Meet the Animals in Hastings Highs’ Science Wing!

Did you know that the Hastings High science wing is home to several animals? These animals include several sugar gliders, a ferret, a bearded dragon, and a few turtles.

Mrs. Brehm, a physical science and chemistry teacher at Hastings High, has two sugar gliders as well as a bearded dragon living in her classroom. The sugar gliders’ names are Mako and Yoda and the bearded dragon is named Mr. Petonias.

According to Mrs. Brehm, the animals have very distinct personalities.

“The sugar gliders are very jittery. They sleep all day but go wild at night jumping all around the cage, making growly/chirpy noises, and running on their wheel. If you get them out they climb all over and will pee on you (or anything) to mark their territory. Mr. P is very chill and only gets squirmy when he has to poop,” Brehm said.

Since sugar gliders are nocturnal animals, they eat a mix of chicken, vegetables, and fruits every night. On the other hand, the bearded dragon only eats lettuce and mealworms one to two times a week. The animals also come out several times a week to be handled by adults or students.

“I love how soft the sugar gliders are and how cute their large eyes and ears are. Mr. P has been my pet since he was little and I think it’s awesome when he sheds and his skin peels off,” Brehm said.

Mrs. Brehm also has created a mealworm far to provide food for her bearded dragon, Mr. Petonias.

“I have a mealworm farm that I use to have a constant supply of mealworms for Mr. P and the sugar gliders (for treats). It’s really cool to see the animals eat,” Brehm said.

Another science teacher at Hastings High, Mr. Geiger, has a ferret and two sugar gliders in his room.

“The ferret is a female named Winter and the sugar gliders are both males and their names are Jekyll and Hyde. Both of them were “adopted” by me so I didn’t name them. Winter was Mr. Tickles ferret before he retired and the gliders came from a lady that needed to rehome them but wanted them to go to a place of education,” Geiger said.

Mr. Geiger’s sugar gliders eat the same thing as Mrs. Brehm’s. However, his ferret, Winter, typically eats cat food.

“Winter will normally eat cat food as it is good for her stomach and she doesn’t like much else. I can put a couple of scoops in her container and that will keep her happy for a few days,” Geiger said.

As with Mrs. Brehm’s animals, Mr. Geiger’s animals also enjoy being out of their enclosures.

“Winter likes to roam around in the mornings before the students come in most days, sometimes she even comes out during class because she won’t sleep if she really wants out, so I let her run. The gliders are nocturnal so they do their best to sleep during the day so we don’t normally see them. They come out during the night so I don’t ever let them out. I have tried to let them out before but they get so nervous that they run around and won’t let you put them back! I wish they could come out, but until they are more comfortable with all of us, I have to keep them in their enclosure,” Geiger said.

Much like Mrs. Brehm’s gliders, the gliders in Mr. Geiger’s room are also shy during the day and rambunctious during the night.

“The gliders are still learning to trust me so if you do pick them up, they cling to your shoulders, trying to find a place to jump to, and it kind of hurts because their nails are sharp. They also make this noise that is called “crabbing” which is like a loud barking sound when they don’t want you to mess with them so I do my best to leave them alone while they are sleeping,” Geiger said.

On the other hand, Winter the ferret is very friendly and she loves people.

“Winter is very friendly and will come up to you so you pick her up, the only thing is that she likes to play and that normally involves her teeth! She does not bite hard, just normally puts her teeth on you so you know what she wants,” Geiger said.

Winter also is very smart and adventurous around the classroom.

“There are spots in the corners of my cabinets that she has found she can get through and when students see this they normally freak out. The funny thing is that she knows exactly what she is doing and can find the drawers open them from behind the cabinets and make her way out. It’s amazing,” Geiger said.

Along with the animals mentioned previously, there is another bearded dragon in Miss Utecht’s classroom as well as two turtles in Mrs. Mau’s classroom. All of these animals add to the educational experience in the science wing of Hastings High School.

“I just want the students to know if you ever want to see the animals or you are having a bad day and need a furry creature to help cheer you up, come down to room 180 and Winter would be more than glad to help, provided she is in a good mood that day!” Geiger said.

Mr. Geiger’s sugar gliders, Jekyll and Hyde. Their names are inspired by the 1886 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.