As you might already know, our red wolf brothers were moved to another facility (click here to read the post) so that we could get two new wolves that will hopefully breed (click here to see a picture of our new male, and here to see a movie of Kristen picking up our new female). Kim Wheeler, the director of the Red Wolf Coalition, helps to occasionally take care of the brothers at their new home on the Alligator RiverRead more
Posts tagged: #red wolf
EnrichBits: Keeper Enrichment
EnrichBits: A monthly look at animal enrichment Ok, enough about animal enrichment. It’s time to talk about keeper enrichment!! The idea is the same– animal keepers with choice and changes in their routines are happier creatures! Sherry gives all of us keepers opportunities to change up our routines now and again by giving us the chance to get off museum grounds (or at least out of the animal department area) and do something a little different.Jill, Katy, Erin, and CassidyRead more
Special Event Opportunity
We have an exciting event happening at the Museum in less than two weeks. Since most of you who read this Blog are interested in animals, our animals, and animal keeping, this event might be perfect for you. On Monday, December 1 from 7-9pm you can join us for A Night Among Wolves with Helen Thayer. Helen is an amazing woman who has walked across the Sahara, trekked to the magnetic North Pole, and lived with indigenous people of theRead more
She’s here!
Our female red wolf arrived on grounds around 6:00 this evening. It took her a few minutes to come out of the crate, but she finally did. She slowly searched through her new surroundings. You can see her above in the dark in the side cage. Kristen, Cassidy, and Brad (who filmed the event) went to get her (Continental flight 1850 nonstop from Houston to Raleigh-Durham). We’ll post more about her in the future, and you’ll get to see Brad’sRead more
female wolf coming this week!
Our female red wolf is coming!Paperwork has been going back and forth, along with phone calls, faxes, and emails with the curator at the Texas Zoo. We’re getting all the logistics dealt with to get our female red wolf, #1227, to Durham. Thursday afternoon we’ll pick her up from RDU airport. She’s on a non-stop flight from Houston. Sorry, no pictures of her yet, but I do know she is about 55 pounds and was born on May 5, 2002.Read more
Big Word of the Month: Genetic bottleneck
Biologists use the term “genetic bottleneck” to refer to a period in which population numbers drop dramatically. The name comes from the shape of the graph used to illustrate the phenomenon. Such an event could occur due to disease, lack of food, or rapid climate change. In the recent history of the world, human decimation of species has also led to population bottlenecks. The reduction in genetic diversity that results from a bottleneck can remain for hundreds of generations andRead more