I grabbed the camera when I saw Keeper Jill walking down the hall with a shrimpcicle. What the heck is a shrimpcicle, you ask? Shrimp frozen into an icecube = enrichment for the water turtles.
Below are several pictures of 3 of our water turtles enjoying their afternoon enrichment
Click on the picture below to see it closer up
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The last couple of days we have been watching our muskrats closely because we were concerned one of them may have been acting a bit lethargic. So you can imagine what a pleasant surprise it was to see them both running around the exhibit early this morning!
Most of our visitors that come regularly usually only see our muskrats sleeping in their wooden house. That’s because they tend to be most active in the morning (at least for the time in which we are here), after they have been fed by the keepers. Our muskrats aren’t too keen on getting close to the keepers, so they wait until we leave the exhibit and then come out to see what kind of food they have been given for the day. Then they get busy eating and hoarding! Yes, that’s right, our muskrats will stock pile their food in their wooden house. Which is actually quite smart of them, because it means if they wake up during the day and are hungry, they have their meal right next to them instead of having to go out into the exhibit and bring it back.
I managed to get some of the hoarding on video, and it’s quite cute! Clearly, one of the muskrats likes to collect the food in the house, while the other muskrat has a specific spot at the edge of their pool where he enjoys eating.
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Here is a picture of Galileo opossum. You can see he has a keen eye for design by picking out paint swatches when he visited some museum employees.
He arrived with his brother, Einstein in September of 2011. He and his brother came to us from a rehabber that found them after their mother was killed by a car. They were too used to people and too young to be released. The two later were put into Sonny’s old exhibit in Carolina Wildlife. Sonny was then moved into our EHR and lives in a big playpen. In the beginning the brothers did well living together, but later had to be separated and one moved into the EHR because they started to quarrel too much. Now Einstein and Galileo switch places when the exhibit is super cleaned so you never know who you may see in the exhibit.
Here we are letting Galileo investigate the 3rd floor where we have offices. He was able to get a change of pace and visit people to get used to them because he is used as a program animal.
Thus far, we are able to find out that Galileo loves to walk around the halls like our old opossum Beaker used to. He also loves to do a clicking noise and is more concerned with scenting and sliming things then he is with trying to find things to eat.
How did I miss this visit? I could have given him an almond.
Im sure you were busy having a baby or something.
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Hi everybody! Hope you guys are doing well, I am all kinds of fine and ducky, thanks for asking! For this post, we’re going to have a bit of a game. Now, I know you guys are all aware of my intellectual awesomeness, but now I’m going to give you a bit of a test. Ever play those “What doesn’t belong” games when you were a kid? Well here it is in blog form! I’m going to write a fun little blog post. And there will be an undetermined number of mistakes in it. your job is to go ahead and find them!
Opossum and young
For instance, I may be talking about opossums. And I say “Opossums are wonderful arboreal mammals. They have a prehensile tail, a great sense of smell and are one of only two marsupials that live in North America naturally.” What about that statement is wrong? Their tail IS prehensile, they DO have a great sense of smell and they ARE arboreal. The wrong fact is where I said they are ONE OF TWO marsupials in North America. Actually, they are the only species of naturally occurring marsupial on this continent. You guys got it? Find my mistakes and catch my errors – enjoy my friends!
So it’s almost spring time (sorta). Some days it’s freezing and rainy, others it’s almost 80 degrees and sunny. But even if the weather can’t seem to make up it’s mind, the animals already have. Anyone who was getting a little lazy with the coming of the colder weather is definitely starting to bounce back. Henry our Woodchuck has been eating more of his daily diet, plus is much more active. All four of our bears are out and moving for more time during the day instead of sleeping in the cave or on the cliff and only rousing themselves at meals or training times. Of course none of our reptiles were affected too much by the winter season. They all live inside in a climate controlled room. So both the native and the exotic species fared wonderfully. From the Banded Water Snake to the Asian Bearded Dragons, our cold blooded friends didn’t miss a beat. And everyone in our Farmyard is also doing just great. Time for some of them to shed though!
March is also a fun Month of novelty days. And not just for animal stuff. Just to name a few, March 3 is “If Pets had Thumbs Day”, March 9 is “Panic Day” -All I can say is “Danger! Danger Will Robinson!”, March 12 is “Plant a Flower Day”, March 14 is “Learn about Butterflies Day”, March 19 is “Poultry Day”, March 22 is “Give a Calzone to a Zookeeper Day”, & March 28th is Something on a Stick Day (I recommend some kind of meat, preferably wrapped in bacon. Like a corndog, but better!)
Also, with the coming of spring many of our outdoor species are beginning to pop up again. Ranger Greg has been sighting more and more species in the wetlands and around the rest of the park. The past few days of warm weather have started many aquatic turtles sunning on the rocks, a number of waterfowl are enjoying the Explore the Wild area, and I have been finding Bullfrogs in the bear filter baskets again each morning. I know this is just the beginning. Soon we’ll have all the bugs out (oh, and Aaron found the first ticks of the season in the Wolf yard the other day! Marilyn is so thrilled!), the trees will be blooming and the we’ll be getting calls to go out and move snakes from the paths. If they’re the usual rat snakes we usually just let them go on their way, but sometimes we have to move the poisonous copperheads to a different location so they’re out of visitor range. You’re all welcome!
Turtles do love soaking up some UV rays!
By the way… if you keep up with my earlier posts, it seems Katy has struck again! Definitive proof that she is too environmentally minded and attempting to recycle our animals!
The Woodchuck got chucked!
A very large sewer rat has somehow gotten into our department... I feel like I'm back in the Bronx...
And while the above picture may look like Galileo is getting into the trash himself, don’t be fooled! He’s being coerced from off camera! His breakfast is being held hostage!
Okay Guys and Dolls, it’s time for me to pack this one in. I’m going to go and close up, tuck the animals in for the night and make sure all is right with things. Plus, I have to feed the alligators before we start. They’re growing well, just about up to eating whole capybaras now See how many mistakes you can find and I’ll put up the answers soon. Until next time!
P.S.- The Loch Ness Monster exists! 
This is a really cute pic!! Where did you find it?
Hey Gabriella,
Depends on which picture you’re talking about- some came from us taking them at the mueum and some came from Google
I love the pic when the woodchuck got chucked!! That one is funny! Any more animals in the trash yet?;)
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So my friend Katy is another keeper here who specializes in the Veterinary aspects of our collection. She does the majority of her work through our vet room and making sure everyone stays healthy (animal wise, at least). But sometimes when we are a little short handed, she jumps right in and lends a hand to help clean exhibits or anything else that needs to be done. Unfortunately, in the excitement of cleaning an exhibit and scrubbing poo off of things she sometimes can get a little distracted and make a slight error…
Uhhh...Katy?
I mean, really! Who throws away a perfectly good opossum?! On the other hand, Einstein (that would be the opossum in the trash) is probably pretty disappointed that it’s not a real trash bin with lots of yummy leftovers to pick through.
Nope. He doesn't look guilty at all!
We may have to watch out… if Max comes up missing, I know who my money is on!
Disclaimer: Please don’t hurt me Katy, I’m just kidding!
Hello, The is a great write up the above is cool can someone reply to tell me how to sing up for your newsletter
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Last year, we had our woodchuck Henry predict the Super Bowl winner. He chose correctly, this year Henry chose the PATRIOTS . I do not have this prediction on video because the camera wasn’t working correctly.
However, I do have our opossum Galileo picking the GIANTS to win. I am really torn on what animal I should support. I am from New York so naturally I should side with Galileo, but Henry is my main woodchuck pal!
Now, the video may look “slightly rigged” because you only see the Giants sign to choose from but, I assure you that even though there is an overwhelming desire for them to win in the Animal Department,he could have easily chosen the PATRIOTS sign on the other side.
To prove this we did the scenario again, this time a little closer. He picked the Giants…AGAIN!
Galileo loves the Giants
I knew Galileo was right the whole time! Go Giants!!
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Happy Groundhog Day!
Last year you may have remembered that our Groundhog/Woodchuck Henry, had an interview and predicted the Super Bowl winner last year.
This year Henry is in hibernation mode but still gets up every once in a while to eat a peanut or banana. Last year I took this video and in honor of Groundhog Day I thought I would post it.
Happy Groundhog Day Henry!
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Hi everybody!
Now the time has come once again for the tank tops, flip flops and short shorts to get packed up again for the season (that’s okay, I don’t look so good in short shorts anyway). The end of fall is gone and we’re officially into winter. The weather has been remarkably warm for this time of year, but we’re past Thanksgiving have even knocked out the big holiday part of the year. That’s right, the buy Mikey presents and give him Stuffed Shells to eat time! The tree can come down and the mistletoe can be packed up (ladies, don’t let that stop you), and sadly, it’s the end of novelty Christmas songs for another year. I have watched all my holiday feel-good TV programs and drunk about 9 gallons of Egg Nog Oh yes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. But not everything is worked up and as excited as we are. In fact, some of our animals here are downright un-excited about this time of the year. Winter isn’t for everyone it seems, and every species we have reacts differently to it. Some eat less, some get sleepy, and some wear ridiculous singing hats (oh wait, that’s the staff!) But even though our guys aren’t in the wild anymore, we still try to replicate their natural habits as much as possible.
So a huge question that I and the rest of the staff answer at pretty much every bear program is “Do they hibernate here?” The question is no. Our big kids don’t undergo true hibernation. It doesn’t get nearly cold enough to really knock them down, they just get really lazy. They’ve spent the last few months really packing on the pounds so that they need to eat very little to subsist. They still get fed three times a day, but it’s a smaller amount of food than in the summertime. But even though they are a little on the low energy side, the bears still get up to grab snacks here and there. Especially Gus – he’s always up to train or get treats. Him and MiMi take up residence in the cave to laze about, while Virginia and Yona usually stay up on the cliff. So not hibernating, but a good bit of extra sleeping happens.
This is a pic from a past year of Virgina coated in snow
My camera doesn't have the best zoom, but you can see MiMi coming out of the cave to visit me for treats, while Gus is still lounging inside
As for the Lemurs, nothing goes differently with the Red Ruffed since they live completely indoors in climate control. But the Ringtails who have yard access when it is 40 degrees and up, lose their outside privileges when it gets too cold. They have 4 inside stalls to run amok in, but when it’s too cold for our tropical non-monkey primates (that’s for you Kimberly!) they stay in the nice warm building and get extra toys and enrichment to play with so they aren’t bored.
Those crazy Ringtails!
You know, one day I would like Lemur snuggle time in a hammock!
The bunch in the Farmyard are some tough kids. They endure the cold weather with a minimum of change. The pigs get a more enclosed den to shelter in, the bigger animals get their top stall doors closed to help with wind and Max our steer could care less. As long as he is fed on time, then nothing else bothers him in the least. Scout our duck will get closed in his inside stall on the nights below 30 degrees, as will the bunnies who also have a heat lamp. Our program Birds of Prey get some plastic covering to shield them from the elements as well as heated perches to keep them a little warmer.
The new and improved winter pig shelter
As long as the food keeps coming, Max doesn't care. Although his coat does get shaggier for the winter
Scout can handle all but the coldest temperatures - He's one tough bird!
Most of the Carolina Wildlife animals remain unaffected by the seasons change because they are in a climate controlled building. But our woodchuck Henry seems to want to knock down and hibernate for the winter this year. He’s gotten increasingly sluggish as the season gets on, he eats a lot less and spends most of his time sleeping (I’m jealous). At least I have a better chance of not being bitten for a few months.
Usually he does this in his nest...
That’s just a small portion of our animals, but since the majority of our bunch is NC natives, they all have various adaptations to make it through the cold months of the year. As for me, I’m a northern transplant. Well adapted, mind you…but I still take certain measures when the cold temps set in. I use it as an excuse to drink lots of hot cocoa, wear my comfy fleece vest, and of course nothing warms you up like a steaming calzone with cheese still bubbling out…Mmmmmmmmm…..
Excellent Mikey! Well done! Except, now I want a nap….after a nice dose of cheesy italian food!!
Thanks! And your reaction is as it should always be! Nothing better than a nice Italian food coma to bring on a good nap time!
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Very cool
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Our copperhead soaking
Why do snakes soak themselves in water?
Because they don’t have a shower
Seriously though, snakes often soak in water before a shed. They may also soak because of mites, to warm themselves up, and just because.
snake shed
Want to read more from us about snakes?
Check out these posts: copperheads, venomous 1 and 2
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What a brilliant idea