The animals, insects and plants that are on display in cases or jars in the Science and Engineering Building provide a way for students to learn more about living organisms. A lot of students do not know where these displays came from, who put them there, or how long they have been there.

Biology instructor Andrea Garrison provided information on the displays.

Paul Fried, who retired from Bakersfield College in 1972, prepared the stuffed animals on display in the cases. Local farmers or state officials from the Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Game and other organizations donated the animals.  Most of the animals are road kill, or were found dead by people.  They are all stuffed with cotton, and there may be wire support inside them to hold them their poses.

Garrison, along with the rest of the Biology Department staff, fumigates the animals to keep them from decomposing. The insects are part of a local collection and are also fumigated periodically to keep them from decomposing.

Most of the animals in the jars came from biological supply companies.  They are preserved in formalin, which is a clear, colorless, aqueous solution of 40 percent formaldehyde. The animals are then removed from the formalin, and placed into a non-toxic chemical that keeps the tissues soft.

According to Garrison, the purpose of the animals on display is to educate BC students, and students often use the displays to study the anatomy of the organisms. Faculty sometimes removes the displays from the display cases in order to use them during class.

“Elementary school children that are coming to the BC planetarium sometimes come through the halls to observe the animals as well,” said Garrison. “We hope these displays trigger an interest in biology, natural history, our surroundings.”