Regular blog readers know the routine, but for new readers here’s the scoop. Working on Christmas is something I have done for years. (Even before working at the Museum). My prep starts the week before, making sure I understand any treatments, routines, behaviors, tasks, diets, etc. before the 25th arrives. I set out my layers of clothes, snacks, set the alarms for 4:48 and 4:55 (although I really want to be at the Museum at 5 AM so I canRead more
Posts filed in: Exhibits
Skunk Feeder Follow-up
The semester is over, and our two student groups working on automatic skunk feeders have delivered their final work and manuals. (Although they’ll be getting us some updates in January). Both teams scrambled the first half of December to get their projects functional, safe, and mounted. There’s still some tweaking to work through, but we’re really happy with how the semester has gone and the products we have gotten to help us care for Florian (and other animals). Check outRead more
Diego Follow-Up
Winter Storm Diego hit us hard. The weight of the snow caused numerous trees to snap or bend throughout campus. Fortunately, the animals seem fine; power and fences held; and the Keepers who were able to get to work did so unscathed. We still have a lot more clean up to do, but I for one am very thankful that it wasn’t worse. We had quite a bit of heavy snow — up to 12 inches in some areas. AboutRead more
Virginia and Mimi called out?
I walked in to work the end of the day Saturday to prep for the coming storm and was greeted by this note on the board: Some might be saying what do you mean two of our four bears called out for the day?? No worries, the bears are here, but two of our volunteers were unable to make it in today 🙁Read more
Florian’s Automatic Feeders almost finished
The students at Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering are putting the final touches on their Skunk Feeder projects. It’s been a great semester working with our two student teams. Each team has had successes and challenges along the way. We’ve got three feeder boxes installed today in Florian’s home.Hopefully their will be food drops at 11 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM. Both teams (FLORIAN FOUR and FLORIAN + THE MACHINE) are doing their final tweaks in this last weekRead more
Working with Duke Students
We’ve been working all semester with engineering students at Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering. Two student teams challenged themselves to take on the project of making an automatic feeder for Florian our Skunk. Work has been going on behind the scenes since August, but after the Thanksgiving break prototypes will be going up in Florian’s home. We’re very excited to see what has been designed for us and we are hopeful that this will improve Florian’s life here with us.Read more