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We Have A New
Beaver!
Visit "Wild Wonders
Wildlife Park" and see our new beaver.
She is wonderful!
Our new American Beaver
was sent to us all the way from Idaho. During the Winter of
2007, excavation was taking place on the Boise River. This
young beaver was found not far away under a car in a parking
lot covered with sand and fleas. She was frightened and very
thin. The Idaho Game Department contacted a local
rehabilitator to take the beaver in. Though this
rehabilitator had lost her facility, she brought the beaver
to her condo.
For three months, the
rehabilitator stayed awake with the beaver all night as she
swam in the bathtub, climbed the stairs and wondered the
condo. The beaver grew quite acclimated to human company and
is not considered habituated to people.
On May 1, 2007, the
beaver was sent on a flight from Boise to Detroit. She
required a specialized carrier that could not be chewed
through. Though nervous and shy from her travel, she
immediately took to her large pond and waterfall. We are
still getting acquainted and hope that she will bond with
our staff. Beavers are very social animals and require
companionship. We do not yet know her true sex or age, but
assume she is less then two years old. Currently she weighs
about 40 pounds and may reach a weight of 60 pounds, (or 75
if she is a male!). Much to the dismay of our visitors, she
seems to be strictly nocturnal (as are her wild cousins),
only swimming at night and sleeping in her shed during the
day. Her favorite vegetable is sweet potato, and she prefers
willow to poplar branches. She has also found a liking to
commercial rodent blocks! We will continue to look for a
second beaver to share her pond. Meanwhile, her exhibit is
also home to a wood duck with a permanent wing injury.
They seem to get along nicely.
Memorial
Garden and Brick Wall
Because
of a generous grant from the Livingston County Press, we
have built a memorial garden and walkway that is nearly
complete, near the Barn Owls habitat, continuing
toward and connecting to the main trail near the Eagle
statue. This area includes various gardens,
benches and gathering areas, designed with lovely annuals
and perennials, intertwined throughout by a wandering
wood-chipped path. Within the memorial garden, we have built
a water garden where aquatic plants, frogs and other animals
can hang out. Behind this garden will be a semi-circle brick
wall. Bricks can be purchased in memory or in honor of a
loved one or pet. The cost is $125 for a 4x8 and $250 for a
8x8. Please call the
Nature Center office to request a order form at 517-546-0249.
WE HAVE ALPACAS IN PERU!!!
DONATED BY MR.
ED SCHLICTING OF AUTUMN ALPACAS, AND SHIRLEY DARNELL OF
BRIGHTON!
The Global
Gateway Village now has the country of Peru. What is one of
the major sources of income for Peru? Alpacas!
We have received three young Alpacas, all males. There are
two breeds of Alpacas. One is a Suri with fiber that hangs
in curls and the other two are Huacaya, which have crimped
fiber. We have both breeds. These fun, frisky creatures were donated by Ed Schlicting of
Autumn Alpacas and Shirley Darnell of Brighton, for which we are so grateful. Students will
really enjoy these new additions as they learn about all the
countries in the
Global Gateway program.
Fox Habitat Now
Open!
We have acquired
two frisky red fox. They are brother and sister and are really fun
to watch. Their home is wonderful. It is large, filled with
pine trees, with a waterfall and an underground den.
An observation deck is included for your viewing enjoyment.
Red-tailed
Hawk/Turkey
Vulture Habitat Finished!
The Red-tailed
Hawk/Turkey Vulture habitat is complete. Sponsored in
memory of our dear friend, Tom Bouchard, this structure is a
40 foot diameter, field and forest edge habitat. It includes
a small woodland pond, natural pine and deciduous forest
with a breathtaking farm field mural. This exhibit will
house two Turkey Vultures and two Red-tailed Hawks
Waterfalls
Abound!
Director, Dick Grant has a passion for waterfalls. He
had a new water well put in to help keep the water in our
lake at a good level. The water is pouring out at the top of
a hill and it splashes
down the hillside into the lake. Volunteers have made this
into a beautiful waterfall with flowers, split rail fences
and even a bench for you and your favorite read. You will
just have to come by and see for yourself. It is really
pretty. This waterfall is located between Lakeview and Grindley
Lodges. There is another wonderful waterfall located up by
the main administration office area. It is also picturesque with loads of colorful annuals, split rail
fencing and rocks for the water to cascade over.
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