Even so tentatively, brothers Braxton and Payton McKay of Natchez took the baby alligators into their hands.

&uot;Don’t squeeze them,&uot; a volunteer with the Friends of the St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge group told them and others standing in line to have their pictures taken with the tiny reptiles.

While Braxton, 9, waited with his alligator, the volunteer placed a rubber band over the mouth of his little brother’s alligator, allowing 6-year-old Payton to experience critter handling without the bite.

Not to worry, though: Neither brother was nipped by the baby alligators, and both were thrilled to have had the experience.

&uot;It was fun,&uot; Braxton said, his face showing the excitement.

&uot;Awesome,&uot; Payton said, his voice betraying his awe.

Welcome to the annual Miss-Lou Wildlife Expo organized by the Friends group, an organization of volunteers that helps the refuge in many ways.

The latest? Using any profits from the expo, which continues today at the convention center, to build a children’s conservation education building.

So far, the group has raised $30,000 toward that goal and doesn’t plan to stop fund-raising until it’s reached.

&uot;The children are our future, and they’re the ones who are going to have to see to it Š that our environment’s clean,&uot; said Friends volunteer Jack Cupit, an organizer of the event.

And that is what much of the event itself is about: teaching youth about wildlife, the thrill of the outdoors and the importance of conservation.

True, many of the 60 or so vendors with booths at the event are displaying everything from knives to camo gear for adults and their families.

But there are also many live attractions for the children &045; and when they say live, they mean it.

Take David Hall of Madison, for instance. The representative of a central Mississippi falconry group brought two fellow hunter along to the show.

Shaman, a male hawk, and Shiao-Ing (a female hawk whose name means &uot;little eagle&uot; in Chinese) were brought along to impress upon young people the presence such animals have.

&uot;You see them on TV, and it’s visual, but it doesn’t stick with someone that long,&uot; said Hall, who has been hunting with raptors for more than 10 years now. &uot;There’s something about having (the hawks) here that makes it a more tangible experience.&uot;

It is Hall’s hope the memory of the birds will stick with the youth that see them. That, Hall said, might inspire them to work in conservation efforts or even to try falconry themselves in the future.

&uot;Hunting and conservation go hand in hand,&uot; Hall said.

The event continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.