It has been really special for me to read the supportive comments from people on the post I wrote about the decision to euthanize red wolf #1389. It’s so nice to hear from the community of regular Museum visitors and blog readers, especially during difficult times. Several people have inquired about ways to honor our Museum animal-friends who have died. Below is a list of ways, whether that be financially or otherwise, that you could let us know you care:Read more
Posts tagged: #animals
Happy Leap Year!
Celebrate February 29th with a visit to http://www.amphibianark.org/ and learn about why 2008 is the “Year of the Frog”. Amphibians are in a major crisis– up to 50% of the 6000 species of amphibians are threatened with extinction due to climate change, habitat loss, and a deadly fungal disease called chytridiomycosis. Use the extra 24 hours you have this year to learn about the conservation efforts taking place. Here’s some video from YouTube of Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin on TheRead more
Divisions Of Labor
Most large zoos have keepers that specialize and care for specific species every day. Basically this means one keeper might oversee the care for the zebras and antelope while another oversees the care for the alligators and snakes. However, we operate as a small zoo and do not have keepers that work with only two or three species. Instead, all of us share the duties of caring for all our animals. There are benefits to both methods, but I personallyRead more
Difficult Decision: Red Wolf #1389
I last wrote about Red Wolf #1389 a few days before Christmas, exactly two months ago. He had torn ligaments in a leg, and had some other issues pop up, but he seemed to be hanging in there. (To read the complete post, click here). A lot has happened since then. He tore ligaments in another leg, and additional radiographs (x-rays) showed not only the tears, but also extensive arthritis. The last two months have been spent watching him, medicatingRead more
Update: Jersey Calf
Some of you might remember a previous post that introduced our newest farmyard animal, a Jersey calf. It is now over 3 months later, and he is no longer a calf but a steer! And, unlike the original post about him, he now has a name. According to the results of the naming contest, our visitors’ favorite choice was Max. Thanks to everyone who voted! When Max was a calf, his diet consisted of milk formula and sweet feed. AsRead more
The Benefits of Public Programs
One of the many aspects of our job as animal keepers is to help educate the public. Programs are the best way to share information about our animals while also allowing us to talk about wildlife and the dangers that some species face today. In the process, these programs give us the opportunity to reach out and interact with our visitors so they can ask us questions that, unless through this blog, they would otherwise not be able to. TheRead more