By Adam Hammer, staff writer

Blue Star, a garter snake at the Audubon Science Center in Albert Lea, gave birth to 18 baby snakes Wednesday.

On Thursday, the babies were slithering around, shedding their skins and getting ready to eat. Last week, turtle eggs hatched at the science center. It seems lately they have been a birthing center for wildlife.

The mother garter snake came to the science center in June when members of the center found her while responding to the call about the found turtle eggs.

&8220;One thing about here, you&8217;re always learning something new,&8221; Ann Bryson, Audubon Science Center director, said.

To find out how to care for the slithering infants, Bryson contacted James Gerholdt, a reptile specialist with whom the science center often consults.

During their talk, Bryson learned that after the snakes are born, they shed their skins and then they will want to eat. Bryson has given the snakes small crickets to eat and is going to try worms given Gerholdt&8217;s suggestion.

Bryson said they plans to keep the snakes at the center in Skyline Plaza for a few weeks for kids to come see before the snakes are taken to the wild.

She said one of the most interesting things kids are learning about baby garter snakes is that they are live-born, not hatched from eggs like many other snakes.

When they are released into the wild, Gerholdt recommended that they take the snakes to a place where they know other snakes are for them to hibernate with others.