In our Sedona, AZ Road Scholar evening, a woman presenter, Maggie Mitchell, brought four small glass carrying aquarium-like cases to our evening session. They contained a live scoprion, two different tarantulas and a snake. You can see her and a snake here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Lynn was a counselor at Fresh Air camp and liked to explain to girls that snakes are not so scary. So, when Mitchell asked who wanted to hold a live scorpion in her hand, while demonstrating that very act, Lynn was the first to leap up and volunteer. The scorpion behaved nicely and Mitchell said that quite a few scorpions will only sting prey. After a few minutes of letting it explore her hand, it was returned to its case and Mitchell let others hold the tarantulas and the snake.
The next day was Valentine's Day and what could be a more loving gift than a stuff scorpion? In the gift shop of a national park, I saw their stuffed scorpions and bought one for Lynn. She keeps it close at hand, by the bed.
Because of that romantic purchase, I am more aware of stuffed animals that scientists and children and wives might find comfy and huggable. The other day, I saw that Discover magazine's website is offering stuffed tardigrades. Those are microscopic animals of interest to various students of life, since the little "waterbears" are so tough. They can survive temperatures that are way too hot for humans and also deadly cold. If you see a stuffed tardigrade, you might have trouble recognizing it as such.
