FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEA LAMPREYS USHER IN VERMONT & NEW YORK DISCOUNT

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- In case you haven't been to ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center lately - or even if you have - make sure to visit starting February 16th to go "mouth-to-mouth" with live sea lampreys, a new addition to the popular exhibit, Attack of the Bloodsuckers! And as if lampreys aren't enough, also beginning that Saturday is ECHO's Vermont & New York Discount, where every resident gets $2 off admission through April 28th.

Landlocked sea lampreys are a much-maligned - and perhaps misunderstood - parasitic fish species living in our very own Lake Champlain. Best known for their round mouths full of circular rows of tiny teeth, these creatures are also the subject of scientific research for their anti-coagulant properties.

Older than the dinosaurs, there's no question that the lamprey's peculiar form of adaptation has served them well over millions of years, except for when they're being served up for dinner! That's right, some people find these jawless fish quite appetizing. In certain parts of Europe - France, Portugal, and Sweden, to name a few - they are considered a delicacy. In fact, in some areas overseas, the lamprey has actually been overfished, becoming a "species of concern." But most folks in the Champlain Valley are concerned with them for their parasitic nature, which makes their presence at ECHO an exciting opportunity for discussion.

ECHO's sea lampreys are native Vermonters, provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. They will add a fascinating dimension to Attack of the Bloodsuckers!, which features live leeches and hands-on experiences like "Mosquito Cockpit." This special exhibit was created by the same folks who brought Turtle Travels and Tree Houses to ECHO, and is sponsored by the American Red Cross, Chittenden Bank, Vermont Department of Agriculture, and Vermont Department of Health.

Attack of the Bloodsuckers! is produced by EEC! - the Environmental Exhibit Collaborative (ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, Vermont; EcoTarium, Worcester, Massachusetts; and the Children's Museum of Maine, Portland, Maine) - and made possible by grants from Jane's Trust, Cabot Family Charitable Trust, and the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services.

ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is based at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, on Vermont's Burlington Waterfront. ECHO features 70 species of live fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and reptiles, over 100 hands-on experiences, major traveling exhibits, and the multimedia Awesome Forces Theater. The 2.2 acre site is also highlighted by the Lake Champlain Navy Memorial, ECHO's Eclectic Gift Shop, and seasonal café. Open year-round, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed most Mondays in winter. Admission is $7-$9.50; children under 3 and K-12 classroom teachers with credential ID are free. For more information visit echovermont.org, call 1-877-ECHOFUN, or write to ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, One College Street, Burlington, VT 05401.