. 540/710-0776, bugbox.net

As evening falls on these late-summer days, the rhythmic chirping of insects drifts through our windows. Who are they and what are they up to? The answers to these and other questions about the tiny inhabitants of our yards are provided at the Bug Box, an innovative insect zoo.

"People are always surprised to learn that there are annual cicadas as well as those that have a 17-year cycle," said Cindy Robinson, who co-owns the Bug Box with her husband, Barry. "The ones that you hear at night are the males. It's their mating call. They're singing to get their sweethearts."

This indoor zoo features displays of insect specimens, as well as a host of live exotic creepy-crawlies from around the world, including scorpions, tarantulas, giant millipedes, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, walking sticks and beetles. In addition, it is home to Bob the leopard gecko and Fred, a ball python that was "rescued" from a home by exterminators.

Visitors are welcome to drop in at any time during operating hours for a self-guided visit, and reservations can be made for group presentations. The Bug Box also goes on the road for appearances at schools, day care classes, camp groups, and Scout events.

l Old Mine Ranch

17504 Mine Road, Dumfries.

Open weekends, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., and other times by appointment. $6 (includes all activities). 703/441-1382, old mineranch.net.

Old Mine Ranch, a 30-acre farm with a variety of animals to view, pet, and feed, is located in Dumfries. Residents at the ranch include llamas, goats, lambs, donkeys, ponies, chickens, rabbits and ducks, and the smaller animals are available for purchase.

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Date published: 8/31/2006