The Center for Wildlife Education is celebrating its 20th anniversary and opening a new invasive species exhibit next month.

The anniversary event, which takes place on Saturday, Feb. 3, is open to the public and lasts from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be free giveaways as well as a reptile show at 2 p.m. and a flight show at 3 p.m.

A reception will also be held early that evening to honor those who helped make the Center for Wildlife Education what it is today, and for those who helped to bring about the new exhibit through donations.

The new exhibit showcases invasive species, which are organisms, specifically plants and animals, that are not native to an environment and have a tendency to spread, cause harming to said environment.

Steve Hein, Wildlife Center director, believes invasive species are a serious issue to many native plants and animals.

“The general public is largely unaware of the considerable adverse environmental and economic impact invasive, non-native species have on animals here in Georgia and around the country,” Hein said.

From some accounts, 50 percent of all species placed on the threatened or endangered species list is the direct result of introduced, non-native species from around the world.

For more information on the Center for Wildlife Education and its new exhibit, visit their website.