Every so often I get the urge to photograph some of the exhibit animals here at the Museum. The subject of the current compulsive episode is Ring-tailed Lemurs. Besides the long and bushy ringed tail, there’s little doubt that the attraction to these animals is their inquisitive nature and, well, have a look at those peepers. Happy Thanksgiving!Read more
Posts filed in: Mammals
Photo Ops
There are many opportunities to capture interesting photogrpaphic images while on a walk around Explore the Wild and Catch the Wind. Timing and luck play their parts, and of course the amount of time one spends on the outdoor loop here at the Museum helps expose one to more opportunities, but one thing is for sure, you have to be there in person to photographic whatever it is that’s happening. Here’s some of the images I captured last week. TheRead more
The Life O’ possum
After hearing the sad news about the passing of Galileo, the Museum’s resident, exhibit opossum, and talking with Keepers Sarah and Jessi about the longevity of said animals, I decided to do a little research. I suppose I should have known opossums have a short life span. I mistakingly assumed they lived perhaps 4, 5, or even 6 years. I was incredulous when told they can only be expected to live about 2 years. Hamsters live longer than that! InRead more
Who’s that?
What’s that under the bench out in Explore the Wild? I saw the fox searching under the bench out in front of the restrooms in Explore the Wild as I rounded the bend from the Lemur Exhibit. I paused and watched as the little canid reached under the bench and grabbed a morsel of food, perhaps a goldfish left by one of the field-tripping schools kids earlier in the day. The fox finally spotted me and we briefly stared at eachRead more
Possum!
We all know that possums, or o’possums if you like, share the land with us. Whether it’s the tracks in the mud along the creek, the overturned garbage cans behind the house, or their bright red eyeshine in our headlights as we drive down the road at night, we know they’re out there shuffling around in the dark. But, we don’t often see them out and about during the daylight hours. Today, one apparently young possum was caught out inRead more
Can Groundhogs Swim?
You already know that groundhogs climb trees, right? If you didn’t know that, now you do, they can climb trees. But can they swim? I believe that every animal has the ability to swim. Cats don’t like to swim, but if you throw one, or should I say, if one falls into the water, you will most certainly see a cat swim. The question then, should be, do they want to, do they like to, or do they voluntarily swim? As farRead more
Gray Fox PSA
That’s what greeted me as I arrived here at the Museum this morning, a Gray Fox. If you’ve spent much time here at the Museum, especially in Explore the Wild or Catch the Wind you may have seen this fox or perhaps one of its kin. If you’ve read this Journal in the past you may have read about the foxes here at the Museum. Gray Fox live here, they’re wild animals and not part of any display or exhibit.Read more
FLASH! Marked Turtle Seen In Wetlands
On Friday (3/15), a Yellow-bellied Slider bearing a notch in her shell was seen basking on a log next to the Main Wetlands Overlook. This turtle was marked last year by myself as part of a turtle survey. It could not be determined which of some dozen turtles it was since only one notch was visible (some of the turtles have notches on both sides of their shells, left and right), however, it was clearly one of last year’s subjects.Read more
I’m excited, are you?
Mourning Cloaks, Groundhogs, more turtles, a bullfrog, and finally, Pickerel Frogs! Are you ready for some pictures? The cloak… The hog… The turtles… A bullfrog… And the Pickerel Frogs, lots of them… Sorry for getting carried away with the Pickerel Frogs, I’ve been waiting so long for them and at last, they’re here! I heard at least one Southern Leopard Frog today (3/13) but was not able to locate it in order take its portrait, maybe tomorrow. Enjoy!Read more