With the recent outbreak of swine flu I wanted to assure everyone that our pig is healthy and fine, and it is safe to be around him. Swine flu is a herd disease and therfore the only way for Pig to get sick, or for people to get sick at the Museum, would be from other people. We will continue to monitor Pig and make sure he remains healthy. The best thing for anyone to do is to practice goodRead more
Posts tagged: #animals
EnrichBits: Wolves
EnrichBits: A monthly look at animal enrichment Our red wolves, who are shy by nature, don’t tend to be real playful in front of large, loud groups. If you catch them one on one, towards the earlier part of the morning, you can see them moving around. Here, Keeper Katy caught them really moving. Their exhibit, designed with a lot of hilly topography and natural elements, challenges them as a wild landscape would, and is long enough side to sideRead more
Red Wolf Pup Photos
No, no pups at the Museum, although whelping season isn’t over and we are still waiting hopefully. We’ve got about another month to see if our wolves will deliver some little ones. The photos are from red wolves that were born at a holding facility in Manteo on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. These four pups (3 males and 1 female. In the “zoo” world this would be written 3.1) are living “next door” to our brother wolves thatRead more
Friend or foe?
Aaah, springtime! There are so many great things that happen in the spring: beautiful flowers come into bloom, the trees are full of bright green buds, temperatures are perfect for outside adventures, baby animals are in abundance, and suddenly every living thing seems rejuvenated! And those changes in activity and behavior also apply to the museum animals. Wendy the woodchuck has come out of hibernation and is starting to climb around her exhibit and run around the support hall again.Read more
Creature feature: Lightning the Sicilian donkey
Lightning is one of the most well known and popular animals we have amongst our visitors. I have had people tell me they have been coming to the museum for years and that Lightning is their favorite animal! And there is good reason for Lightning to have made such a good impression, because he interacts with the visitors in many different ways. Lightning seems to thrive off of human interaction, whether it be spending time with the visitors or givingRead more
Farmyard Physicals
On Saturday Dr. Mozzachio and Dr. Cannedy came to the Museum for what we call the “farmyard physicals”. This happens every April and October. All the large mammals in the farmyard were checked out, given vaccines, had their hooves trimmed if needed, and their diets and enrichment were reviewed. Pig is hanging in a specially made pig-sling. Dr. Mozzachio, a pot-bellied pig specialist, took great care of him, cleaning around his eyes and giving him treats to keep him contentRead more