Animal Ambassadors at Discovery Center

Dottie Jean (DJ) is a Red Fox. She is all white in coloration due to captive breeding. She was adopted by the Discovery Center in June of 2023 from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. As a canid, she is trainable. We have been working with Heather and Cathy from Wag it Better! to learn a few tricks and skills.

So far DJ knows how to sit, touch her nose to your hand, and even High-Five. Her diet at the Discovery Center consists of raw chicken, carrots, apples, and high-protein, grain-free kibble. Her favorite treats include the Blue Nudges and Wags and Wiggles Apple and Chicken Jerky. With her trainers and handlers, she is getting better at allowing head scratches and loves playtime with a ball!

Judy is a mixed breed rabbit. Her coloration may remind you of the Eastern Cottontails you see in your backyard, but she was adopted from Animal City in December of 2023. Rabbits are small mammals and considered a prey species. As a prey, they have their eyes on the sides of their head to provide an almost 360 degree view of their surroundings! Rabbits are herbivorous in nature and Judy particularly loves the occasional carrot and her timothy hay.

Bud is our Eastern Box Turtle. Did you know that the Eastern Box Turtle is the Tennessee State Reptile? Bud joined the Discovery Center in January of 2019. The Education Team was asked to adopt him after he was hit by a car and his broken shell was treated by a local veterinarian. The shell is a part of the turtle’s skeleton and includes major bones like the ribs and spine so it can heal over time! He’s all better now, but you can still see where the shell broke.

Wave “Hi!” to Fluffy the Common Snapping Turtle. According to her adoption records, Fluffy came to the museum in 2004 from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

You can see Fluffy everyday hanging out on her side of the Turtle Tank in the Great Outdoors exhibit inside the Discovery Center. Fun fact about snapping turtles, they are ambush predators! Ambush predators don’t go on a “hunt” or move around much to find their next meal. Instead, they will find a spot to lie in wait until their prey comes along and then they’ll SNAP! In the wild, they look for fish, frogs, and even other turtles.

At the Discovery Center, we feed all of our turtles a concoction we call “Turtle Muffins” which are a mixture of mackerel fish, sardines, spinach, turtle pellets, and calcium powder held together with gelatin.

Join us for a turtle feeding during our weekly Turtle Talks!

Resident Adventurer & Professional Nap Enthusiast

With a name as sophisticated as his whiskers, Sir Vanilla Bean is the dashing ferret-in-residence at the Discovery Center. When he’s not orchestrating daring tunnel expeditions or staging stealthy sock heists, you can find him curled up in his favorite hammock, dreaming of his next great caper.

He’s part explorer, part escape artist, and 100% charmer—winning over guests with his curious nose, wiggly dance moves, and undeniable charisma. Whether you’re here for science, fun, or just a dose of pure mischief, Sir Vanilla Bean is ready to make your visit unforgettable.

Fun fact: He firmly believes all shoelaces belong to him.

Tre is our three toed box turtle. Three toed box turtles are a subspecies of the Eastern box turtle. Named for their highly domed shell, box turtles are terrestrial omnivorous reptiles. Tre loves a leafy salad with blackberries, carrots, mealworms, and tomatoes. He loves tomatoes so much, sometimes we find tomato sprouts in his terrarium!

Meet our leopard tortoise, Panzer! Panzer is a friendly reptile who loves her salads! Fondly nicknamed Pig, she is always ready for her next snack of leafy greens and berries. Panzer was donated to the Discovery Center around 2016 after she was found walking down Murfreesboro Road by a friend of the museum.

Let’s talk about Pond Sliders! We have lots of pond sliders in the Turtle Tank in the Great Outdoors exhibit inside the Discovery Center.

Given to us at different times by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, we have some red-eared sliders and yellow bellied sliders. The biggest difference between the two is the bright red stripe behind the eye of the turtle.

There are too many of these turtles to name, but the smallest of the yellow bellied sliders is called Tonk like a Tonka Truck! Our turtles are pretty friendly and will sometimes follow you around as you watch them outside the tank. Next time you are in, try to count how many turtles you see!

Jumping Ambassador of the Discovery Center

Kermy might be small, but he’s got big personality—and even bigger legs for leaping! As the resident White’s Tree Frog, he spends his days surveying his leafy kingdom, lounging like royalty on branches, and occasionally giving visitors a polite blink of acknowledgment.

Known for his charming smile (yes, frogs can smile!) and velvety green skin, Kermy is both a master of the dramatic pause and a surprise high-jumper when the mood strikes. He’s an expert at blending in, but don’t be fooled—he’s always keeping an eye on his fans.

Fun fact: Kermy’s favorite hobbies include catching crickets, practicing yoga poses on leaves, and perfecting his “I’m totally not planning to leap on you” face.

The Nighttime Noble of the Discovery Center

With golden eyes that miss nothing and feathered tufts that look like royal crowns, Pemberton the Great Horned Owl is the quiet ruler of the twilight hours. Known for her impressive wingspan and commanding presence, she's a master of stealth—able to glide silently through the air like a ghost in feathers.

While Pemberton now calls the Discovery Center home, her wild cousins are among North America’s most formidable nighttime hunters. She serves as an ambassador for his species, helping visitors learn about the vital role owls play in the ecosystem.

Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Great Horned Owls like Pemberton are a reminder of our shared responsibility to safeguard wildlife and preserve their habitats.

Fun fact: Her deep “hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo” call can travel more than half a mile through the night!

The Fluff Queens of the Discovery Center

With the softest fur in the animal kingdom and a bounce in their steps, Lucy & Ethel the Chinchillas are pure charm wrapped in fluff. They spends their days nibbling treats, exploring their palace of tunnels, and perfecting the art of the dust bath—a spa day like no other.

Lucy & Ethel are naturals at making friends, whether they are perking up to greet visitors or showing off their lightning-fast hops. Beneath those adorable faces are curious explorers who’s always on the lookout for their next snack or cozy hiding spot.

Fun fact: A chinchilla’s fur is so dense that fleas can’t live in it—just another reason Lucy & Ethel’s coats are their crown!

The Striped Sneak of the Discovery Center

Dressed in bold red, black, and white stripes, Jack the Pueblan Milksnake is always ready to impress with his dazzling scales and graceful slither. While his colors might look like those of a venomous coral snake, Jack is completely harmless—he’s just a master of nature’s “don’t mess with me” fashion statement.

Jack spends his days exploring branches, peeking out from hidey-holes, and occasionally giving guests a slow, curious tongue-flick hello. As a non-venomous constrictor, his wild relatives help keep rodent populations in check, making him an important part of his ecosystem.

Fun fact: Pueblan milksnakes get their name from an old myth that they drank milk from cows—totally untrue, but it does make for a good story!

The Gentle Giant

Say hello to one of our coolest residents—Bill the ball python! Calm, curious, and totally chill, Bill is a non-venomous snake known for her gentle, easygoing personality. Ball pythons get their name because when they feel shy, they curl up into a tight little ball—how neat is that?

Bill has been part of the Discovery Center family since around 2000—which means she's been here even longer than our current building! That makes her a true Discovery Center legend.

Fun fact: Snakes like Bill don’t need to eat every day. She only enjoys a meal once every two weeks, which gives her plenty of time to relax and show off those beautiful scales.

Meet Reggie the Leopard Gecko!

Say hello to Reggie, our spotted superstar! With his bright eyes and bumpy, beautiful skin, this leopard gecko is a desert expert and a master of nighttime adventures.

Reggie is nocturnal, which means he prefers to explore and hunt when the sun goes down and the desert cools off. During the day, you’ll usually find him tucked safely in a burrow or hiding under rocks to beat the heat.

Because he’s cold-blooded, Reggie depends on the temperature around him to keep his body running smoothly. And when desert summers get really hot, wild leopard geckos may even estivate—a special kind of rest that helps them survive extreme heat.