A couple of years ago I entered the Bug Gallery at the Royal Alberta Museum with a strong fear of animals that just happen to have 8 legs.
Fear is something that has held me back in the past, so entering and eventually volunteering with the live animals team was an important part of moving past these fears.
I began volunteering with the Live Animals Team during the pandemic, learning about the behavior of different species of arachnids and insects.
Pete was a big part of showing me that observing and learning about these creatures is the first step in overcoming a fear.
After getting to hold and learn about a wide array of creatures from snakes and tarantulas to millipedes and beetles, I became fascinated and could not get enough of these animals.
Fast forward to 3 years later, I am a proud owner of 5 different tarantulas (some photographed below) all with great names and great personalities.
Getting past these fears has made my life a lot easier. I can proudly say I am no longer a spider squasher and enjoy observing my tarantulas daily.
I highly recommend visiting the bug gallery and learning about the amazing animals we keep at the Royal Alberta Museum. And who knows, it may help you overcome a lifelong fear in the meantime!
Written by Sydney Paterson