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On Thursday, May 4, join GARNA and Nathrop resident Denny Radabaugh for the program “In Defense of Spiders,” in which Radabaugh will attempt to dispel some cultural fears about spiders. He will also talk about their benefits to humans, such as uses of spider silk, which is as strong as steel. This program was last presented by Denny for Central Colorado Conservancy in September, 2015.
“Our culture is one of the few in the world in which there is widespread fear of spiders,” Radabaugh says. “I think I will surprise people about where some of the misinformation comes from.” The presentation will also cover information such as the number of spider species in the world, Colorado and Chaffee County, the evolutionary origins and defining characteristics of the spider, spider biology including their senses, and spiders as predators in ecosystems.
Denny Radabaugh grew up in Michigan, where he acquired a love of the outdoors, especially fishing and camping. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Albion College, and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Ohio State University, both with a focus on animal behavior. Radabaugh taught a broad range of courses in Biological Sciences during a 38-year career at Ohio Wesleyan University, and, along the way, discovered that spiders made good experimental models for his research on predatory behavior and ecology. During his talk, he will explain how he developed both appreciation and affection for these amazing eight-legged creatures, how they came to be unjustly feared in the U.S., and how local residents can participate in the Colorado Spider Survey through the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The program will be held from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Salida, 7 Poncha Blvd, Fellowship Hall. The cost is $5 for GARNA members and $7 for non-members.
Online registration is now closed. Tickets will be available at the door. Cash or checks only please.
Many GARNA programs require a Liability Release Form be filled out each calendar year.
Your registration is secured upon receipt of payment, as long as there space is still available in a program. If you prefer not to register online (recommended), you may mail a check, made out to “GARNA” to the address below or stop by the office. Please include a note with the program you are registering for. Be aware, some programs sell out quickly, and we cannot confirm your spot with a mailed registration.
PO Box 1522
Salida CO 81201
Cancellation policy:
If we are notified of your need to cancel by 24 hours of program date, your program fee will be refunded except for a $3.00 administrative fee. No refunds within 24 hours or after the event (but most events are transferable). If minimum enrollment has not been met 2 days before program date, programs will be cancelled and we will refund the full amount.
