In Between the Spots

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

2012-02-10T15:00:00.002-07:00

Ingredients:

Filling:

· 1½ cup Fresh Strawberries

· ¼cup Sugar

· Pinchof Salt

Cheesecake:

· 2cups Softened Cream Cheese

· 1tsp Vanilla Extract

· 1tsp Almond Extract

· Juiceof ½ a Lemon

· ¼cup Powdered Sugar

Crust:

· 1cup Graham crackers

· 1/8cup sugar

Directions:

In a smallsauce pan, combine strawberries, sugar, and salt over med-low heat.

Cook strawberries down until all combined andvery pliable, then place in the refrigerator.

Meanwhile,in a mixer, mix cream cheese, vanilla, almond and lemon.

Slowly addthe powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture until well combined, andrefrigerate.

In a foodprocessor, mix graham crackers and sugar, blitz until mixture is a finepowder.

Oncestrawberry and cream cheese mixture is chilled, add a ½ inch of strawberries tothe bottom of a small/medium ramekin.

Using aspoon, add cream cheese mixture to top of strawberries filling up to the top ofthe ramekin.

Dust the topof mixture with graham cracker dust, slightly patting it down to form acrust.

Garnish witha fresh mint leaf.

Cheesecakeand strawberry mixtures can both be made a day prior and then assembled at timeof use.

Thank you to our Docents!

2012-01-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is truly fortunate to have an enthusiastic group of supporters within our Auxiliary, or Docent program. We can’t thank them enough for everything they have done and continue to do at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Auxiliary (CMZA) was formed in 1969 as a non-profit organization to give aid in carrying out the Zoo’s objectives. It is an active and founding member of the Association of Zoo and Aquarium Docents (AZAD). The docent volunteers within the Auxiliary are required to be members of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and pledge to serve at least 30 hours a year in a variety of support activities.

The zoo would surely not look the same as it does today, without the support of our docents. Many of the educational opportunities at the zoo are a direct result of the Auxiliary’s efforts in starting school group “safaris” (pre-trip programs) and zoo tours, the original Zoo On The Move (ZOOM) program, special event and on-grounds education stations and presenting puppet shows in classrooms out in the community for grades K-2. The docents also played an active role in several of the Zoo’s early marketing campaigns including the “Name the Baby Elephants” contest in which the names for Lucky and Kimba were chosen. They also played an active role in the Zoo’s first capital campaign, Zoo for All Reasons. As the zoo has grown, so have the ways in which the Auxiliary continues to support the zoo!

In addition to all of the activities listed above, our docents also play integral roles in the renewed ZOOM program, zoo-wide animal enrichment, special animal care efforts such as health or birth observations, and financially and physically support our conservation initiatives. There’s just nothing this group of enthusiastic individuals won’t do! In the last year alone, 106 docents collectively contributed over 15,000 hours of service to the zoo. That’s the equivalent of over seven full-time staff members.

It’s clear that Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a better place because of the docents and the enthusiasm and support they provide. So to bring “National Thank You Month” to a close, on behalf of all of the staff at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, We say – “THANK YOU” to the Auxiliary for all you do.

I'm a big cat fan!

2012-01-20T15:04:00.001-07:00

Trista Johnson

I look forward to seeing Trista’ssmiling face when she comes in each week. She has devoted her time to help in Monkey Pavilion and I know thekeepers welcome her help! Kudos and manythanks to Trista! Both the staff and the animals at CMZappreciate you!

- Megan Hudak – Volunteer Services Manager

Favorite Zoo Animal
I'm a big cat fan, so I love the African lions, tiger, leopards, and mt. lions.In the Monkey Pavilion department that I volunteer in, I love them all (fromthe bears, lemurs, gibbons, guenons, howler monkeys, marmosets, sloths, etc.)

What’s your favorite part of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?
I love the animal conservation programs that the zoo has and participates in. Ialso think the zoo does a great job in educating the public and involves thecommunity in special events and workshops. CMZ is also a wonderful placeto see exotic and wild animals up close and personal.

How long have you been a volunteer?
It will be a year next month (February)

What are some of the activities you have gotten to help with?
As a volunteer, I've been able to help prepare diets for the animals in MonkeyPavilion, Spectacle Bears, and Asiatic Bears. I get to help make enrichmentitems for the animals in Monkey Pavilion and watch them enjoy them. I also helpthe zookeepers clean exhibits as needed. I've been able to watch and observethe zookeepers do training sessions with the animals in Monkey Pavilion, withthe African Lions, Spectacle Bears, and Asiatic Bears.

Do you have any funny/goodstories about your volunteering experiences?
I enjoy watching the animals receive enrichment toys/food. I feel wonderfulwhen I am able to help the zookeepers with the cleaning and preparing diets sothey have more time to do their job (training, animal introductions etc.)

Thank You James Bugea & Marissa Young

2012-01-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

James Bugea
Jim is a dedicated volunteer that helps our Pony Wranglersas well as our Australian exhibit. He isa fan of our feather friends – the budgie birds – and does a great job ofhelping out the keepers with their care. Thank YOU Jim for lending a hand and helping support the Zoo!

- Megan Hudak – VolunteerServices Manager

What’syour favorite part of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?

My favorite animal at the zoo are thewolves. My favorite area is Australia(matte!)

How longhave you been a volunteer?

I have been volunteering at the Zoo forjust over a year.

What aresome of the activities that you’ve gotten to help with?

One of my favorite activities I wasinvolved in was when Thea and Nichole were weighing the wallabies. That was funand exciting to see how Thea was catching the wallabies by the tails! Shewas good at it. Then at the Big Backyard, it was also weigh day for theturkeys. Jeanne tried to catch a turkey and the turkey flapped her big wingsand it slapped Jeanne across her face with a loud slap. Jeanne didn't think thatwas so funny at the time! Nichole & I took the goats out for a walk one dayand that was cool. So I have enjoyed being entertained for over a year at yourZoo. Thanks for the memories!

Marissa Young

It’s great tohave Marissa on the Zoo’s volunteer team! We know we can always count on Marissa to do her best in Aquatics. She has such a positive attitude and I enjoyseeing Marissa every week. Thank YOUMarissa for being an awesome volunteer!

- Megan Hudak – Volunteer Services Manager

Favorite zoo animal:

I think it's really amazing that the zoo has asnow leopard. Considering it was only within the last decade that we wereable to get them on film (Planet Earth series) because they are so elusive, itis pretty cool that we can see one in person!

How longhave you been a volunteer?

I've volunteered at the zoo for about a year now.

What aresome of the activities that you’ve gotten to help with?

Feeding the hippos is always fun. It's cool to see themsmash a melon in their mouth so easily. Feeding the penguins is also a lot offun. They are all such characters and it's always fun to see what is going onin "penguin world", it's usually such a soap opera with that bunch. Imostly help with the hippos, beavers, penguins, and sometimes the cranes eachweek.

Do you have any funny/good stories about yourvolunteering experiences?

One time I was cleaning out the beaver exhibit andletting Ginger and Duncan roam around in the little back area. As usual, Duncan was content tosleep the entire time, but Ginger was up and checking things out. They had abunch of tree branches to munch on that were ready to be cleared out, so Imoved them out of their exhibit to make room for the new tree branches to beput in. This was not ok with Ginger, though. Every time I moved something out,she would go and bring it back into the exhibit. She got her way and had a hugemixture of old and new branches to munch on for the day!

Just the other day, I got to watch the hippos play in thesnow. I didn't think that hippos would like the snow, but they loved it! Theirfavorite thing was to eat the snow. They were very funny, walking around andscooping up piles of snow just like snow plows!

Thank goodness for strong fences!

2012-01-17T11:20:00.001-07:00

January is National Thank You Month! We wanted to take this time to thank some of our amazing volunteers. Over the week we will be highlighting four volunteers who help out here at the zoo on a weekly basis.

Anne Willie –

Anne isone of our fantastic volunteers in the Horticulture Department! Anne is a great asset to the Zoo team and hashelped with a variety of tasks. I know Ican always find Anne out and about on Zoo grounds! Thank YOU Anne for all your hard work anddedication to the Zoo!

- Megan Hudak, Volunteer Services Manager

What’syour favorite part of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ)?

I love theinteraction with the guests. The kids are so much fun and so excitedwhen they see the animals. Working with the crew fromHort is so great, they are a great group of people

How longhave you been a volunteer?

Since the end of March,2011

What aresome of the activities that you’ve gotten to help with?

Since I am assigned toHorticulture I have pulled what seems like a "mountain" of weeds but it's just job security because they keep on coming!! I helped with theElectric Safari lights including helping with Santa one evening, carvedmany pumpkins for Halloween, planting trees and flowers, working at thePlant Sale inthe spring

Do you have any funny/good stories about yourvolunteering experiences?

We do get a lot of funquestions and suggestions from the guests - Why not just spray the weeds ratherthan pulling them or what kind of weed is that?

I was pulling weeds by theMountain Lion when a guest asked if the cats made me nervous - My response was"no not really" until I looked up and the cat was right above me -thank goodness for strong fences.

Don’t “E-Waste” your Chance to Help the Zoo!

2012-01-13T13:38:00.001-07:00

What is e-waste?

“Electronic waste" maybe defined as discarded computers, electronic office equipment, entertainmentdevice electronics, mobile phones, television sets and refrigerators.

Trashy E-Waste Facts

The nation nowdumps between 300 million and 400 million electronic items per year, and lessthan 20% of that e-waste is recycled.

E-wasterepresents 2% of America'strash in landfills, but it equals 70% of overall toxic waste.

Only 15% of thepopulation recycles their computers, which means the other 85% end up inlandfills.

E-waste is the largest sourceof lead in solid waste.

E‐waste is still the fastest growingmunicipal waste stream in the

Green Solutions = Zoo Funds

Being part of thesolution and helping the zoo is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

This Saturday, January 14, from 10:00am to 2:00pm the 2^nd annual E-Waste Recycling event will be taking place in the main parking lot at the zoo. Bring your computers, audio/video equipment, small appliances, batteries, ink cartridges and cell phones to recycle. For each pound of e-waste collected the zoo will earn a percentage of the fees charged on monitors, TVs and hard drive destruction. During the event the zoo will also be collecting monetary donations as well.

The zoo collects and recycles cell phones, batteries and ink cartridges every day of the year. Place your recyclable items in the bins at the zoo admission booths between 9:00am and 4:00pm daily. The collected items are shipped to companies that recycle them, and in turn contribute funds to our animal conservation programs.

* If we recycled just a million cell phones, it would reducegreenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 1,368 cars off the road for a year.

Headed to the junk yard with an old vehicle? Donate it to the zoo! We accept vehicle donations through vehiclesforcharity.org. The proceeds from the salvage sales are contributed directly to the zoo.

Sources –Wikipedia.org & dosomething.org

Holy Year of the Bat, Batman!

2012-01-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

Rewind back to 1922 when the first vampire film was released-batsare frequently portrayed as dirty, scary varmints you don’t want to come intocontact with. But in real life, you willfind bats are very clean, not-that-scary animals, acting as natural pestcontrollers and eating up to 1,000 mosquitoes in a single hour!

Surprised? Bats aren’t confined to caves, spending themajority of the summer living in trees, under bridges, or in old houses. Youmay already have them in your area, so why not take advantage of their insecteating powers by building a bat house. When built correctly, bat houses mimic anideal bat environment-tight, dark, and warm. Follow the steps below to buildyour own bat house.

Constructing a Bat House

Tools

· Measuring tape

· Straightedge

· Combination square

· Spring clamps

· Safety glasses

· Jigsaw

· French curve and circle templates

· Drill fitted with .25” drill bit

· Caulking gun

· Paintbrush

· Foam roller

· Scissors

· Staple gun

Supplies

· 2’x 4’ section of ½” exterior grade plywood

· One 6’ 1x2

· ½” deer netting

· Exterior latex paint – black and another dark color

· Low VOC adhesive caulk

· 1” deck screws

· 3 ½” deck screws

· 3/8” Staples

Directions

1. Measure and cut the plywood
Using a tape measure and straightedge, mark upfor cutting a 2’x4’ piece of ½” exterior-grade plywood. You’ll need one piece that’s 2’wide x 26” long and one that’s 2’ wide x 22” long. Clamp the plywood to aworktable. Make sure you have on safety glasses, then use a jigsaw or acircular saw to cut the plywood.

2.Draw the bat design
Create a bat cut out using circular and oblongtemplates called French curves (available at most office supply stores). Layout the bat shape on the edge of the shorter piece of plywood, making sure it’s24” wide.

3. Drill holes for the jigsaw
Clamp the plywood and bat design to yourworktable, making sure the whole bat hangs over the edge. Using a drill/driver witha ¼” bit, drill holes justinside the points of the bat shape. This will make it easy to turn your jigsawblade as you cut out the curved parts.

4.Cut out the bat
Using a jigsaw fitted with a narrow scrollblade, which is designed for making intricate curves, cut out the bat design.Cut the shape closest to the edge first, then cut the whole bat from the sheet.Because both halves of the cutline need to look clean, work slowly andcarefully. Whenever you get to a drill hole at one of the points, stop the sawand turn it before you continue.

5. Make the sides
To raise the front panel off the back and createa small crawl space to house the bats, you’ll need strips of lumber around theedges. Cut three pieces from a 1x2-one 24” piece and two 19” pieces.

6. Attach the sides
Using a caulk gun, lay a bead of caulk along theface of the long 1x2. Line it up with the top edge of the larger piece ofplywood and clamp it in place with spring clamps. Using a drill/driver, drive1” deck screws through the 1x2 and into the plywood every 6 inches to hold itin place.

Attach the two shorter pieces to the sides inthe same manner and caulk the ends where they meet the top piece before youclamp them down. Use a damp rag to wipe up any caulk that oozes out.

7.Paint the parts
Using a brush and roller, paint the back pieceblack, from the top edge to the ends of the 1x2s. Also paint the back of thefront piece black. These will form the dark inside of the bat house.

Paint the other surfaces in a color that willhelp maintain a healthy temperature inside the house. If you live in the North,a dark color can keep the house toasty by absorbing the sunlight. In the warmSouth, a light color may be a better choice. Be sure all surfaces of the woodare painted and well sealed.

Let the paint dry completely.

8.Attach the netting
Unroll the deer netting and lay it over theinside of the back section, flat against the plywood. Using a staple gun,attach the netting to the inner edge of the top 1x2 and along the sides. Makesure to pull it taut so it can’t sag when bats hang from it. Extend the nettingall the way over the bottom edge and wrap it around to the back. Once it’sstapled all around, cut off the excess.

9.Attach the front piece
Caulk along the face of the 1x2s on the backsection. Place the front piece onto the 1x2s with the bat shape facing thebottom, and the top edges and corners lined up. Clamp it in place. Drive 1”screws every 6 inches through the face and into the 1x2s to secure it.

10.Put on the bat cutout
Caulk the exposed sections of the 1x2s, thenplace the cutout onto them just below the large front piece. Leave a ½” gap between the twofor the air vent. Clamp the piece and attach it in place with a single 1” screwon each side.

11.Hang it up
Hang your bat house under the eaves of yourhouse or from a tall, flat pole made from pressure-treated lumber (make sure tobury one-third of the lumber in the ground to keep it steady). Attach it bydriving 3½” deck screws through the corners into the siding orfascia of your house, or if you’re using a pole, along the middle at the topand bottom.

The bat house should be at least 15 feet off theground, away from bright lights. Choose a place facing south so it gets plentyof sunlight (aim for 6 to 10 hours of exposure). This will keep it nice andhot—just the way bats like it!

Thesedirections and more building tips can be found at: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20165965,00.html

Electric Safari 2011

2011-12-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

Pasta for Christmas?

2011-12-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when allthrough the zoo
Not a creature was stirring, not even Tamu.
The stockings were hung by the exhibits with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

According to a traditiontraced back to 1820, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Claus, hisnine reindeer and many elves. Each year on Christmas Eve, Santa and his elvespack the sleigh for a worldwide adventure, leaving toys for all of the goodgirls, boys and yes, even the animals here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

On Christmas morningwhen the keepers arrive, there are two special packages awaiting them. Thepackages aren’t for the keepers though; they are for the animals. A special foodpackage may hold elk or deer hide, animal legs or even pasta to cook, and alarge gift box (yes, it’s wrapped) is full of special items, including:

- Burlap bags for the apes to use as toys. The bags usually end up over their heads atsome point, mimicking what they would do with a large leaf in the wild.

- Peanut butter & jelly is the favorite of most animals here at the zoo. The keepers will spreadit on the walls within an animal’s exhibit or place it on a razor board (a hardplastic board with holes) and allow the animals to pick it out of the holes.

- Sugar-free Gatorade or Kool-Aid is used to make ice treats for the animalsadding a little flavor to their water.

- Jell-Ois given to all areas of the zoo for a special treat. Due to the red coloring, westay away from cherry or strawberry flavors. We don’t want visitors to thinkour animals are injured.

- Coconutsare given out to numerous animals including the primates, and they are theporcupine’s favorite treat.

- Cereal is agreat training tool, and rumor has it the animals love Raisin Bran.

- Spices andperfumes are sprayed randomly in an animal’s exhibit to ignite their senses.When the animals approach the new scent, it is very intriguing to them andmakes for a sometimes comical reaction.

These presents are used throughout the year for animal enrichment. In the wild, animals would spend many hours a day trying tofind, collect and eat food. At the zoo,they obviously don’t have to work quite as hard to “earn their living” butstill have a lot of adaptations and energy that they need to use. This is where enrichment comes in. The items listed above are used for activitieswhich provide mental and physical stimulation, with the goal of promotingspecies-appropriate natural behaviors in the animals under our care. Weidentify specific behaviors, such as foraging or grooming, and create toys oractivities to encourage that behavior. These activities challenge our animals’ bodies and minds to keep themactive and engaged.
If you are interested in playing Santa Claus to the animals, check out the“Wish List” on the Electric Safari event page. The list includes the items we are currentlyaccepting. Plus, when you bring an item during Electric Safari, you’ll receivediscounted admission.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

“Oh, Christmas lights, keep shinin’ on…”

2011-12-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Santa Claus is in the zoo, the scent of smoked almonds waftingout of Grizzly Grill and over one million plus twinkle lights are lit for our21^st Annual Electric Safari event. The event runs December 16 throughJanuary 1, from 5:30 to 8:30pm each evening (closed Christmas Eve). For manyindividuals, Electric Safari is a family tradition, but for others this may betheir first time.

For those of you who have never been to Electric Safari,here are the zoo’s top five tips, based on Christmas songs, to help you enjoythe event.

“Baby its cold outside…”

We help cut the chill of theevening air with numerous heaters and fire pits placed along the ElectricSafari trail, but weather here on Cheyenne Mountain is always changing, so beprepared. Wearing layers is always thebest way to go and don’t forget your hats, mittens and scarves!

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”

Nothing says Electric Safari likethe aromatic smells coming from the Grizzly Grill, open nightly during ElectricSafari. Make sure to stop by for hot chocolate, fresh roasted nuts and avariety of holiday baked goods.

“It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size…”

Just a reminder, we are America’s onlymountain zoo. When planning your clothing for Electric Safari, please rememberto wear comfortable shoes with good traction. The Electric Safari trail runsthroughout the zoo and most animal areas are open for evening viewing.

4. “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas…”

When arriving at Electric Safari,make sure to check the Animal Happenings schedule. We host numerous animalkeeper talks and animal enrichment activities each evening, beginning at6:00pm. If you missed one of the demonstrations, don’ worry! Create holidaymagic by helping make items used during the animal enrichment activities in TheLoft.

“Santa Claus is coming to town…”

Make sure to see Santa and Mrs.Claus in Primate World, from 5:30 to 8:15pm each evening through Friday,December 23. Beat the lines and make Santa Zone your first stop of the evening.

Zoo members receive FREE admission! General admission is$8.25 for adults and $5.25 for children age’s (3-11). Receive $2 off an adultadmission or $1 off a child’s admission when you bring an item listed theanimals’ wish list. Visit cmzoo.org/electricsafari for more event information.

Meet the Snow Leopards

2011-12-07T13:12:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered how snow leopards get their fur so soft andfluffy? Or how they make the most of their exhibit here at the zoo? We tookyour questions, posted on our Facebook page, straight to the leopardsthemselves (or maybe to their keepers), to get you answers. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to two snowleopards, a 3-year-old female named Kisa and a 3-year-old male named

Bhutan

Facebook Question: Wouldn't life for you be way better ifyour enclosure was larger ? :)

Answer: Actually, life is pretty great! The enclosure yousee me in is not the only area I live in. All of us leopards rotatethrough the three leopard yards and the leopard building, so I get to be in anew area every day, which is very interesting! Sometimes the keepers give meaccess to multiple enclosures at the same time, which gives me a ton of spaceto play in!

Facebook Question: What do you want SantaCatPaws to bringyou this year? I already know you been a great cat this year.

Answer:Well, you are right...I HAVE been a very good leopard this year! Santa alwaysbrings us lots of fun treats and toys for Christmas, but this year I hope hebrings me some special meat treats, like deer hides or steak. Those are myfavorite!

Facebook Question: Are youas soft as you look?
Answer: Thank you for noticing! Yes, myfur is very soft on top and feels similar to rabbit fur. My furunderneath, which is the fur that keeps me warm when it's cold outside, isthicker and more coarse, like sheep wool.

Facebook Question: Can youchange your spots?
Answer: I can’t change my spots. Aleopards spots are very much like a human’s fingerprints - they are unique toeach individual and never change. Many people don't know this, but ourskin is spotted just like our fur coats!

Facebook Question: Do youknow that white is out of season after Labor Day?

Answer: Yes, we know snow leopards are very fashion forward! But when you're this pretty, you can totally pull off white after LaborDay!

Here are a few more snow leopardfacts. A snow leopard’s average height is two feet, average length is six to seven-and-a-halffeet, and they weigh from 77 to 121 pounds. Female snow leopards weighapproximately 30% less than males. Snow leopards live for as long as 21 yearsin captivity. Theirreclusive nature makes it hard to determine snow leopard lifespan in the wild.Eating wild sheep and goats, and smaller animals like rodents, hares, and gamebirds, is what makes up their daily menu. These cats can be found in the ruggedmountains of central Asia. Their range spansfrom Afghanistan to Kazakhstan and Russiain the north, to India and China in theeast. Chinais home to about 60% of snow leopard habitat. Snow leopards have alreadydisappeared from certain areas of Mongolia, which is part of theirhistoric range. Due to the high demandfor their coats, snow leopards are illegally hunted for the fur trade. Veryrare in most of their range, an estimated 3,500 to 7,000 snow leopards are leftin the wild, with 600 to 700 in zoos around the world.

An Easy Holiday Treat

2011-12-02T11:31:00.001-07:00

White Bean and ProsciuttoBruschetta

Taste of the Wild Catering, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Bruschetta:

2/3 cup dry white or cannellini beans, cooked and cooled

1 small clove garlic, minced

2 - 3 green onions, sliced

2 - 3 oz Prosciutto, sliced thin and pulled apart into smallerpieces

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp lemon juice

Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Crostini:

1 baguette, sliced thin, toasted and brushed lightly with extravirgin olive oil

Mix all of the Bruschetta ingredients in a bowl. Spoon those mixed ingredients on top of the Crostine and serve at your next Holiday party.

Zoo Doo What?

2011-11-22T16:54:00.001-07:00

A quick holiday breakdown: the New Year begins in 39 daysand Christmas is in 32 days. Do you have your shopping done? And, Thanksgivingis followed by the one day of the year more people pay attention to the adsthan we have animals in our zoo...Black Friday.

Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year. It’sestimated the amount of Black Friday shoppers will increase from 212 millionlast year to 224 million this year, spending an average of $385 per person. On-linesales are predicted to increase from $648 million in 2010 to $705 million thisyear.

But, these stats don’t help with the one person you don’tknow what to get. Everyone knows a “person who has everything.” Not even the millionsof ads, available 10 days before Black Friday, are helping with the gift ideasfor this individual!

Don’t worry there’s no need to panic or run to Wal-Mart at 10:00pmon Thanksgiving Day. There is a solution right here in your own backyard. Justlike Santa, we have been busy at the zoo (even the animals!) preparing giftsfor this holiday season. Below is a list of our top five zoo gifts availabletoday.

- Zoo membership- Enjoy the zoo 365 days a year, a gift shop discount, discounts on zoo eventsand much more. There are five membership levels from which to choose, startingat $64.25. A zoo membership can pay for itself in as little as two visits!

- Adopt-An-Animal– Have you always wanted to adopt an animal but just don’t have room for anelephant in your backyard? Each adoption gift directly supports the care of ouranimals, and with it comes a variety of special benefits only adoptive parentsenjoy. There are six membership levels, starting at $30.

- Zoo Doo –You’re probably picturing something and you are right - - it is what you’rethinking, animal poop. From our yard to yours, Zoo Doo is made from our big catfeces and is sold by the point. Gardeners swear by this all natural, deerdeterrent to protect their plants and trees.

- Animal Art –We do have some pretty impressive artists at the zoo and, no, they aren’t onthe staff. They live here. Art is available from the orangutans, elephants,ponies, and penguins. Everything from an original masterpiece to a more trendy“paw” print is available.

- Behind-the-ScenesTour – Go behind the scenes with a group of up to four friends or familymembers, for an up-close look at our incredible animals. Choose from our bigcats to the animals in the African Rift Valley or design your own.

There are four ways to get your hands on one or more of theseawesome gifts;

- Visit http://www.cmzoo.org/supportZoo/donationProgram/gifts.asp

- Ask a zoo team member the next time you’re here tovisit.

- Call 719-633-9925

- Visit our zoo store – “Zoo to You Gallery.” The store isnew this year and located at 214 1/2 North
Tejon Street in Colorado Springs - across from Acacia Park, next to CJ Kard.

Store hours:

December 3: 10am – 6pm

December 4^:12pm – 5pm

December 7^:4pm – 8pm

The holiday season is a time for giving, so why not purchasea gift that gives back to a great cause?

96 Yards of Waste

2011-11-18T15:33:00.001-07:00

Formany years the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been searching for compostingopportunities in an effort to resolve the question…What do they do with all thepoop? As you can imagine we haveliterally tons of organic material, or in other words poop, which can becomposted. In the summer of 2011 BestwayDisposal announced it had started a composting sector for commercial businessesand after considering all aspects of what a disposal transition would mean forthe Zoo we decided to join the movement.

Whatis composting? It is nature’s way ofprocessing and recycling decomposed organic material and returning thenutrients from organic material back into the ground. Composting creates a rick, dark soil fit forgrowing just about anything. Composthelps reduce pest problems which ultimately reduces your use of pesticides;diverts material from landfills; it improves moisture retention in the soil;prevents the need to purchase soil conditioners; increases the nutrient levelsin the plants you are growing and consuming; allows for children to learn aboutthe cycle of life…the benefits are endless.

Sofar Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has started composting in African Rift Valley (ARV)and Elephants. By composting in ARV andElephants we have eliminated all but one of our regular consumable waste binsalong the ARV Road. In those two areas we have gone from 96 yardsof waste per week to 2 yards of waste; that’s approximately 680 tons ofmaterial being diverted from the landfill on an annual basis. Future moves include expanding our compostingefforts to other areas of the Zoo to include Hippos, Primate World, Commissaryand Food Services.

Youmay ask yourself, how can you make a difference? Well, composting is easy. All you need is a relatively flat location, apile of organic waste to include nitrogen and carbon, water and a way to rotateor turn the pile. For additional detailson how to compost please visit websites on composting practices, speak withrepresentatives at your local nursery, call your disposal service or chat witha landscaping company.

TheCheyenne Mountain Zoo continues to strive for sustainability throughconservation, recycling, composting and education. Please visit our website to learn more aboutour conservation efforts.

Written by: Mindy Carney

From BBQ to Black Tie...

2011-11-11T15:22:00.001-07:00

Meet Kassy Boyd

Catering Manager, Taste of the WildCatering
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Kassy joined the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo team in June 2011. Aftergraduating from Colorado State University, she moved to Denver and worked at the Denver Zoo for theconcessionaire, KM Concessions & Service Systems Associates. Her positiveattitude, willingness to learn, and desire to excel quickly advanced her intoupper-management as the Catering Operations Manager. When the Catering Sales& Ops Manager position opened at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, she eagerly acceptedthe promotion and relocated to Colorado Springs.

As the face of Taste of the Wild Catering, Kassyis committed to making your event at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo a success. Sheoperates a full-service catering department and manages the entire process,from facility and catering sales to setup and tear down on event day.

Managedby Service Systems Associates, Taste of the Wild excels at any andevery event style, from BBQ to black tie. The Lodge at MooseLake is centrally located inside thezoo - a spaciously cozy event space with spectacular views of Colorado Springs and versatility beyond your wildestimagination.

TheLodge at Moose Lake is stillavailable for rental during Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 2011 Electric Safari. Yourguests will enjoy warmth and refreshment while taking in the over 1 millionlights throughout the zoo. Groups can also “stray from the pack” on selectDecember dates and rent the whole zoo for a more personal touch. Don’t miss outon this affordable opportunity for your guests to check this holiday traditionoff their lists!

To book your holiday party, company picnic, summer wedding, or forgeneral inquiries about Taste of the Wild Catering atCheyenne Mountain Zoo, contact Kassy at 719.314.0970 or email catering@cmzoo.org.

“All I Want for Winter is…”

2011-11-04T10:13:00.001-06:00

Winter is upon us, and so isregistration for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s winter camps! There are two sessionsto choose from, December 19-23 or 26-30. The sessions are five days long andrun from 9am to 3pm daily.

This year’s theme is “All IWant for Winter is…” Children ages 6-10 will explore how we keep “hot” animalsstaying warm in the winter and how the “cool” animals enjoy the Colorado weather. They will learn more about the differentclimates our animals are native to and how they adapt to those climates, aswell as what type of acclimations they have made for Colorado. We will spend some time learning about our Rocky Mountainnatives and finally find the answer to the question, “Do the zoo’s bearshibernate?” Each day will include timeinside and outside, as well as some up close and personal time with animalsright in the classroom.

Each day’s program isdifferent based on the daily schedule listed below.

v “…Mountains withSnow”: Learn about the animals adaptations to survive the winter in the Rocky Mountainareas and how to track their movements in the winter. Monday,December 19 and Wednesday, December 28

v “…DifferentPlaces to Live”: Learn what makes a climate and investigate the types ofclimates the zoo’s animals are from. Tuesday, December 20 and Thursday,December 29

v “…A Nice HeatLamp”: Learn how we help keep our African Savannah animals comfortable in thewinter. Wednesday, December 21 andMonday, December 26

v “…A Thick FurCoat”: Learn about the adaptations all kinds of animals have to the colder timesof the year, and the difference between the words adapt and acclimate. Thursday,December 22 and Tuesday, December 27

v “…A Warm Place toGo”: Learn about what it really means to hibernate or migrate and which animalspractice these techniques to cope with the cold weather, as well as some otherspecial weather fighting techniques. Friday,December 23 and Friday, December 30

Participants may registerfor all five days of a week, or any number of days during the week.

Members: $40.25/day or $166.25for one week. Non-members: $45.25/day or$176.25 for one week. Cost includes longsleeved youth t-shirt and take-home items made throughout the day/week.

Registration is availablevia phone (719-633-9925 ext.127), mail, fax, or online at www.cmzoo.org. Just remember, registrationsare not complete until a zoo camp health form is completed and returned. Formscan be printed off at http://www.cmzoo.org/docs/zoocamphealthform.pdf.

We hope to see your childthis December!

Don’t be scared… We have 10 tips for Boo at the Zoo!

2011-10-20T09:26:00.000-06:00

Wear layers - You never know what the weather may be like here on the side of the mountain. Wear layers so you are prepared for anything.
Bring a flashlight - The zoo is lit for this event, but it’s always nice to have a little extra light.
Save money for hot chocolate - Bring a little extra money to warm up at the Grizzly Grill with a cup of hot chocolate.
Wear comfortable shoes - Don’t forget when you’re planning your costume, comfy footwear is a must for the terrain here at the zoo
Bring a bag - There is plenty of orangutan friendly candy for everyone during Boo at the Zoo! Don’t forget your reusable treat bag.
Skip the parking line - Use the FREE shuttle, leaving from the Broadmoor Fire Department. You can purchase your Boo at the Zoo tickets right on the shuttle.
Renew your membership - Don’t forget to renew your zoo membership before the event to take advantage of the special members-only admission discount.
Bring your Zeezo’s receipt – Remember to bring your Zeezo’s receipt during the first weekend to receive a $2 admission discount (valid Oct. 21-23 only).
Check your watch – Make sure to keep tabs on time so you don’t miss “Things That Go Bump in the Night” animal show performed nightly at 6:15, 7:15 and 8:00 at Lodge at Moose Lake.
Don’t forget to HAVE FUN!

Summer Wrap up

2011-10-18T13:20:00.001-06:00

Fall has officially begun, wrapping up the summer seasonhere at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. In honor of school starting, shorter days,leaves turning and cooler weather, I wanted to take a look back at summer 2011.

Our summer started in May with our 3^rd Annual Runto the Shrine. This year, we increased attendance to 600 5K runners and 400 10Krunners. Depending on your distance, the race began either at The Broadmoor orat the front gates of the zoo. Regardless of your starting point, it was definitelya tough race due to the 1,400-foot elevation gain. At the end of May, the zoolost one of its long-time residents. Elson, our 16-year-old male African lion,was receiving end of life care, and was under anesthesia for treatment of adental infection. It was during this procedure Elson’s heart stopped. Elson’smorning roar is still missed at the zoo, but his legacy lives on in his 13 cubsand at least seven grandcubs. These descendants live at Association of Zoos andAquariums facilities all across the U.S.

In June we welcomed two new otters to Rocky Mountain Wild.They arrived from the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, MN, andbrought our otter count to four meowters. I’m happy to report Enapay and Pivaneare doing well. We also received a fourth African elephant. Jambo is 27 years oldand weighs in at an estimated 8,500 pounds. Jambo is being introduced duringdaily “howdies” to her new friends Lucky, Malaika and Kimba. All four ladies are enjoying their newelephant barn and have officially set up residence there. In the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Conservation Center,things started to heat up as the black-footed ferrets began mating. 11 kitsborn at the zoo this year were released in the wild.

July is one of our busiest months. Teddy Bear Days took placethe second weekend of July and attracted more than 7,000 children to the zooover the two days. Memorial Hospital for Children wasa huge supporter of the Teddy Bear Clinic, where numerous stuffed friends weretreated. More than 15 area businesses also set up fun booths for the children, includingice cream samples, prize wheels, face painting and giveaways.

August didn’t slow down as we hosted Moonlight on theMountain. We welcomed more than 25 restaurants, five breweries and five wineshops to the zoo for the adults-only fundraising event. Even though the weatherwas less than appealing, more than 1,200 participated, making this the largestMoonlight on the Mountain in zoo history.

We celebrated Military Appreciation Week September 12-18,offering admission discounts for all active and retired military and theirfamilies. We also introduced a new Komodo dragon named Boudreaux during a specialreveal party. He is an 8-year-old, 89-pound Komodo dragon on loan to us fromthe Oklahoma City Zoo. Boudreaux loves getting massages from his keepers. Themonth ended on a positive note when Monkey Pavilion keepers were able to get boththe Goeldi’s and Geoffrey’s marmosets to shift to their new outdoor exhibit, afeat months in the making.

Don’t worry, there are still a lot of events coming up thisyear. Mark your calendars for Boo at the Zoo taking place at the end of Octoberand Electric Safari in December.

Four Years and Counting

2011-10-07T15:32:00.000-06:00

Name: AllisonAllum

Age: 17 years-old

Hometown: Monument,CO

Favorite Zoo Animal: Tahoma,the moose

Career Aspirations: Ihope to become a veterinarian.

What’s your favoritepart of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ)? Enrichment! Ilove that all of the animals get to do fun and educational activities.

How long have youbeen a Junior Zoo Keeper? I have been a Jr. Zoo Keeper for four years.

What inspired you tobecome a Junior Zoo Keeper here at CMZ? I want to work with exotic animalssomeday. It’s also nice to tell my friends that I work at a zoo.

What animals are youworking with? I get to work with the grizzlies, mountain lions, wolves, theporcupine, the moose, lynx, tigers, leopards, and snow leopards.

What are some of theactivities that you’ve gotten to help with? I’ve gotten to help withcleaning, preparing animal diets, feeding, training, and enrichment making.

Why should otherindividuals apply to be a Junior Zoo Keeper? Being a Jr. Zoo Keeper is afabulous opportunity.

Do you have anyFunny/Good Stories? During the summer there was a sign placed at the mooseexhibit talking about Tahoma’s antlers. A guest misread the sign and startedtalking to a large group of people, explaining that this animal was a Tahomaand they are closely related to moose. Obviously, she was a little confused.J

“What is Boudreaux?”

2011-09-22T11:56:00.000-06:00

I have been quite the secret at the zoo for the past weekand I have caused quite a stir on Facebook. “What is Boudreaux?”they asked. Well, I’ll tell you what I am; I’m a Komodo dragon who is finally gettingthe opportunity to introduce himself to new zoo friends here in Colorado Springs.

Zoo – Please tellthe world what your name means.

Boudreaux -My name is Boudreaux, a surname of French origin and a common nameamong Cajuns.No, I’m not Cajun; I’m from Oklahoma City, where I resided at the zoo. I’m actually justvisiting for a couple of years and will return to the Oklahoma City Zoo when mynew exhibit is complete.

Zoo – Can you please let us know more about where youare actually from?

Boudreaux - I, along with all of my relatives, am found on the island of Komodoand three nearby islands in Indonesia.If you’re wondering where these islands are located, they are in the lesserSunda, halfway along the Indonesiaarchipelago, east of Bali and west of Timor. We’ve inhabited this landscape for over amillion years but have only been known to humans for the past 100 years.

Zoo– How can that be?

Boudreaux - You’re probably wondering how something like me cango unseen for a long period of time. Theseislands only have small human populations. I like to think we pretty much rulethe roost! Sorry, that was a chicken saying, not a Komodo saying.

Zoo – You are such a character! Well, Boudreaux, you look amazing. Can youtell us a little bit about your physique? For the people who haven’t seen you,of course.

Boudreaux - For thoseof you who haven’t come to see me yet, I’m 89 pounds and very handsome. Komododragons can actually reach up to 330 pounds and 10 feet long. We are consideredto be the largest living species of lizard. Even though we can get very large insize, we are very physically fit and can run up to 11 miles per hour in shortbursts, considered to be strong swimmers and can dive up to 15 feet at a time. Ofcourse, the 11 miles per hour is really nothing compared to my new roommates,the hippos, who can run up to 30 miles per hour for short distances.

Zoo – Wow! I’m glad you’ve gotten to chat with your new roommates.

Boudreaux – It has felt likea blind date behind all of this paper. I haven’t gotten to see them but, I hearthem chatting, even though a Komodo’s hearing isn’t the best. We have prettygood vision and are able to see up to 980 feet, but we have horrible nightvision due to our retinas. Our best sense is our smell; not through our nosebut through our forked tongues. We can smell up to six miles away when the windblows just right.

Zoo – So far how do you feel about your new keepers? Are you getting fedenough?

Boudreaux – I really love the keepers; they are doing a greatjob! You know, even though I’m only 89 pounds, I do have a very manly appetite.I’m fed a diet of five or more whole rats once a week, with a rabbit thrown inevery once in awhile. I guess my neighbor, Shiva the python, will have to learnto share. Rats are delicious, but are notour only food source. On the islands, we are considered the dominant predatorand will eat anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and evenlarge water buffalo, which can be up to 15 times our size. If our preydoes escape, they are still in dire straights. Our saliva contains 50 strainsof bacteria and will eventually kill them within 24 hours. I’m a patient manand will follow the escapee up to six miles to eat my kill. Some of my relativeshave been known to eat 80% of their body weight in a single feeding. After I’m full, I love to lay out in the sunto help the digestion process and of course get a little vitamin D on thesescales.

Zoo – Huh, well it’s probably a great time to wrap things up.

Boudreaux - No worries about allof these negative attributes; I’m a laid back Komodo that loves massages on aregular basis and plenty of human interaction.

Horses, Miniature Horses and Ponies, Oh My!!!

2011-09-20T16:24:00.000-06:00

There is only one species of domestic horse, but there are over 300different breeds. Domestic horses reach full adult development by the age offive and live an average of 25 to 30 years. A female horse is referred to as a filly or amare and a male horse is referred to as a stallion or a gelding, but all horsesless than a year old are called foals. A horse’s height is measured at thehighest point of the withers, wherethe neck meets the back.It’s expressed as the number of full hands (one hand is equal to four inches),followed by a decimal point,then the number of additional inches and the abbreviation "hh” for handshigh. For example, a horse described as 15.2hh is 15 hands (60 inches) plus two inches, or atotal of 62 inches.

While they are the same species, horses and ponies are not the same. An animal 14.2hh or more is usually considered a horse and lessthan 14.2hh a pony. Throw in the fact miniature ponies only grow to 30 inchesand you can see there’s a huge difference between breeds. Other differences betweena horse and pony include aspects of appearance,such as conformation and temperament. Ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails, andoverall coat. They also have shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier bone, shorterand thicker necks, and short heads with broad foreheads. They may be calmer thanhorses and have a high level of equine intelligence.

Meet CheyenneMountain Zoo’s Herd

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to a herd of four ponies, three horses andtwo miniature horses. They are part ofnumerous zoo programs, from summer camps to pony camps to zoo outreach. Theyeven help raise money for the zoo through their art. Yes, our ponies can paintand their work is for sale. Call us at 719.633.9925 for more information.

"Sunny" is a 14-year-oldShetland pony and miniature horse mix. His favorite treat is apple slices withhoney drizzled on top. Sunny loves painting pictures and trying to get paint onhis keepers. He enjoys interacting with zoo guests and has a laid backpersonality.

"Scout" is a 13-year-oldPaint Arabian horse mix at a pony’s height - only 14.1hh. His favorite snack isapple wafer treats and he loves to be a part of pony camp for the youngercampers. He is best known around the zoo for his bowing behavior.

"Jose" is seven yearsold and the youngest. He is a Polish Arabian horse standing 15hh, the tallestin the herd. His favorite behaviors are waving and smiling and he loves tochase “Sunny” around the yard. Jose has a very sweet and charming demeanor.

"Indigo" is a13-year-old Fell pony. She is very smart, has an outgoing personality and lovestraining time if treats are involved, especially carrots. Her favorite behavioris picking up a muck rake and handing it to her keepers. We think she does thisso she doesn’t have pick up her own manure. Indigo is currently up foradoption.

"Rockette" is a 15-year-oldWelsh Shetland pony mix, the oldest pony in our herd. She loves attention and alwayshas to know what is going on. She pokes her head over the tack shed barn door forextra treats and attention.

"Billy" is aneight-year-old Appaloosa mix. He loves giving his keepers kisses and is theclown of the herd; he is always playing with toys, feeders and buckets. Billyloves little kids’ shoes, especially the light-up kind. His favorite activityis knocking the grain out of a swing bucket.

"Ranger" is a13-year-old Welsh pony and he’s missing his right eye because of an injury whenhe was young. He is shy, but loves playing hide and seek and tag with hiskeepers. He lets kids walk him back and forth from the barn during camp.

"Concho" is one oftwo new miniature horses. He is five years old and has a special coloringcalled silver dapple, which is a grayish-brown color with small circles oflighter color. His mane and tail are both flaxen, or blonde. He loves to followkeepers around the yard and is in pony training for summer 2012.

"Tito," the other newminiature horse, is four years old. He is the smallest in the herd and quiteshy. Tito’s favorite treat is grain. He is also in pony training for summer2012.

The nexttime you are at the zoo, visit our entire herd in the pony corral next to Lodgeat Moose Lake. Rides are only $5.00 each; or youcan purchase a frequent rider card of five rides for $20.00.

A Token of Appreciation

2011-09-12T10:33:00.000-06:00

Colorado Springsis home to three Air Force bases, the United States Air Force Academy and oneArmy base. As part of a community withsuch a rich military history, we want to show those who sacrifice so much howgrateful we are.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is open 365 days a year and on each ofthose days, we offer a military discount on zoo admission with military ID. Inaddition, for families and individuals calling Colorado Springs home, we offer a $10.00discount on any new or renewed membership at any level. To make it even easierto experience the zoo, once a year we celebrate Military Appreciation Week. Don’t miss thisyear’s Military Appreciation Week taking place September 12-18, 2011. We’reextending a $5.25 admission price to all activeduty/retired militarypersonnel and their families.

Beyond the military discounts, we are honored to be one ofthe hosts for Operation: Military Kids overnight events. These overnights are for children of families withloved ones currently serving overseas, preparing for deployment of a familymember or celebrating a family member’s return. It can be trying on notjust the soldiers who are fighting, but for their children, too. This past year,we welcomed over 220 kids for an exciting evening at the zoo, including specialanimal demonstrations, flashlight tours and delicious meals.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is thankful for all our military menand women do for our country. We hope the zoo gives them the opportunity togather as a family and spend some quality time together while experiencing thenatural world. Thank you for your service!

If you won't eat it, we won't feed it!

2011-08-31T17:23:00.001-06:00

Name: Jamie Breitigan

Hometown: Anaheim,CA – This is where I spent most of my childhood and young adulthood.

Favorite Zoo Animal: I’m in awe of all the animals here atthe zoo. The ones who make me laugh the most though are the grizzlies.

Worked at CMZ since: July, 2006

Job Description: Commissary Manager – I take care ofordering, preparing, delivering, and rotating all animal food and fulfillingall animal department supply orders here at the zoo. Plus all other duties asassigned.

What’s your favorite part of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ)? Ilike the family feeling of the zoo and knowing we are a part of somethingbigger than us.

Why is your job important? I believe all of the jobs hereare equally important. Mine is just one piece of the puzzle. Of course I never want to run of food or theymay decide to feed me to the animals.

Do you have any advice for people who are visiting the CMZfor the first time? Try to explore all parts of the zoo: the animals, thelandscaping, the view, and all of the shows.

Do you have any Funny/Good Stories? I get here pretty early(5:30am) in the morning and sometimes it’s very dark, especially outside of theCommissary. One morning as I was getting out of the Commissary truck, I saw awild mountain lion run in front of the truck’s headlights. I jumped right backin the truck and waited until she/he was gone and went on with my work. Verycool, right? Well, fast forward a year or so. Before I walk out of theCommissary to get to the truck I pull out my flashlight so I can see if there’sanything like a mountain lion outside of the building. I turned the corner andflashed up by the truck and all of a sudden I saw two shiny eyes looking backat me. I won’t tell you what I actually said… But you can bet I was hightailing it back inside. Well, I don’t like to be behind in my work schedule soI decided “I’m going to scare whatever this is away!” I went and cautiouslyflashed my lights up at it again ready to go blow for blow with whatever animalit was and low and behold it was a very innocent deer. Are you serious, a deer?Well I felt pretty foolish, but still alive and on time.

Click here for Commissary video preview!

Meet Jen from our Zoo Crew!

2011-08-26T13:44:00.000-06:00

Name: Jen Colangelo

Age: 14 years old

Hometown: Boston, MA

Favorite Zoo Animal: The giraffes are my favorite because their tongues are so long and they are very sweet and interesting animals.

How many years have you been on the Zoo Crew? This is my first year in the Zoo Crew.

What’s your favorite part of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo? My favorite part is learning about all the different animals.

Why did you become a member of the Zoo Crew? I wanted to learn about animals and see what a career with animals would be like.

What’s your favorite task? Working in the Loft because you get to be around animals and teach people about them.

Why should other kids your age become part of the Zoo Crew? You learn a lot of things that will be helpful later in life and customer service skills. It is also one of the most fun things I’ve ever done.

Do you have any Funny/Good Stories? I was in Primate World and the baby orangutan was swinging back and forth. All of a sudden he jumped down, ran over to the glass and smashed his face against it. It was the cutest picture ever!

Are you or someone you know interested in applying for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Crew? Please visit http://www.cmzoo.org/exploreLearn/kidsTeens/zooCrew.asp for more information.

Colorado Springs Astronomical Society

2011-08-18T15:28:00.000-06:00

The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society is a group of amateur astronomers with a passion for the night sky. We are over 100 members strong. We are a non-profit group dedicated to the enjoyment and teaching of the nighttime sky. Our club is a member society of the Astronomical League and the International Dark Sky Association. We hold monthly meetings which are open to members and non-members alike. Our club is two-fold in nature. One side being an organization that brings together those that share the same passions and the other side being Outreach.

Outreach is our way of sharing our knowledge of science and astronomy with the public. We host monthly public star parties as well as many private star parties many of which are the local schools in our area. We are also associated with the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and provide star parties several times over the summer at the top of the Sky Ride, including the Stargazing Evenings. THIS Friday, August 19th beginning at 8:00pm is the LAST Stargazing Evening for the 2011 season.

For more information on the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society please check out their website and calendar. http://csastro.org/

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part IX: Breeding Season

2011-08-12T09:21:00.000-06:00

Bunting’s kits are now at the 55 day mark. At this stage they have the adult color pattern, but still have a juvenile appearance. This period is critical as it is when they get their first canine distemper vaccination. Canine distemper is one of the diseases that nearly brought the black footed ferrets (BFFs) to extinction. A special recombinant canine distemper vaccine was developed for BFFs as well as the domestic ferret.

Bunting’s kit getting it’s first

canine distemper vaccination at

55 days of age.

The catch cage is always used now whenever they need to be examined or restrained along with thick leather bite gloves to block their escape from the catch cage. Roughly seven days from the distemper vaccination or at around 62 days old, they are anesthetized for a physical examination by one of our veterinarians. They look for any possible abnormalities and implant a microchip under the skin for permanent identification.

Bunting’s kit under gas anesthesia

for exam and microchip implant at

65 days of age.

Half inch long microchip

used to permanently ID the BFFs.

The microchip provides a 9 digit number

that is unique to that particular individual.

Summer Safety

2011-08-10T14:04:00.000-06:00

Summer is winding down, many children have already headed back to school and the days are starting to get shorter and shorter. But, the weather is still warm and there’s always a chance for those last-minute outdoor getaways. We want to remind you of some basic safety guidelines while you’re enjoying the great outdoors.

Never leave a campfire unattended and be sure to put out your campfire completely before you leave.
Use a plastic ground cloth under your tent to help keep you dry.
Wear layers of light-weight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing.
Be sure to bring along supplies including a first-aid kit, compass or GPS, map, flashlight, blankets, batteries, food, clothes, and medications.
Always have plenty of extra socks with you when you go camping.
Before you leave for your camping trip be sure to tell some of your friends where you are going. Be as specific as you can and let them know when you expect to return.
Plan for the journey by researching the area on the web.
Be sure to bring your own water or water filter for drinking.
Carry out all of the garbage you carry in.
Use sun block.
If you are caught above the tree line when a storm approaches, descend quickly.
Storms can also develop in the middle of the night. To lower your odds of being struck by lighting don't pitch your tent near the tallest trees in the vicinity.

There are numerous different types of wildlife here in Colorado. One species you may encounter is the black bear. Black bears range in color from black to light blond and have a lighter patch on their chest. They average in size from 110 to 300 pounds, are two-and-a-half to three feet tall at their shoulder and around five feet standing. Their ears are larger and pointed and their claws are shorter. When looking at prints to detect if it’s a black bear, look for a larger toe arc. Toe imprints are farther apart and the claws usually don’t leave an impression.

While we no longer have grizzly bears in Colorado, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to two. During Teddy Bear Days, held on July 9 and 10, our bears illustrated what may happen to your campsite if you don’t follow basic camping guidelines. Take a look at the video clip to see these helpful bear tips in action.

Never cook or store food in or near your tent.
Hang food and other items with strong odors (i.e., toothpaste, bug repellent, soap, etc.) out of reach of bears.
Hang items at least 10 feet above the ground and if no trees are available, store your food in air-tight or bear-proof containers.
Change your clothing before you go to sleep. Don't wear what you cooked in to bed and be sure to store smelly clothing along with your food/ other smelly items.
Keep the area clean. Be sure to wash dishes, dispose of garbage, and wipe down tables.
Burn garbage completely in a hot fire and pack trash out - don't bury it.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part VIII: Breeding Season

2011-08-05T13:43:00.001-06:00

Bunting’s kits are now growing very fast. They are still nursing, but are mostly eating specially developed ground meat and rodents. They are also busy playing which is important for them to strengthen and develop their motor skills.

They are now venturing into the black tube that leads from their nestbox to the upper enclosure. This makes getting a visual or catching the ferret to weigh extremely challenging. They are not yet at the biting age, but very soon we will need to wear thick leather gloves to protect our hands. Since this is a reintroduction program, it is important for the kits to remain wary of humans. Talking is kept to a minimum and handling is only done when absolutely necessary. Once old enough, a catch cage will be used as they are too feisty and strong to hold otherwise.

Bunting’s kits at 40 days old

Meet Kayson!

2011-07-28T16:10:00.001-06:00

Meet Kayson Cooper a Summer Camp Counselor

here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo!

Name: Kayson Cooper

Age: 20 Years Old

Hometown: Riverton, WY

Favorite Zoo Animal: Elephants, Apes

Career Aspirations: I would like to be involved with conservation education, especially teaching children about wildlife and how they preserve it.

What’s your favorite part of Cheyenne

Mountain Zoo (CMZ)? The beautiful scenery and natural exhibits.

What inspired you to become a camp

counselor here at CMZ? I love animals and enjoy teaching others about them, so this is a dream job.

What age kids are you working with? This summer, I have worked with kids from four to 15 years old.

What activities do you have planned for them throughout camp? The campers will be meeting animals up close, going on behind the scenes tours and hearing personalized keeper talks.

What has been your biggest obstacle to overcome being a camp counselor? The biggest obstacle has been trying to explain information in a way that young kids understand and the older kids are still entertained.

What is the benefit of being a camp counselor at CMZ? I get to see new things every day and I learn so much from the kids and my fellow counselors.

Do you have any Funny stories? I asked a group of four-and five-year-olds “What animals have scales?” They all immediately responded that giraffes have scales.

WOODstock: Groovin' with Gibbons

2011-07-22T17:05:00.000-06:00

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to an amazing group of apes called gibbons, which are threatened in the wild. Three of the 15 species are represented here - two Lar gibbons, two white-cheeked gibbons and three Siamangs, which are the largest species of gibbon. Gibbons are native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, and are very agile and acrobatic animals, leaping up to 50 feet and swinging up to 35 miles per hour. Many times, at the zoo and in the wild, these singing gibbons can be heard before they are seen. If you have visited the zoo, you've heard the gibbons sing their territorial calls, which can be heard up to two miles away.

Unfortunately, gibbons are facing serious threats in the wild. In the wild, gibbons are losing their homes to deforestation for logging and agricultural purposes. They are also threatened by the illegal pet trade; adults are hunted or captured and their offspring are brought into captivity.

There’s something simple you can do to help gibbons. Just look for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) symbol on any wood product you purchase. If you see this symbol and purchase the product you are supporting well-managed forests and helping to save space for animals in the wild. You can also visit the zoo and vote for the gibbons with your “Quarters for Conservation” token. This project supports Wildlife Friends Thailand, which works to reintroduce gibbons to the wild.

DON'T MISS WOODSTOCK THIS SATURDAY!

A Beary Good Lesson at a Bearrific Event

2011-07-15T14:40:00.000-06:00

Teddy Bear Days

Teddy bears are classic stuffed toys for children. Popular around the world with children of all ages, teddy bears consistently out-sell all other stuffed animal toys. They are known for providing young children with a sense of security and even companionship. Used in diverse channels, teddy bears have always kept a child’s attention. They have been used to teach manners with the Berenstein Bears, fire safety with Smokey Bear and life lessons with the Care Bears.

It’s a natural progression that children will have to visit various medical professionals on many different occasions - basic checkups, when ill or for routine shots. Teddy Bear Days here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo uses teddy bears, and other stuffed animals, to help relay a message of safety and security when interacting with these professionals. The Teddy Bear Clinic, the cornerstone of this event, is located in the Lodge at Moose Lake. The clinic is a full hospital experience setup in a very non-threatening environment. When a child first approaches the clinic, they are welcomed by nurses who complete a quick checkup on the stuffed animal. From here, the child is either given a certificate of “Beary Good Health” or transferred on to the next department. A teddy bear may go to triage where a broken bone is casted, surgery to have a rip repaired or a button sewn on, or the teddy bear may need a CT scan or an x-ray. Through the entire process, the child is shown how easy all the procedures are and that it’s not a scary experience. The Teddy Bear Clinic is hosted by Memorial Hospital and is staffed with volunteer nurses from various hospital departments. A “beary” BIG thanks to Memorial Hospital!

This year, the 23^rd annual Teddy Bear Days was held on July 9 and 10. The Teddy Bear Clinic examined and released over 800 stuffed animals, varying from a basic teddy bear outfitted with heels, sunglass and pearls, to a stuffed piece of bacon. Yes, a stuffed piece of bacon was examined and released from the Teddy Bear Clinic. The clinic and the use of gauze, tongue depressors and about a hundred different bandages varying in color including, many with cartoon characters, is always a highlight of the event.

Teddy Bear Days also allows the Zoo an opportunity to showcase our bears. During this year’s event we offered three bear shows each day - grizzly bear demonstration, Bear Grotto demonstration, and a visitor favorite “Bear Aware”. The “Bear Aware” demonstration is held at the grizzly bear boardwalk and shows visitors what may happen if good camping principles are not followed. A make-shift campsite is constructed, complete with a campfire and a tent. Food is strategically placed throughout the campsite, including Ready Whip, the grizzlies’ favorite. Once everything is in place, the gate is opened and the grizzlies come to investigate. Eventually the majority of the food is enjoyed and the tent is pronounced unusable.

The final component of the event is our “bearrific” vendor area filled with many local businesses and organizations wanting to reach out to children to keep them active, educate them or help expand their creativity. This year, we hosted over 15 participants. They handed out kid-oriented collateral, prizes, crafts and coupons. Free child-size ice cream cones were enjoyed by everyone as well. The event was “beary” successful on all fronts! If you missed it, watch your Zoo calendar for our 2012 Teddy Bear Days.

Thank you to our vendors!

American Association of Zoo Keepers

Bright Eyes

Build-A-Bear

Chick-Fil-A

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Docents

Colorado City Creamery

Glacier Ice Cream

Imagination Celebration

iT’Z

Mr. Biggs

Rocky Mountain Pediatric Dentistry

Seat Belt Safety

Stars Gymnastics

Texas Roadhouse

Untamed Leadership

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Crew

It Smells Like a Flower in a Brand New Crib!

2011-07-07T16:02:00.000-06:00

One of the most memorable clips from the movie Bambi includes one of the cutest skunks you have ever seen. During this clip, the two meet for the very first time, and with her big eyelashes and sweet voice, the skunk allows Bambi to call her Flower.

We have a “Flower” here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo as well, but her name is Tiger Lily. Some of you may have seen Lily up in the Loft where she has been living for the past couple of years. But, as our Loft animal collection grew, staff saw an opportunity to move Lily to a different enclosure at the zoo. This enclosure is located on the southeast side of the old Bird and Reptile House. It is an outdoor enclosure with dirt, logs, and plenty of space for Lily to exercise and dig. We hope this will provide her with more space to be a 'skunk', and continue to increase her physical fitness when she's not out being her cute little self and connecting with guests.

Tiger Lily came to us in early 2008. She was two years old and had been a pet. When the owners moved to Colorado, they learned skunks are illegal to have as pets. In conjunction with the Division of Wildlife, they decided to place her here as a member of our Animal Ambassador program.

Over the last year, Lily has overcome some mobility challenges. Because of the diet she received early in life, her bones were quite deficient of calcium. In addition, she was overweight. As a result, her back legs suffered some stress fractures. The zoo's animal care and veterinary staff were very proactive with her treatments and did the best to ensure Lily would heal fully, lose weight, and someday walk normally again. Her daily diet is now complete with dog kibble, rodent chow, and yams. Crunchy crickets are Tiger Lily's favorite treats! With this new diet and physical therapy, we're pleased to say we have been successful with Lily. She continues to amaze her keepers with her sleeping habits. She snoozes while hanging from her log or with all four feet straight up in the air!

Stop by and see her the next time you're at the zoo!

Skunk Facts

- Skunks are primarily nocturnal and usually solitary, except when mothers are raising their babies.

- Skunks eat mostly insects, many of which are pests to humans.

- Skunk litters range from three to as many as 10 young.

- All skunks seem able to dig their own burrows, but will also use abandoned dens of other animals, hollow logs, wood, or rock piles. You may even find them living under buildings, stone walls and in hay or brush piles.

- The skunk’s main defense is a complex chemical substance, including sulfuric acid that can be fired from either one of two independently targetable anal glands.

- There are four different kinds of skunks found in the

United States

: spotted skunks, striped skunks, hooded skunks and hog-nosed skunks.

- Young skunks are referred to as kittens.

- Skunks have long claws, which are excellent for digging. However, these long claws are not useful in climbing and their short legs do not enable a skunk to run very fast.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part VII: Breeding Season

2011-07-07T09:46:00.000-06:00

Black-footed ferret (BFF) kits grow very fast. At birth they can weigh as little as 5 grams, the same weight of a US nickel! The nest box is cleaned once at 4 days old and then a daily cleaning of the nest box resumes when the kits are 9 days old. The dams are very reluctant to leave their kits, so we usually clean them right before feeding time. The meat ball sometimes entices the dam to go to the upper enclosure long enough to close the shift slider of the nest box. We quickly clean the latrine side of the nest box. Take a quick peek at the kits on the nest side and then let the dams back to their kits. This allows us the opportunity to check on the kits and make sure they are looking good.

Bunting’s litter at 4 days of age.

Bunting’s litter at 9 days of age.

While Bunting’s litter continues to grow, other expectant females are due. Over the next several weeks more litters are born. Of the 11 SSP females 7 whelped, including the female that was given hormones to ovulate. It is extremely rare for this to be successful. We also had 2 additional litters that belong to two 5 year olds which is also not common. In total we had 34 kits born! This is currently a record number of BFF births for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. For reasons unknown, we had 6 kits that did not make it past their first day (including two of Bunting’s litter). However, the remaining 28 kits continue to thrive.

Bunting’s kits have reached the 21 day mark. This is when we determine the sex of the kits and begin to weigh them weekly. All 4 of them are BOYS! Their weights range from 124-130 grams which is above average for 21 day old males. At 23 days of age they are introduced to small carnivore meat. Their eyes are still not opened, but they do have deciduous “baby” teeth. They often do not eat the first few days, but are observed smelling the meat.

Bunting’s kits being introduced

to meat at 23 days of age.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part VI: Breeding Season

2011-07-01T11:31:00.000-06:00

After 72 hours of being together, the black-footed ferret (BFF) female is separated from the male and she is returned to her enclosure. Four days after separation, she is given her final vaginal flush for the year. This check is to see if she has been induced to ovulate. If she has, then her epithelial cells will look as they did at the beginning of her estrus cycle, obvious nuclei and very few cells with orange stain. If she has not ovulated then they will look as they did before pairing, no nuclei and many orange keratinized cells. The female is re-paired immediately with a male if she has not ovulated and will sometimes be given hormones if she will not ovulate after a few pairings. Once ovulation occurs, the females are disturbed as little as possible.

The gestation or pregnancy period for BFFs is 42 days. The diet is increased every two weeks and is almost doubled by the time she is due. An infra-red video camera is installed on the nest box and we wait with anticipation for the kits to be born. BFF gestation period is almost like clockwork. Most of our births occur right on the 42nd day and even near the time when the male and female were put together for breeding. If we paired them in the morning, then the kits will usually be born in the morning. If we paired them later in the day, then they will be born later that evening. Since we have numerous female BFFs, a whelping calendar is created so we can keep track of all the due dates.

For 2011, 11 SSP females were paired and 4 additional females that were non-releasable but over the age of four. The additional 4 older females are not included in our primary breeding numbers as they are not as likely to produce kits. One of our SSP females did not ovulate after 2 breeding attempts so she was given a hormone injection which did cause her to finally ovulate. The remaining females that were bred and ovulated had no other issues during their gestation periods.

Bunting’s 4 healthy kits on camera while

she is away getting a drink of water.

Our first due date was on May 21st and our last was on June 22nd. On May 21st a litter of 6 kits were born!!! Bunting Studbook #6376 is the dam (mother). She came to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 2009 as a one year old and unfortunately did not produce kits in 2010. This year, however she proved otherwise. For reasons unknown, only 4 of the kits visible on the camera were moving. As we do not want to jeopardize the well being of the entire litter, we generally do not interfere and let the dams take care of the deceased kits as nature would intend. The four remaining kits looked as healthy as ever and now Bunting has a lot of work ahead of her as a new mom.

“Otterly” Amazing Animals!

2011-06-29T13:24:00.000-06:00

This past week, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was fortunate enough to welcome, to the Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit, two new otters from the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, MN. These two newbies helped increase our otter family to four meowters (aka males; females are called queens). A lot of zoo goers don’t know much about otters, so in honor of our new otter family members, we thought it would be a good time for us to share some of our otter knowledge. Plus “Otters” could be the subject of the final question on the next episode of Jeopardy and now you’ll know the answer…

According to early fossil remains, otters have been around for at least 30 million years. They can be found in very diverse locations close to bodies of water all over the world. “For $100 Alex – What animal lives all over the world, except in Australia and Antarctica?” Otters are considered a marine mammal, average about four feet in length, and can weigh up to 30 pounds. “For $200 Alex – What is the smallest marine mammal in the world?” Their tail can be up to a foot long and makes up about 40% of their body. An otter’s anatomy allows them to live both on land and in water. The little swimmers can remain under water for up to four minutes and they can dive up to 250 feet in search of food. Otters have the thickest fur of all fur animals, which means they are the only known marine animal that doesn’t have blubber and uses their fur to keep them warm. “For $300 Alex – What animal has at least 250,000 hairs per square inch?”

Here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, we are home to North American otters, but there are over 10 identified species of otters in the wild. In the wild, otters live for an average of 12 years. “For $400 Alex – What animal doubles their life span when in captivity?” They eat anything from fish to birds, and some people argue they also eat berries and leaves. Up to 25% of their body weight can be consumed in food on a daily basis. When female otters are nursing, they can eat even more than that. The families spend up to five hours a day hunting and consuming food. Like many otters, our otters here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are VERY playful and spend the majority of the day in the water or climbing the trees inside their exhibit. Otters love to sunbathe during the day and are very active at night as well. “For $500 Alex – What animal is considered to be one of the most intelligent animals in the world?”

Our four otters have become friends in a very short amount of time. We have Pahapi and Kuuyi who are four years old and have lived at our Zoo for the majority of their lives. The two new family members who were born just last year are Enapay, which means brave in Sioux, and Pivane, which means weasel in Hopi. The new additions are very dark in color and have been given the nickname dark chocolate. The older otters have been dubbed milk chocolate. We are so excited to have these two new additions!

Come up and visit them soon!

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part V: Breeding Season

2011-06-20T12:16:00.000-06:00

The female black-footed ferrets (BFFs) come into estrus starting around March. They are checked weekly for signs of vulvar swelling. Once they are at a certain size, then vaginal washes are conducted. This allows for us to look at the epithelial cells to determine when she is at peak estrus. Samples are collected twice per week until she is ready for breeding.

The slides are stained using the Pap staining technique, which causes the cells to be different colors according to the level of estrus. In the early stages, the cells are round and have a very apparent nucleus. When she is near peak estrus, then the cells become more jagged, turn orange, and don’t have a nucleus. Once the female has 90% of the orange keratinized cells, then she is almost ready for breeding.

Peak Estrus

Early Estrus

An average years number of slides

The female is usually given 5-7 days to allow her to be at full estrus and then she is paired with a male. The males are selected using a Mate Suitability Index 1-6 (1 being excellent and 6 being very bad). This number comes from the inbreeding coefficient, mean kinship, and other genetic values of both animals. It is at this time when things start to get a little tricky. Our female is now ready, but what about the male? Is his sperm count above the 250 million per milliliter? Is he currently paired with a different female? Luckily our studbook keeper and genetic advisor have given optional backup pairing suggestions for when problems like this may occur, or if the male is busy being paired with a different female.

Once all is ready, the female is placed in the male’s enclosure. A camera is placed on the nest box to watch for breeding activity. These are normally solitary animals and if they are placed together at the wrong time, then one of them might be very aggressive toward the other. Usually our science has led us to the correct timing and the breeding goes smoothly. After about 30 minutes, the female is removed to do a vaginal wash. She is placed back quickly and the breeding continues. This wash is to check and see if there is sperm present. The challenge of this check is that there are often only a few sperm that are usually missing tails and there are a lot of other cells on the slide. It is almost like playing Where’s Waldo, but looking for a single sperm head. This can sometimes take over an hour of constant searching on the microscope. If there is no sperm found, then the female is re-paired but with a different male.

Power 10

Power 40

Digital Picture zoomed: a single sperm head

This step is important because BFFs females are induced ovulators. This means that the process of breeding will cause her to ovulate regardless of if there are sperm present. BFFs only come into estrus one time per year so if she ovulates and there are no sperm, then she may become pseudo pregnant. The female will then show all the signs of pregnancy and can even have a false birth and lactate, but no litter is produced. If this happens, then we have to wait an entire year before she can be bred again. BFFs are reproductive from the age of 1-4 for females. They only have 4 chances to reproduce, so we must make each year count.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part IV: Beginning of Breeding Season

2011-06-13T11:19:00.016-06:00

Due to the Black-Footed Ferrets (BFFs) having a small founding population, it is important to maintain genetic diversity as much as possible. In order to do this, BFFs must be moved between breeding facilities so we are not repeatedly breeding the same pairs of ferrets year after year. The BFF Species Survival Plan (SSP) has a genetic advisor and studbook keeper, both use a computer program to decide what animals should be paired. Once these recommendations are made, the animals are transferred as needed. In order to reduce stress, we try to do as few transfers as possible. It also seems that some animals have better production if they are able to stay at the original facility they were raised at. However, we must do transfers to benefit the species in the long run. Most BFFs settle down fairly quickly due to all the breeding facilities having a similar setup and routine.

The lighting in the BFF room is a crucial factor for breeding success. The intensity is measured in foot-candles at each enclosure. Day length is also changed according to the time of year. Being from the Great Plains, their lighting needs are similar to our natural light cycle here in Colorado. However, we do adjust it each month going from 8 hours of light from Oct-Dec and increasing one hour each month until May. The increasing day length signals the BFFs to prepare for breeding season.

Male BFFs begin to show breeding readiness slightly earlier than the females. In late December, the testes start to enlarge and sperm production kicks into full gear. They are checked weekly for signs that they are coming into season. This is to ensure that they have sperm ready for when the females come into season later on. As a result of the genetic bottle neck, the sperm quantity and quality is decreased from what normal animals had in the wild prior to the bottleneck. In order to optimize breeding success, we conduct sperm concentration counts to make sure the males are at their prime breeding readiness. The males BFFs are anesthetized for the procedure and semen is collected. The samples that are collected are then loaded into a hemocytometer for counting under the microscope.

a) On each side of the hemocytometer is a square grid that contains 9 squares.

b) Only the 4 outside corners are counted, but on each side of the hemocytometer.

c) There is an even smaller grid within the grid on each side. In each corner, there
are 16 squares.

d) Each square is looked at and the sperm are counted in each of the 64 squares with
the average taken between the two sides. That number is then placed into an
equation to get the total concentration for the volume of semen collected.

Our goal is for the male to have above 250 million sperm per milliliter of semen. If the male is above the goal, then he can be used for breeding. If he is under, then he can be given a few more weeks and tested again. However, if the male is needed for a pairing before he is ready then he will be used if there are no other males available.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part III: Morning Duties

2011-06-07T11:26:00.010-06:00

Black-footed ferrets (BFFs) are extremely susceptible to disease, so their home in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Conservation Center is under strict quarantine. It takes a lot of work to keep up. For example, zookeepers shower before dressing in special clothes and shoes, which are worn only when caring for the ferrets. Latex gloves and face masks are also worn since BFFs, like the domestic ferret, can catch the human flu. These measures are important in preventing catastrophic events such as the plague and distemper outbreak that caused their original brush with extinction.

BFFs are solitary animals. Inside the Conservation Center, each BFF has their own upper enclosure with a tube leading down to a nest box, or burrow. The tube mimics a prairie dog tunnel. Mornings consist of cleaning and checking the health of each BFF. First, each BFF is moved from its upper enclosure to its lower nest box, and the upper enclosure is wiped down with a disinfectant. Next, the BFF is shifted out of their lower nest box to clean and disinfect the latrine side. Cleanliness is key for the BFFs, so each enclosure has its own cleaning supplies and nothing is ever used twice. After disinfecting the enclosure, clean Alpha-dri bedding is put down, which is a special compressed, highly-absorbent shredded paper. Multiply this process by 25 ferrets and you have a busy morning!

After about two hours, the BFFs are all back to sleep in their freshly cleaned nest boxes. We try to limit our time in the room as they are nocturnal, but go back in near the end of the day to feed and check on them. The BFFs get ground meat especially prepared for small zoo carnivores, and twice a week, a rodent. The bones from the rodents help keep their teeth clean and healthy. Since we are part of a reintroduction program, it is very important for their teeth to be in good health for hunting in the wild.

This breeding season (2011), we have nine males and 11 females. In addition, we care for five older BFFs unable to be released. They will eventually travel to other zoos or education facilities.

Farewell to an Old Friend: A Tribute to Elson

2011-06-02T17:22:00.009-06:00

By Dina Bredahl, Animal Care Manager

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo experienced an irreplaceable loss Friday, May 27, 2011, when Elson, the zoo’s 16-year-old male African lion, passed away. Elson was receiving end of life care, and at the time of his death, was under anesthesia for treatment of a dental infection. It was during the procedure that Elson’s heart stopped. Typical life expectancy of African lions in captivity is 14 to 20 years.

Elson’s legacy is two-fold. He contributed critical founder genetics to the North American Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP) through his 13 cubs and at least seven grandcubs. These descendents live at Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) facilities all across the U.S., including Abilene, Bronx, Pueblo, San Francisco, Minot, Tulsa, Akron, Baltimore, Birmingham, and here in Colorado Springs. He has also inspired the millions of zoo guests who have stared in awe at his grandeur. For many, it was the most unbelievable animal they had encountered in their life. What else made Elson so special? Read on for his story through the eyes and hearts of our staff.

Unlike most animals at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Elson was not born in a zoo. He was born in the wild at Kapama Reserve, located next to the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa. To truly realize Elson’s significance, you have to understand the history of lions in zoos. Historically, when animals were imported in the early to mid 1900s, there was little documentation about their geographic origin. It was common practice to import lions from Asia and Africa, and allow them to reproduce. After many years of unmanaged breeding, many lions in U.S. zoos were “generic,” meaning no longer Asian or African, but rather a hybrid mix. In the 1990s, the SSP started working with reserves and biologists in South Africa to identify animals that could be exported without harming their conservation status in the wild. The SSP arranged for the importation of several lions from South Africa to establish a new population of the subspecies Panthera leo krugeri.

As you can imagine, the cost to import an African lion is quite a sum of money. One Cheyenne Mountain Zoo board member was extremely interested in the potential for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to be involved in the critically important breeding of African lions, and volunteered to fund Elson’s importation. Elson arrived at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in November of 1996. We know he was born in early 1995, so he was not quite two years old. He had the beginnings of a mane, with a spiky mohawk on his head and some unruly hair around his neck. Little did anyone know what a staggeringly beautiful animal he would become.

In April of 1997, Elson was introduced to Massina, a female who would serve as a short-term companion for Elson. It was in her company he developed into a mature lion. Massina was later sent to another zoo. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was lucky enough to acquire a second wild-born African lion, a female named Angie. In December of 2000, Elson and Angie were introduced, and in June of 2002, Angie gave birth to a litter of four cubs. Elson had sired his first offspring!

When the cubs were 5 ½ weeks old, Elson had his first opportunity to enter the birthing den. He and Angie greeted each other, and Elson immediately went right over to smell and lick the cubs. When he tried to carry one outside, Angie put a stop to it. She would make the decision about when the cubs were ready, and Elson gracefully followed her lead. Together, Elson and Angie raised 13 cubs – a total of four litters, born in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007. These genetically valuable cubs were an important contribution to the African lion population in AZA-accredited zoos.

Elson was the most amazing father. He was gentle with the cubs when they were tiny, and they learned to respect his authority as they grew older. When each litter was old enough to come out and play, here was the typical scene - Elson would twitch the end of his tail and the cubs attacked it; Elson would playfully swat at the cubs, and they would run away into the bushes, preparing to stalk his tail again. The cubs would also jump on his back and roll clumsily off the other side. Elson’s patience was endless.

In another situation, Botswana, a male cub requiring around-the-clock care and bottle feedings from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo staff, was separated from the rest of his siblings for several weeks. To increase the chance of his acceptance, he was re-introduced to his litter mates first, so their smells would blend. Worst case scenario, Angie would reject the entire litter and refuse to nurse them, or Elson would smell the strange scents on the unfamiliar cub and attack him. Angie hissed a little when she first approached Botswana, but soon accepted him back into the litter and allowed him to nurse as if he had never left the lion building. Next, we gave Elson access to the birthing den and watched via camera. He batted at Botswana with his paws, as if he was testing him. Although Elson seemed a little suspicious for a few days, the play did not become too rough, and we all breathed a huge sigh of relief. This reaffirmed our belief Elson was a great father.

Elson might sound like the ideal lion, but there were some days he was less than perfect. Just as some house cats can act aloof and will only cooperate on their terms, so did the 400-pound wild African king of the savannah. On the average winter day, he was usually cooperative, however, the summer months were another story. His appetite slowed and he was often more interested in paying attention to Angie than listening to the animal keepers. It could feel like a major victory if Elson would decide to grace you with his presence and agree to shift into the off-exhibit holding building. Why did we care? The only way to properly clean a lion exhibit is to enter the exhibit, and in the case of large carnivores, the animals of course need to move elsewhere in order to do this. We tried all sorts of things, like rattling the feed chute door, dropping a bone loudly (this was his favorite treat), opening the meat packages in front of his door, and calling “El-son!” in the most convincing voice you could muster. Sometimes our little tricks worked, but often, he just lounged on his rock with his nose in the air. We all knew Elson’s wildness and uncompromising personality was a big part of what made him so unique and special.

One animal keeper states it well, calling Elson the “real deal.” He wanted to be out in the yard with his pride, making his territorial vocalizations. As he waited for Angie and the cubs to finish their training every day, he seemed to say, “Are you done playing with the humans yet?” He was never happy until his pride was back together and he was in control.

Here are more favorite memories from staff:

•Every morning and every evening like clockwork, no matter where you were in the zoo, you could hear Elson roar. The other lions usually joined him until it became a full chorus. It will not be the same without Elson’s impressive roar leading the pride.

•For those of us lucky enough to work with Elson on a daily basis, we sometimes heard him roaring territorially in the off-exhibit lion holding area. In an enclosed building like that, his roars echoed and were amplified, so you not only heard the vocalizations but felt them vibrate through your whole body. You couldn’t talk to fellow keepers, let alone hear yourself talk. You simply had to wait a minute or two while experiencing a true sense of wonder and exhilaration.

•We always had to place at least seven bones around the exhibit, even though there were only five lions. This is because it was rarely acceptable for Elson to end up with only one bone, even if it was the biggest. He took a big bone to his favorite spot, then stole a couple of bones from the other lions before hunkering down to enjoy his proper share. Everyone else knew better than to argue if he decided their bone looked like a good one.

•He looked so majestic eating meatballs, sometimes as large as his head. His rumble sounded like a noisy diesel engine.

•Elson got excited about scent enrichment like no other lion at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. One of the lion keepers remembers spraying a new “manly” perfume on a big rock in the exhibit. When Elson went outside, he rubbed his face and mane all over that rock. He smelled like he had been out on a big date when he came back inside for his evening meal!

When any staff member from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo visits another zoo, we always find ourselves comparing every other male African lion to Elson. The conclusion is always the same - no other male comes close. He is truly the most beautiful male lion any of us have ever seen. I expect we will feel this way for the rest of our lives.

A Blast From the Past

2011-05-19T10:00:00.001-06:00

Craig Richardson at KRCC Radio recently posted these old documentaries (thanks to the Pikes Peak Library District) created by Spencer Penrose in 1936. Both Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun are featured. A LOT has changed at our zoo over the decades, but it’s interesting to take a look at where it all began.

You can read more about the history of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo here.

Curious Colorado, ca. 1936
By Craig Richardson, KRCC Radio
In 1936, Colorado Springs mega-man Spencer Penrose produced an advertorial documentary film titled Curious Colorado. The film showcases the various Penrose-owned properties and attractions of the Pikes Peak region, including the Cheyenne Mountain Auto Highway & Lodge, The Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, The Mt. Manitou Scenic Incline and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Gardens, complete with cigar-smoking chimpanzees.

Special thanks to the Pikes Peak Library District for making these wonderful videos available.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part II: History

2011-05-13T11:55:00.003-06:00

Zookeepers watch cameras through this window in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Conservation Center to monitor breeding and births.

The only ferret native to North America, the black-footed ferret once thrived across grass prairies from Canada to Mexico. Today, it’s one of the most endangered mammals in North America.

Our story begins with prairie dogs, the primary food source of ferrets. During the early 1900s, much of North American prairies were converted into farmland. Because prairie dogs were considered pests, they were poisoned. Around the same time, the accidental introduction of the bacterium that causes sylvatic plague, along with the loss of prairie dog habitat, led to the black-footed ferret’s drastic decline. The last black-footed ferret in Colorado was seen near Buena Vista in 1943, and by the 1950s, it was believed very few remained in the U.S. In the mid-1970s, biologists thought they were extinct.

On September 26, 1981, in Meeteetse, Wyoming, a rancher and his dog came across a wild ferret. This led biologists to the discovery of a new black-footed ferret population. Since the species is nocturnal and fossorial (meaning they live underground), very little was known about their natural history. Over the next four years, biologists gathered new information on the life and behavior of this elusive species. Unfortunately, in 1985, outbreaks of both sylvatic plague and canine distemper killed nearly the entire Meeteetse population. After six trapped black-footed ferrets died of canine distemper, the decision was made to bring additional animals into captivity. To safeguard the species, a total of 18 black-footed ferrets were trapped between 1985 and 1987. In 1986, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Wyoming Game and Fish, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums initiated a captive breeding program for the black-footed ferrets.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only five zoos in the world breeding black-footed ferrets. Since 1990, we’ve produced 379 kits, and sent 187 black-footed ferrets to the USFWS’s National Black-Footed Ferret Breeding and Conservation Center in northern Colorado for preconditioning and release into the wild. Other participating zoos include Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, National Zoo’s Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia, Phoenix Zoo in Arizona, and Toronto Zoo in Canada.

We’re expecting this year’s first litter of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo kits soon. Be sure to check back for updates!

Because black-footed ferrets are susceptible to common diseases and don't tolerate noise very well, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Conservation Center is closed to the public.

Stopping By for a Drink

2011-04-21T13:27:00.035-06:00

There's a newbie in the giraffe yard at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, but if you look carefully, you'll notice it doesn't move a muscle. In the early morning hours of April 21, before the zoo opened, a crew used a boom to lower a giant giraffe sculpture into the African Rift Valley exhibit. It was created by Antonia Chastain to look as if it were drinking from a waterhole. Weighing in at over 500 pounds, it took quite a few hands to move the sculpture into place. As you can see in the video, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's "real" giraffe herd was quite intrigued by the addition!

Like all animals, giraffe need water to survive. Though they can go a long time without drinking, they do eventually make their way to a waterhole to quench their thirst. Giraffe can drink as much as 10 gallons (38 liters) a day. When they do visit the waterhole, drinking water can be a matter of life or death. When they take a drink, giraffe bend a long way down and often spread their front legs in an awkward fashion. It’s no easy task! Doing this makes it easier for a predator to attack. Just to take a drink of water, giraffe may risk their lives. They often visit the waterhole in groups for protection.

The new giraffe drinking sculpture at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is in honor of the wonderfully humble life of Betty Francis, who served as a docent and board member at the zoo. She cared deeply about wildlife and conservation. We hope the sculpture inspires children of all ages for years to come.

The sculpture is lowered into the giraffe yard using a boom.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's "real" giraffe herd inspects the addition.

GIVE YOUNG WILDLIFE THE SPACE IT NEEDS

2011-04-13T15:15:00.000-06:00

A story from the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Spring has arrived in Colorado and it won't be long before newly born wildlife take their first awkward steps, sometimes near watchful people. The Colorado Division of Wildlife is reminding the public that the well-intentioned impulse to save what appears to be an orphaned or abandoned animal can often lead to unintended consequences, including the death of the animal.

For many people, a common reaction when they see young wildlife that appears to be abandoned is to treat it as they would a human baby and attempt its rescue. Giving human characteristics to animals is known as anthropomorphism. The concept is often seen in popular children's books and movies. Division officials warn that projecting human behavior onto young wildlife often does more harm than good.

"A human baby that has been abandoned is a crisis that needs immediate attention, but this is not the case with baby animals," said Watchable Wildlife and Volunteer Coordinator Trina Romero. "In fact, the instinct that leads a female animal to leave its offspring alone for long periods of time is a natural method of protection. The last thing it needs is human intervention."

Deer are a common example. A fawn that stumbles about weakly while learning to walk will attract predators, so evolution has provided effective methods of protection. Newborn fawns are naturally well camouflaged, don't emit odors that attract predators and can lie very still for a long time. As a result, they are actually safer if their mothers leave them on their own. Even a curious person watching the fawn from a distance could alert predators to the animal's presence and prevent its mother from returning.

But in the rare case that the young animal's mother has been hurt or killed there are some steps you can take to protect its orphaned offspring. If the mother of a young animal does not return for more than twelve hours, or it is obvious that it has been hurt or killed, it's best to report its location to the Division of Wildlife.

"People who pick up animals risk injuring the animal or making it too comfortable with humans to be returned to the wild," added Romero. "By leaving the animal alone and reporting its location to the Division of Wildlife, our trained personnel or volunteers can respond and make the determination about what is best for the animal."

Many orphaned animals are taken to licensed wildlife rehabilitators who work hard to make sure the animal can be reintroduced to the wild. However, even rehabilitation has risks, with only a minority of rehabilitated animals being able to return to a full life in the wild. In some cases, it may be better for young animals to fend for themselves in their natural habitat.

"Every case is different, so it's best to let trained wildlife staff and volunteers respond and make a determination," Romero said. "Once a human intervenes, the choices for the animal's future become more limited."

People are cautioned to avoid "rescuing" the animal themselves or trying to keep it as a pet, which in most cases is illegal. Even the best efforts to rehabilitate an injured or orphaned animal by an unqualified person can instead lead to negative consequences, such as poor nutrition, stress and behavioral problems. Young animals will often "imprint" on caregivers early in life, normally their mothers. Even if a person successfully nurses a baby animal, the young animal may learn to become comfortable around humans, which makes it necessary for the animal to remain in captivity. Associating with humans will also prevent the young animal from learning the skills it needs to survive on its own. A wild animal held in captivity by an unqualified caretaker can also present a public safety risk as it can bite or attack its caretaker or others.

Because dogs will explore off -trail areas and search for smells and movement, people often encounter baby animals while walking their dogs. If they are allowed to run loose, dogs can present a serious danger to all wildlife. Domesticated dogs quickly revert to their predatory instincts and will often chase and severely injure or kill young wildlife and their parents. By statute in Colorado, law enforcement officers are authorized to immediately euthanize any dog observed harassing wildlife, and dog owners can receive a hefty fine. Division officials strongly recommend that people keep their dogs on a leash. It will keep the dog safe, and prevents injuries or death of wildlife.

Another common sight in spring is young birds that have accidently fallen out of their nests due to high winds, or while learning to fly. Most of us have heard the "old-wives' tale" about how a mother bird will abandon its young if it has been touched by a human, however the myth has no scientific basis and every effort to return the fledgling to its nest is a worthy endeavor if it can be done safely.

If you find a young bird on the ground and it is unable to fly on its own, don't attempt to nourish it. Instead, immediately try to return it to its nest. A bird's natural diet is difficult to duplicate and an attempt to feed it or give it water can cause it harm.

If you cannot safely reach the original nest, just placing it in a safe location near the nest will yield good results. The parents will hear its cries and will continue feeding the young bird. Put it in a small basket or box filled with paper towels or even dryer lint. Using grass to make a nest is not recommended because the moisture content in the grass can lower the body temperature of the bird.

Cats, being natural predators, are another serious threat to young birds and other small animals. Although hunting and killing is natural behavior for a cat, a responsible owner will limit a cat's ability to destroy wild creatures.

"If your cat is used to being outdoors and there is little chance of it becoming an indoor pet, just place a small bell on its collar. This may be an effective method of keeping baby birds and other small animals safe," advised Romero.

The Division reminds everyone that evolution has given all animals effective instincts when it comes to rearing their young and it's best to just let nature take its course. If you see a young animal that appears orphaned, keep your distance, don't feed and don't help. In most cases, not doing anything is the most responsible way humans can show their love for wild creatures.

For more information on living with wildlife and laws concerning exotic pets, please see the following articles:
A Case For Not Domesticating Our Wildlife
Exotic Pets and Prohibited Wildlife
Exotic Pets and Prohibited Wildlife 2

Keeper story featured on PARC blog

2011-04-08T13:00:00.004-06:00

Our own Jenyva Turner, Animal Keeper at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, was featured on the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project blog in "Notes from the Field: Finding the Limosa harlequin frog."

Wanted: Adventurous expedition members to hike into the jungles of Panama looking for the rare Atelopus limosus. Must be willing to hike long hours in rugged, muddy terrain and in thigh-deep water, and ready to be wet, hungry, tired, and not afraid of spiders, snakes, scorpions, and lots of insects.

SIGN ME UP!!!

–Jenyva Turner, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo animal keeper (and first-time frog finder!)

Read Jenyva's entire post HERE!

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret Rediscovery

2011-04-04T12:00:00.000-06:00

High up on the mountain between the exhibits of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Will Roger’s Shrine of the Sun, lies a quiet building that very few have a chance to see. This building is closed to guests for several reasons, the main one being that the animals inside are very prone to stress. This means that they do not tolerate noise well and are sensitive to many common diseases. They are also possible candidates for release to the wild and need maintain a healthy fear of humans. The residents inside are endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) or BFFs for short. They were thought to have been extinct twice in their natural history and if it wasn’t for a rancher in Meeteetse, Wyoming and his dog named Shep, they might actually be extinct today.

2011 is a very exciting year as it marks the 30th anniversary of the rediscovery of one of the last wild black footed-ferret populations. The official date of rediscovery was September 26th, 1981. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been involved with the recovery of this species since 1990. As part of the 30th anniversary celebration, we are going to make frequent BFF postings on our blog. Readers can follow along as we gear up for the beginning of the breeding season and see what exactly goes on in an intensive endangered species breeding and reintroduction program.

First, let’s start with some background information. The black-footed ferrets are nocturnal predators that live a solitary life as an adult. They are the only ferret native to the Americas and once lived throughout the Great Plains from Saskatchewan, Canada to Northern Mexico. They are a member of the Mustelidae family which includes otters, badgers, mink and weasels. The BFF is a specialist; it relies almost entirely on prairie dogs for food as well as their burrows for shelter. From nose to tail tip they are 18-24 inches long and can weigh up to two-and-a-half pounds. Natural predators of the BFF are owls, hawks, eagles, coyotes, and badgers.

Learn more about the black-footed ferret and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's conservation efforts on our website.

Farewell and Happy Trails Amiga!

2011-04-01T13:00:00.008-06:00

Today we bid adieu to Amiga, one of the best ponies we have know at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. She is retiring to join one of our own Zookeepers at her home.

Amiga, who is 15 years old, came to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo 6 years ago, and has been a guest favorite since the moment she arrived. She is kind and caring and has helped teach many kids over the years in our Pony Camps and Programs.

The other ponies gave Amiga some special treats to wish her well!

Lots of visitors came to see Amiga off.

Watch some video clips from Amiga's Farewell party!
Amiga was excited to paint a picture for the party-goers! Zookeeper, Beth, helped get everything ready to Amiga to start painting.

Here is the finished product:

Check out some of our other animal's paintings HERE.

Difference Between a Turtle and a Tortoise

2011-03-29T13:00:00.002-06:00

Since our Indian start tortoise, Butti, went missing yesterday we have received a lot of questions about the difference between a tortoise and a turtle. Here are the facts!

Butti, who lives in The Loft at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, went missing on Sunday, March 27, 2011.

--Turtles primarily live in water (fresh water and oceans) and so have webbed front feet or flipper-like fins to make swimming easier.

--Tortoises live almost exclusively on land, so do not have flippers, but normal feet without webbing, often with sharp claws for digging. They only enter water to drink or wash themselves off, and can in fact drown in strong currents. They may be found in arid areas.

--Turtles tend to have flatter shells than tortoises, while tortoises have a more domed shell.

--Turtles can be omnivorous, eating both plants and insects, while tortoises are herbivores, eating only plants and leaves and other vegetation, so they are herbivorous, especially preferring moisture-bearing vegetation.

Butti and brother, Tutti, in their exhibit in the Loft, prior to Butti's disappearance. They are Indian star tortoises.

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO BELIEVES MISSING TORTOISE STOLEN

2011-03-28T14:00:00.001-06:00

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo appeals for return of tortoise, which requires special care.

March 28, 2011, Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is appealing to the public for the safe return of Butti, a 13-year-old Indian star tortoise, zoo officials believe was stolen Sunday, March 27. Staff last saw Butti in his exhibit in The Loft around 4:30 p.m. When Butti’s keeper went back to check on him at 4:45 p.m., he was missing. Staff frantically scoured The Loft and swept the zoo, but the search turned up nothing. Staff reported there were several guests in The Loft shortly before Butti disappeared.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is concerned for Butti’s welfare, as he has special care and dietary needs. If he isn’t kept at the proper temperature and doesn’t receive the right type of food, he could suffer from significant health problems.

“This type of tortoise is not uncommon in the pet trade. We think someone probably thought the tortoise looked interesting and is planning to keep him as a pet, but we’re worried Butti won’t receive proper care,” said Katie Borremans, Public Relations Manager.

Butti and his brother, Tutti, are guest favorites at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. They have been together their whole lives and are frequently seen following each other around their exhibit. The zoo did file a police report, but is most concerned about Butti’s return. Charges will not be filed if he is returned safely. Please call 719.633.9925 x140 with any information on this incident.

The Loft has seen more than one million visitors since it opened in 2008, and has never had an animal stolen. The Loft is a place where guests can interact and connect with animals in a more open environment. Guests are able to see animals like Butti up close and even touch them under staff supervision.

“Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s mission is to provide up close experiences and make animals accessible to the public. It’s a shame someone took advantage of that. We’ve never had something like this happen before, and we certainly don’t want to penalize guests who respect the boundaries because of one bad seed,” said Borremans.

Butti is around the size of a grapefruit. He’s about six inches long and weighs a little over a pound. He has a unique shell with a bumpy star pattern.

Wild Animals Caught on Candid Camera!

2011-03-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

The Smithsonian has a new website dedicated to the "camera trap" photography being done during studies of wildlife all around the world - they have 201,000 photos arranged by species - you can look up your favorite animal and see it caught on "candid camera" ! Hope you enjoy this as much as we do at the Zoo!

Fun Facts about Naked Mole Rats! NMRs in the news!

2011-03-23T12:45:00.000-06:00

Wild and Weird: Naked Mole Rats Handsome? No. Cancer-free? Yes.

Naked mole rats win no beauty contests. With their pale, pruny pelts, buckteeth and tiny, beady eyes, they’re cute to few and cuddly to none but each other. They have strange biology, too -- feeling little pain in their skin and dwelling in smelly, underground colonies like insects. Plus, young naked mole rats eat nothing but the feces of adults. The most intriguing thing about the mole rats, though, may be longevity: “Old Man,” the most ancient naked mole rat known to humankind, died last November at the ripe old age of 32. Naked mole rats routinely live almost 10 times longer than their above-ground cousins.

One reason naked mole rats enjoy such long lives? They've never been known to get cancer -- in contrast with mice, 70 percent of whom perish from the disease at just a few years of age. In fact, naked mole rats may prove as valuable as mice in finding a cure for cancer. That beats winning a beauty contest any day.

Read more on this intriguing species in The Washington Post.

Bookmark the Zoo's "Events Calendar"...not to miss in March events!

2011-03-22T14:00:00.001-06:00

Wondering what is happening at the Zoo? Be sure to bookmark our events calendar or save in your favorites! It's the easiest way to check what's going on at the zoo "at a glance."

NOT TO MISS IN MARCH:
March 21-25, Monday - Friday
Spring Break Give-A-Way Days - follow us on Facebook

March 25 & 26, Friday & Saturday
Red Ape Rally Days

March 26, Saturday
Moonlight Safari "Family Night" (register online)

March 26 or 27, Saturday or Sunday
Family Program SPECIAL "Zootastic Re-creations"(register online)

Spring Break Giveaway Days is BACK!!

2011-03-18T12:00:00.002-06:00

SPRING BREAK is here again & to celebrate we are GIVING AWAY FREE STUFF!! All week long we want to BRING YOU TO THE ZOO! Check out our partners, My719Moms.com and pikespeakparent.com for AMAZING ZOO prizes! Check our facebook, twitter and blog daily for giveaways and freebies the week of March 21-25!

Here are the week-long giveaways happening every day from Monday, March 21 through Friday, March 25:

Comment on the zoo’s BLOG any day all week for your chance to win 2 FREE SkyRide passes ALL WEEK LONG! Blog comments must be unique and only one entry per person, per day will be entered.

Win a Run to the Shrine t-shirt by being a FACEBOOK fan or TWITTER follower! Five winners will be chosen at random from all followers and fans this week.

Share your Zoo videos on our FACEBOOK page and be entered to win a Family 4 Pack! Two winners will be chosen at random during the week.

The daily giveaways aren’t being announced in advance. Guests will have to visit the zoo on Facebook or Twitter to find out what the daily giveaway is. Prizes include a Run to the Shrine registration, free Sky Ride, tram, and carousel rides (specific dates and times only), free giraffe feeding experience coupons, free admission passes, and more!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo WINS "Best Attraction Outside Denver"

2011-03-17T14:00:00.000-06:00

We are EXCITED to announce that Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been named the “Best Attraction Outside Denver” by “Colorado Meetings and Events” magazine for the second year in a row!! Thank you to all of our amazing guests for making us such a GREAT attraction!

The Zoo's marketing team was excited to accept this prestigious award.

Study: Elephants cooperate to achieve goals

2011-03-13T07:30:00.001-06:00

We found this video online of a study about elephants, and had to share it.

Footage of an oversized experiment has revealed that elephants understand when they need help from a partner. In the test, two animals had to work together - each pulling on a rope in order to tug a platform towards them.

Elephants' apparent grasp of the need to co-operate shows, scientists say, that they belong in an "elite group" of intelligent, socially complex animals. Researchers from the University of Cambridge built the apparatus, which was originally designed for chimps.

The team published their findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Study leader Dr. Joshua Plotnik from the University of Cambridge told the BBC it was exciting to find a way to study elephant behaviour in such detail.

"It's so hard to work with elephants because of their size," he said. "We see them doing amazing things in the wild, but we can see from this that they're definitely co-operating."

Read more at BBC Earth News.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo!

2011-03-10T09:00:00.002-07:00

Get Involved in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Adult Volunteer Program!

If you love animals and want to be a part of connecting animals and people, join our team today. You'll be able to choose among the Zoo's animal, horticulture, membership, special events and education departments, depending on your interests and skills!

Want to learn more about CMZoo’s adult volunteer program? Attend our Information Meeting on Saturday, March 19th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Prerequisite Volunteer Information Meeting:
Date: Saturday - March 19, 2011
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

For more information and requirements of the program, CLICK HERE.

Not 18 years old yet?

We do have two different teen volunteer programs for the summer!

Zoo Crew - Ages 11-17

Jr. Zookeepers - Ages 15-17

Both programs are a great way for teens to get involved with the Zoo!

RUN TO THE SHRINE 2011 - REGISTRATION OPEN

2011-03-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo invites world class runners and families alike to join in the Run to the Shrine on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Both the 5K and the 10K options curve through the Zoo and some of the most stunning mountain scenery this side of the Rockies. The races conclude at the world class event venue, The Lodge at Moose Lake!

Register Online

A great opportunity for competitive racers, casual walkers, as well as families and children eager to show their enthusiasm for the Zoo, the Run to the Shrine offers the coveted opportunity to traverse Shrine Road via foot while knowing that this is the one time of the year when foot traffic is allowed.

Registration includes FREE ADMISSION to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on May 21, 2011.

Schedule:

6:15am - 10k Registration Opens - Registration tent located near Mesa Avenue & Lake Circle. (East side of Broadmoor Hotel)
7:15am - 10k Starts
7:15am - 5K Registration Opens - Online/Mail-In tent located at the entrance to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo South Parking Lot
8:15am - 5K Starts
8am - Noon - Post Event Celebration, The Lodge at Moose Lake

Schedule subject to change.

COMMISSION TO TALK PARKS TRANSFER, WATER PLANS

2011-03-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

DENVER -- The Colorado Wildlife Commission will meet with the Colorado State Parks Board to discuss the potential conversion of several state parks into State Wildlife Areas during its busy March 10 meeting.

Commissioners will also begin a formal review of plans to mitigate impacts to fish and wildlife resources from planned water projects on both sides of the Continental Divide, consider establishing a user fee for two northeastern State Wildlife Areas and hear a citizen petition. The meeting is scheduled to run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hunter Education Building on the Colorado Division of Wildlife campus at 6060 Broadway in Denver.

With the state still grappling with an unprecedented budget crisis, Gov. John Hickenlooper has announced that four state parks will be repurposed as part of a budget proposal that will trim Colorado State Parks expenditures by $3.3 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

During the morning session, Wildlife Commissioners will meet with the five-member Colorado State Parks board to explore the feasibility of converting these parks to State Wildlife Areas and other potential areas of cooperation.

Colorado's State Parks attract more than 11 million visitors a year and offer some of the most popular outdoor recreation destinations in the state for angling, boating, camping, hiking and other activities. State Wildlife Areas are primarily managed to benefit wildlife and wildlife related recreation. All Division real estate transactions, including leases of property, must be approved by the Wildlife Commission.

Among the topics at their joint meeting, the Commission and the Parks Board will discuss a public process to gather input on how certain State Parks might be repurposed as State Wildlife Areas given the budget decisions made by the Governor. They will also seek to define a public process that will help minimize the impact of a change in missions for those properties.

Neither the Wildlife Commission nor the Parks Board has met since the Governor's announcement, and no decisions regarding the potential conversion of parks to state wildlife areas have yet been made.

During the afternoon session, the Wildlife Commission will initiate a formal review of plans to mitigate impacts to fish and wildlife resources that would be created by two major trans-mountain water development projects. The 60-day review of mitigation plans to be presented by Denver Water and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District is required by statute as part of each project's federal permitting process.

Denver Water is proposing to firm up the yield from its existing water rights on the West Slope, primarily by enlarging Boulder's Gross Reservoir and diverting additional water from the Fraser and Williams Fork rivers. Northern is proposing to firm up the yield from its existing water rights in the Upper Colorado River by diverting additional water to the proposed new Chimney Hollow Reservoir west of Longmont.

Under state statute, the Commission's authority is limited to a review of plans to mitigate impacts from proposed projects. Restoring the river to a past condition is beyond the scope of the project approval process and Wildlife Commission authority. However, Denver and Northern are voluntarily proposing enhancements to address impacts of existing water development projects to fish and wildlife resources on both sides of the Continental Divide. Both the mitigation and enhancement plans will be presented to the Commission at the meeting.

Also on the Commission agenda is final consideration of a new regulation establishing an annual access fee for two popular northeastern State Wildlife Areas to address public safety and user conflict issues stemming from recreational activities not related to the areas' primary wildlife purpose.

The proposal would require adults who do not possess a valid annual Colorado hunting or fishing license to purchase a $36 annual permit to enter Jumbo Reservoir or Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Areas. Permits would be valid from April 1 to March 31 annually and could be purchased anywhere that hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Commissioners will also consider a citizen rulemaking petition requesting that the Commission revise regulations pertaining to sponsorship requirements for wildlife rehabilitators.

Finally, on Friday the Wildlife Commission will conduct a joint meeting with the boards of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association and the Colorado Farm Bureau in the Bighorn Room at the Colorado Division of Wildlife's headquarters. The joint meeting, held annually, is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Wildlife Commission meets monthly and travels to communities around the state to facilitate public participation in its processes. In 2011, the Commission will meet in Meeker, Salida, Grand Junction, Montrose, Alamosa, Steamboat Springs, Pueblo, Yuma, and Fort Collins. The first three meetings of 2011 are being held in Denver.

The agenda for the March Wildlife Commission meeting, as well as a complete list of regulation changes for State Wildlife Areas, can be found on the Wildlife Commission web page.

More information on Denver Water's Moffat Collection System proposal and Northern's Windy Gap Firming Project may be found here: http://wildlife.state.co.us/LandWater/Water/MoffatWindyGapMitigationProjects/.

Members of the public who are unable to attend Commission meetings or workshops can listen to the proceedings through a link on the DOW's website. This opportunity is provided to keep constituents better informed about the development of regulations by the Commission and how they and DOW staff are resolving issues facing Colorado's wildlife.

To access the live audio feed during the meeting, click on the "listen to live audio" link at the bottom of the Commission webpage at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeCommission/ .

Putting the Extremely Rare Wyoming Toad Back Into the Wild

2011-03-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Our friends at the Como Zoo are doing some amazing work with the Wyoming Toad as well. Read this great story about the conservation efforts.

By Jordan Schaul

Bree Barney loves her job, she really does! The small mammal keeper, like many, has a few miscellaneous reptiles and amphibians on her string. She boasts about getting to hold sloths and feeding Galapagos tortoises, but is most proud of the Como Park Zoo and Conservancy's participation in their first-ever conservation project involving the release of captive reared animals -- Wyoming toadlets.

And she gets to do it. Yes, she visits the field site personally and with other zoo herpetoculturists, many of whom are veteran zoo herpetologists, gets to release the captive reared animals back into the wild.

Bree admits that since childhood , all she ever wanted to do was "help our natural world and the animal kingdom to the best of [her] ability, whether it is a toad, a giraffe, or an orangutan."

In corresponding with Bree, it is clear that she takes her role as the lead Wyoming toad keeper at the Como Zoo very seriously, and it is a big responsibility. Today animal keepers not only participate in field conservation, they coordinate these projects in conjunction with government agencies.

READ FULL STORY.

Wyoming Toads at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Panama Amphibian Rescue Team Returns

2011-03-02T17:00:00.001-07:00

We asked each of our travel team members to write about their journey to Panama. They are all so different and have such amazing perspective. Read each of their blog posts on our FROG BLOG.

Ashley, Jamie, Jenyva, Antonia and Bob, hiking into the rainforest.

Blog posts:
Bob Chastain, President and CEO

Ashley Young, Interpretive Keeper

Jenyva Turner, Zoo Keeper

Jamie Breitigan, Commissary Manager

2 New Education Programs at the Zoo...Stroller Safaris and Scout Badges

2011-02-25T07:00:00.003-07:00

Stroller Safaris

Take a Walk on the Wild Side.

How do scales feel different than fur? What different sounds do animals make? Bring your 18-36 month old to the Zoo with their favorite adult for a fun interactive class that will introduce your toddler to the wonders of the animal kingdom. During each class we will learn about our animal friends through age appropriate stories, special activities and fun animal encounters.

Age:18-36 month olds
Time: 8:45am-9:30am
Cost: $6.25 members / $16.25 non-members per class.
(Program fee admits one adult and one toddler per class.)

Does your toddler have siblings? No worries...

* Siblings within the program's age range of 18-36 months can participate in the stroller program for the normal program fee ($6.25 members/ $16.25 non-members)
* Siblings up to 6 years of age are allowed at Thursday's class for an extra fee of $2.25. We will have appropriate activities planned for these siblings (this excludes infants).

For more information call 633-9925 ext. 127. Note: To register for a class within 48 hours of the start time please call us. Classes may be canceled if minimum sizes are not met. Space is limited, pre-registration is required.

Learn more about the upcoming Stroller Safaris or register online.

Scout Badge Programs

Badges Earned Up-close.

Whether your group is interested in spending a few hours, a day, or a whole night, we have just the right program for you! There are a variety of programs available for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts that offer the opportunity to complete most of or all of the necessary requirements for several conservation, nature and animal-related badges.

Our pre-scheduled workshops make it convenient to join in on program fun with other Scouts groups too! Online registration is coming soon for these pre-scheduled programs.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a unique and unforgettable location for scouts of all ages to work on their badges and achievements. Consider one of our specially designed Scout Badge Workshops geared toward your scout groups’ needs. You choose the badge or achievements and we do the rest!! During your workshop, enjoy private use of one of our Zoo cabins for a portion of your activities, a private tour including an up-close personal experience with a Zoo staff, as well as the chance to meet a few of our Zoo animal ambassadors. Programs fulfill the requirements of one badge or select set of achievements. Scouts will be awarded with certificates at the end of the program showing which badge or achievements they completed during their workshop.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo requires a minimum of 8 scouts to book a Badge Workshop.

Check out all of our pre-scheduled scout workshops online.

Memorial Day Plant Sale - ONLINE PRE-SALES OPEN!

2011-02-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

MEMORIAL DAY PLANT SALE

WHEN: May 28-30, 2011
TIME: Saturday, Sunday & Monday, 9:00am - 6:00pm daily
WHERE: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
ADMISSION: NO Zoo admission is required to attend the plant sale, so stop by!

The Plant Sale features over 200 varieties of resource-wise perennials, grasses, and herbs that perform well in the Pikes Peak Region.

PRE-ORDERING PLANTS ONLINE...OPEN NOW
To assist you with plant selection, lists are provided here to help you with your search for Plant Select Plants, native plants, plants that will attract butterflies or hummingbirds, something that is resistant to deer or rabbits, or for a listing of this year's HPP plants.

Begin shopping by clicking on a plant type below. Then click on individual plant names for detailed information on each plant. Simply add desired items to your ‘shopping cart,’ and then 'check out.’

Although you will be asked for a shipping address at checkout, postal shipping of live plants is not available. Please see Pre-order Pick Up and Delivery below for additional information.

PRE-ORDER PICK UP
Customers who pre-order online may take advantage of special early pick up and early entry into the Plant Sale on Saturday, May 28th, from 6am to 10am. Enjoy the convenience of online ordering AND have the added bonus of entering the Plant Sale early to do additional shopping.

PRE-ORDER DELIVERY
New this year: Free local delivery on large orders (over $500). Free delivery is limited to addresses within one half hour travel time from the Zoo. If you place a large order, we will contact you to arrange delivery.

Please note: There is NO POSTAL SHIPPING of live plant orders at any time.

Visit our website for more information on the sale and pre-ordering your plants today!

Day 15 in Africa: Tracking the Future

2011-02-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

by Jenyva Turner

Feburary 1, 2011
Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Limpopo province, South Africa

One of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Quarters for Conservation projects for the second year now is Cape Vulture Conservation in Africa. So far this year (since May 2010), we have raised enough funds to purchase a GPS tracking device to fit to a Cape vulture to monitor its movements across South Africa. We decided to fit our device on an adult female Cape vulture at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. She was found by a farmer in the Limpopo province on 28 December 2010. She had been poisoned. The staff at Moholoholo nursed her back to health and was ready to release her, but Brian Jones and Kerri Wolter wanted to fit her with a tracking device since more data on Cape vulture movements near Kruger National Park is needed.

“Our” vulture can be tracked online on Google Earth using a password. I will be posting maps of her travels on Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s blog regularly, so stay tuned!
The tracking device will help provide researchers with vital information regarding the vultures’ foraging habits from the colony near Kruger. Once they know where the birds roam during the day, they can work to protect them. There may be a need for more vulture restaurants in the region, or greater education within the local farming communities, or certain power lines that need mitigation methods applied. We learn from the birds what still needs to be done.

It’s very fulfilling and exciting to know that Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is helping contribute to science and it is all because of YOU! Your votes for vultures are helping provide valuable information and saving a species! Keep the votes coming! Thank you!

February 11, 2011
The tracking device is working and we have our first update. She is now located 250 miles W of the release site- nearly in Botswana!! Too cool!

She was released on February 2, 2011 and the "X" marks where she is as of today.

Zoo Team Heads to Panama

2011-02-13T12:25:00.002-07:00

SEARCH FOR ENDANGERED FROG IS ON!
AS CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO HEADS BACK TO THE JUNGLES OF PANAMA

Check out all of the updates from our team and follow this expedition into the jungles on Panama on our FROG BLOG!

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo team is searching for the female Atelopus limosus. Only one exists in captivity in the world.
Photo Credit: Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project

Day 12 in Africa: Flying Free

2011-02-09T11:00:00.006-07:00

It's been over a week since we've heard from Jenyva. Internet access went down and she was unable to send anything, until now!

by Jenyva Turner

29 January 2011
Mageliesberg Mountains, North West province, South Africa

One of the best things about wildlife rehab is being able to release the animal you nursed back to heath. It’s a very emotional experience for many rehabbers- met with mixed emotions as they can quite easily become attached to the animals in their care.
Today we released 4 Cape vultures that came into Vulpro. These vultures came in with a variety of conditions ranging from starvation and dehydration to being grounded due to the recent rains. We drove up a rocky road to a beautiful overlook in the Mageliesberg Mountains. I was one of the lucky people who was able to open up a crate door and let the birds fly free once again.

I have to say that it was a bit anticlimactic… I was expecting a flurry of feathers bursting at high speed out of the crates, but it was quite the opposite. The vultures were all fledglings (hatched several months ago) and were still pretty naïve. They stumbled out of the crate, blinking in the bright sunlight and were not a bit concerned with the 11 people staring at them. After a few minutes, Kerri had to run towards them to encourage them to fly free. It was beautiful and moving to watch them soar over the cliff edge- so much power. These are the lucky ones- the success stories. Sadly, not all of the birds Kerri receives are strong enough to fly again.

Thabazimbi/Marakele National Park, Limpopo province, South Africa

Ever since I saw Vulpro’s DVD, “Path into the Future”, I have wanted to experience flying with the vultures of Thabazimbi, the largest colony of Cape vultures in the world. I wanted to hear the air moving through their feathers as they soared and danced on the wind just meters above my head. We enjoyed a short hike thru the Waterberg Mountains through grasses and proteas.

I knew exactly what the breeding cliffs looked like as I have watched the DVD over a dozen times. As I climbed over the final ridge I saw the dark, sheer cliffs rising straight from the veldt floor. The mountains of South Africa are considered to be the oldest mountains in the world and look so different from our Rocky Mountains.

But before I ever reached that point, the vultures were already all over- zipping around, playing on the wind. It was awesome and exciting to watch them master the skies. The winds were a bit strong, yet the birds hardly had to flap their wings. Just slight adjustments of the flight feathers and they could easily change course. Vultures are known in certain cultures to be symbols of efficiency (among many other things like renewal, patience and perseverance). Watching them fly with ease and virtually zero energy expenditure, showed how true those ancient legends still are.

Sadly, the winds (while no problem for the vultures) turned out to be too strong for us to paraglide safely. So there would be no flying with the vultures for me today. But somehow I still felt alive watching them soar and dive around me. They were having fun- flying just to fly. (There is a short video below of the vultures soaring.) Pairs were flying in tandem- something that is thought to strengthen pair bonds. I could hear the wind passing through their feathers. I found their feathers on the ground amongst the rocks. I felt like I was on sacred ground. Like I was witnessing something spiritual. And considering that these birds are still thought to be messengers of the gods, maybe I was.