Animals are the Featured Creatures in the Museum of Ventura County’s summer exhibition opening June 9. This look at wildlife represented in the museum's collection includes rarely seen specimens from a tradition in which museums displayed taxidermied animals as examples of local fauna. Making their appearance again are a black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, and fox, as well as birds as big as the California Condor and as small as the Hooded Oriole. The mounted animals are paired with art and artifacts relating to California’s wildlife. The exhibition runs through August 19.

The Friday, June 8 reception for Featured Creatures, as well as for the exhibitions One Time, One Place: Retablos by Dianne Bennett and Obstacleism, The Synthesis Series: Paintings by Farr Ligvani, is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5; museum members are free.

Among the fine art and historical pieces in Featured Creatures are paintings and sculpture by late artists Jessie Arms Botke, Douglas Parshall and Beatrice Wood; photography by Neal Barr; and hunting and trapping equipment. The human impact on California’s wildlife will be explored through a glimpse into hunting practices and the use of fur, loss of natural habitats and introduction of non-native species, as well as current wildlife restoration programs.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the exhibitions is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children 6-17, members and children under 6 are free. The first Sundays of every month are free general admission for the public. For more museum information go to www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.