Posted by
Sherry Samuels
4 Comments

Buildin’ Stuff

If it looks like it’s going to be a fairly normal week (which rarely happens, mind you), then there’s usually time for some unplanned project time. A “fairly normal” week would include: normal staffing (no one out sick, out on vacation, or otherwise unable to perform as usual), no holidays, no hurricanes/tornadoes/snowstorms/torrential downpours, no huge planned projects or deliveries or special cleans requiring a lot of the keepers, no special events at the Museum (such as Birdapalooza or Wild About Animals Day), no training sessions or exercises, no extra meetings, no veterinary emergencies or veterinary specialists coming out, no parties or special potlucks, and normal volunteer help. In fact, now that I think about it: If it looks like it’s going to be a fairly abnormal week (which rarely happens, mind you), then there’s usually time for some unplanned projects!

Last week, Kristen asked me if I could make some holey logs for the lemurs and bears. This was a perfect project to assign me, as the weather has been gorgeous and I look for any opportunity to A) go outside in gorgeous weather and B) use power tools. I worked on that out in the sunshine while Cassidy worked outside with me on some projects using fire hose. After we were done, we both worked on making some CD mobiles for various animals (thanks to Cassidy’s cool idea, and my large pile of old scratched up CDs) Here are some pictures of our afternoon of buldin‘ stuff.


Sawing logs for bears and lemurs. We drill holes in the logs and put raisins in the holes for them to find and dig out.

Cassidy is making a lemur hammock out of fire hose. It’s the same fire hose that was donated to us by the Durham Fire Department that we used to make a bear hammock. Cassidy thinks about safety 1st, and where she puts the drill 2nd!

Suggested lemur hammock use


Cassidy also made a fire hose Frisbee for Lightning the donkey.

We gave it a test-run. It works!

And a finished CD mobile. A fun day of making things!

4 responses to Buildin’ Stuff

  1. Anonymous says:

    Could you provide instructions on how you made the firehose frisbee?I think the primates I work with would love that.Thanks

  2. Erin Brown says:

    Anonymous,The firehose frisbee is a modified version Cassidy made of these directions from the Honolulu Zoo: http://www.honoluluzoo.org/Zookeepers_Journal/Firehose_Browse_hanger.pdf. Cassidy says it's the same weaving pattern using short firehose pieces that get closed off after the first weaving. Use bolts to secure the loose ends. They also have instructions for a firehose ball that we've made (and I've used smaller material such as cloth belts to make a smaller/lighter version of this also): http://www.honoluluzoo.org/enrichment_firehose_ball.htmGood luck!

  3. Christy says:

    I would also like to know how to make the firehose frisbee for primates I work with but the link you posted for the directions isn’t working for me. If you could send me the directions or post them on here I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

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