Annie swallowed an entire mouse in front of Southgate students Friday.

Students at Southgate learned about "Cool Animals of the North" as part of a Parent Teacher Committee-sponsored program.

Anna Brenna with the Minnesota Zoo, shared fun animal facts with the students. Annie a large owl awed the students as it spread her large wings and swallowed a mouse for her snack.

Millie the millipede followed her act, by slowly crawling on the hands of two students who volunteer to hold it.

However George the opossum, was the favorite for several of the students.

"We like the opossum. He is cute," fifth graders Paige Fisher, Ingrid Baudler and Louise Heimsness said.

"I like the owl too because of all the feathers and its small body," Baudler said.

The "Cool Animals of the North" is one of the several Zoo's shows that visit schools, nursing homes and hospitals.

"They're usually most excited by the snake, but they remember the owl the most," Brenna said.

The PTC and the teachers special project commission came up with the idea, Principal Dan Posthumus said.

"It's (the show) a good way to expose the children to animals of the north and animals indigenous to Minnesota," Posthumus said.

Roxana Orellana can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:roxana.orellana@austindailyherald.com