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Hire date:
April 2011
Hometown:
Fort Collins, CO.
Favorite food:
Chocolate
Favorite vacation destination:
Costa Rica
Favorite Zoo animal:
Grizzly bears! (And Canada lynx and porcupines...)
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August 31, 6
- 9:30 p.m..
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September
1,
9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
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September 15, 9:15
-
10 a.m.
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Check out our additions, awards and accomplishments from 2016-2017 in our Annual Report.
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What's New?
GORILLA GOODBYES: tUMANI & dEMBE mOVING TO NEW HOMES
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It's always hard to say goodbye, but knowing an animal is going on to another great Zoo or will become involved in a survival program for their species is comforting.
In Tumani's case, this is exactly true. The 10-year-old female Western lowland gorilla will be heading to another great Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) institution on a breeding recommendation.
Tracy Thessing, director of animal collections here at CMZ, said Tumani is the normal age to begin dispersing from her family group for breeding purposes.
"Sometimes there is some tension or unease in the group, so we know it's the right time for her to leave," Thessing said. "This is the same age this would be happening in the wild, so we're just mirroring those natural behaviors and troop tendencies."
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Animal Encounter
:
BIRDS OF A FEATHER CHOW DOWN ON SEED STICKS TOGETHER
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It's called Budgie Buddies, but there are three species of feathered friends for you to feed and interact with inside our Australia Walkabout area. Though there are about 200 birds total, 25 of those are cockatiels, two are princess parrots, and the remaining 73 are budgies (short for budgerigar).
Budgies are known as Australian parakeets, and they come in a wide spectrum of gorgeous colors. In our budgie building, you'll see a variety of different mutations, or colors - including yellow, cobalt, turquoise, lime green, gray, violet and more. Though budgies are naturally green and yellow with black markings, they have been bred in human care with other-colored birds in order to establish the bright color mutations they're now known for.
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Conservation:
TADPOLES TO TOADLETS: wYOMING TOAD UPDATE
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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Conservation Coordinator Jeff Baughman has seen quite a few cute animal moments in his role, but nothing quite as cute as a toad "pileup."
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Click here to watch a video featuring our Wyoming toads! |
"They do this cute thing where they all lay on top of or near each other," Baughman said. This is usually after they have eaten a lot of bugs and their dark coloration provides morewarmth for digestion.
Baughman said the toads were the size of a tack just a few weeks ago, but now they're dime-sized. Soon they'll be the size of a quarter. At full growth, they'll be about the size of a chicken egg.
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Children's Hospital Colorado:
WHETHER HUMAN OR ANIMAL, TRAIN PROPERLY TO STRESS LESS
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At CMZ, our animal care experts train our animals for a host of different reasons, but the biggest reason has to do with ensuring animals and humans stay as calm as possible.
First, spending time with an animal, just like with a person, will help form a stronger bond and better connection. This time will give the animal a better opportunity to become more used to a certain person.
Secondly, it's safer for both the human and the animal. If an animal is trained to go to a certain location within their enclosure or to be in a particular position for a medical procedure, it's less stressful for them and facilitates a safer environment for the trainer to locate an item in the enclosure or to proceed with a blood draw.
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Explore and Learn:
THE BZZZ IS BACK!
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The EdVenture Department is pleased to announce the arrival of a brand-new honey bee colony! The thriving hive can be found in the Treehouse in My Big Backyard.
Did you know that without pollinators like honey bees, we wouldn't have delicious foods like almonds, watermelons or even cocoa? Honey bees are amazing animals, not only because they pollinate plants and help us grow food, but because they also make their own (very delicious) food -- honey! Bees make honey from the sweet nectar they collect from nearby flowers. After collecting it, they deposit the nectar into the hive and wait for the water to evaporate. Honey is the substance left behind after the evaporation process.
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