Thursday, September 24, 2009

Butterflies and Mice: Mall of America

While at the Mall of America for Scrapfest, my sisters and I discovered that there is a butterfly display in the amusement park in the center of the mall. Well, we rushed over with our cameras, paid the $5 entrance fee (unlike the free display at Como Park), and saw monarchs. Unfortunately, the display is only licensed for monarchs right now, but in four weeks will be licensed to display more species.









Pretty little critters, aren't they? But apparently, MOA is inhabited by other critters as well. I noticed the worker gathering up a pile of dead monarchs and asked her if this was a butterfly graveyard. She told me that the mall has a mouse problem; they've discovered that the exhibit has these tasty treats, and she didn't much mind when the mice were cleaning up the dead butterflies for her. But now they seem to have learned that the butterflies are "easy pickings" and are now snacking on the live butterflies. She said it's kind of an expensive meal for the mice. (Someone should think about THAT before issuing the license for all those other species!)
She also said there's lots of mice in the mall, that come out at night. Ewwwwww!!!!! Think about that next time you put your feet, with sandals on, on the floor in the movie theatre inthe mall, in the dark!


15 comments:

Julie said...

Beautiful butterfly photos! And yuck about the mice....ewwhhh!

Sharon said...

Sometimes.... ignorance is bliss. ;)

Great shots!

The Au Family said...

Beautiful. Love the colors!

shirley said...

These are great shots, Angela! And eewww about the other critters.

Krystle said...

These are wonderful shots. Bleeehhhehehheheheeeeeeewwwwwwwww about the mice. eeeeeeeeeehlw lol.

Maria said...

What an icky thought, but the photos are beautiful! Were they taken with your new camera? They are so vivid!

Gypsy Girl(Brenda) said...

You got such beautiful shots of these butterflies. I love all the color and compostion. Ewwww on the mice.

bprincephoto said...

Lovely shots. The colors are fantastic. And YUCK to the mice.

Yolanda said...

Great photo's. As far as the mice-- I don't want to know.

Reds said...

ewwwwhhhh for sure!! but wow on these butterfly shots!

Jeanne said...

Gorgeous butterflies!

As for mice...if you've read my blog at all recently, you know how I feel about those! Can you just imagine the mall set up with all those humane traps we use? LOL

Nicki said...

TMI! lalalallala I'm not hearing you!....... set the butterflies free (great pictures by the way!)

John C. said...

Monarchs have such a beautiful color to them.

Barb said...

Beautiful butterfly shots.

Cindi Koceich said...

I may never go to the mall again! Ewwww...
Beautiful shots though!!!