Alligators trudged their way into the Forest Ecology Preserve on North College Street for the fourth annual Creepy Wonderful Critters celebration.
The event, which happens every year before Halloween, drew more than 200 children and adults who came to see and touch the snakes, reptiles and insects brought in by volunteers and local pet stores.
"We love to do stuff like this to educate people," said Daisy Griffin, volunteer and naturalist at the preserve. "They come out to see nature, hike and have a good time, and it's really important for kids to experience this for developmental reasons."
Previous creepy critter events featured bats, spiders and snakes, with alligators joining the list this year.
According to Ecology Preserve administrator Jennifer Lolley, they are looking to get wolves for 2011.
"Each year we try to bring an animal in that people are maybe a little afraid about," Lolley said. "Once you learn about them, you see they are wonderful creatures, and they all have a place in the web of life."
Seven American alligators made the trip from their home at Alligator Alley in Summerdale, including three hatchlings from September, three 3-year-olds and one 6-year-old that was too big to be handled and stayed in its contained area.
Auburn graduate and Alligator Alley employee Evan Wheeler brought the alligators from the farm in Summerdale, where they house 300 alligators in their 50-acre facility, which contains more than 20 acres of natural cypress swampland.
Wheeler discussed his job with the children, how they feed the alligators and how he has almost been bitten a few times.
"A lady once told me, 'Young man, didn't you go to college so you don't have to do dangerous stuff like this?' and I said, 'Ma'am, this is a lot safer than the stuff I did in college,'" Wheeler said.
Among all the alligators at Alligator Alley, Wheeler mentioned one named Captain Crunch, which holds the world record for bite strength at 2,982 pounds.
As the kids held the alligators, many of the families explored the 120-acre preserve that is open every day of the year and has more than five miles of trails.
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