Wildlife Education by Bernie

-Dr. Jane Goodall

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Click on the photo for a closeup.

Canada or Canadian Lynx are a threatened species in the lower 48 states. Max was zoo born and recently acquired to be an animal ambassador. They are remarkable creatures able to run across the snow after their favorite prey, the Snowshoe Hare.

Learn about some other interesting traits.

Please note: Max arrives onsite in a locked viewing kennel. During presentation, I will open the door & attach his lead. If he feels comfortable with his surroundings, he may come out. He has been in the public since eight weeks old but is shy by nature. At times, he has come out and stretched and laid down. Other times he has been spooked by loud children or sudden movement and preferred to lay inside his kennel watching the crowd. Sometimes for photos, I will keep his door open and shots can be taken without the bars showing. I never force him to come out, as it will certainly lead to one of us getting injured. Additionally, New York state law prohibits public contact which is why I present a pelt for touching. In time, I hope Max will become accustomed to the noises and wear it like an old hat.

I acquired Barnyard on May 12, 2011. He’s a mid-late 20’s talking parrot whose name I’m not fond of, so I call him Burt. And he calls himself Bird which is close! He’s a talker when there’s plenty of people to give him the necessary incentive. Isn’t that just like animals…will only do what they want when they want and only if there’s something in it for them?

He even does the chicken dance! Learn about the Amazon parrot.

They are truly amazing creatures.

Update: As of November 29, 2013…. Burt is a girl! She has laid eggs to let it be known that her name should be changed. However, we know her as Burt and it’s been difficult to call her Burta or Burtha. Besides, she still calls herself Barnyard or Bird!

Update: August 2019….we have found Burt’s original owner who was heartbroken to give her up in the mid-90’s. Burt came from her species’ homeland of Central/South America at a young age. It is estimated that she was born in 1982 or 1983 which today, August 15, 2019 makes her age 36 or 37!

Frankie is a blonde cinnamon while Frannie is a sable ferret. These two are the sweetest snuggle bugs.

Find out why the ferret needs supervised playtime and why farmers in Europe love them. When were ferrets domesticated?

Chewy Coco

South American Chinchilla

Coco’s coloring is a silky black with an undercoat of grey. Find out why they are popular in the fur trade. Touch her very soft and thick fur. Hear her bark. Did you know their teeth never stop growing? I nicknamed her “chewy” because she is destructive with her constant chewing all night long! 

Smudge

 African Pygmy Hedgehog

Smudge was rescued in January 2021. I was told she was a year old but no birthdate was given and she had not been held often enough which makes her a smidge less than friendly. However, she deserves love and hopefully will get better at being handled. How many spiny hairs (quills) does an adult hedgehog have? Are the hairs hollow like porcupines? Watch & listen to the hissing, popping and rolling into a defensive spiny ball. Do you dare to touch?

Igor

Ringed Turtle Dove

Igor was hatched Nov. ’09 and has a crossed & bent beak. Through rehabilitation, I’ve managed to align it so he can eat. I donated his parents and grandparents to York’s Wild Kingdom in Maine. Find out why this dove is missing the ring around his neck & other avian facts.

Lil Bun

Holland Lop

Lil Bun was born February 14, 2022 and yes, a domestic bunny but who doesn’t love to hold and snuggle a soft animal? Did you know that rabbits are lagomorphs and not rodents? Do you know the difference between the two? Let’s talk about the Lop and it’s wild cousins.

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I use to have a baby bear available for lectures April – May but I no longer take on this task.

 

Other exotic animals may become available.