Fozblog

A tale of a lemur tail

A friendly face has returned to the lemur island at Dickerson Park Zoo -- "Charlie," a black and white ruffed lemur. Lemurs like Charlie use their long tails to help them move about the trees they naturally dwell in.

How long are black and white ruffed lemurs’ tails?
a) 12’’-16’’
b) 18’’-22’’
c) 23’’-26’’
d) 36’’-40’’

E-mail your answer by Wednesday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check out FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and for more information about lemurs.

Tuesday Trivia - Ocean Fun

The ocean is connected to major lakes, rivers and waterways because all major watersheds on Earth drain into the ocean. There are many rivers here in Missouri, such as the Missouri River. These rivers support diverse wildlife, including animals such as River Otters, which you can see here at Dickerson Park Zoo.

So this week's Tuesday Triva question focuses on water:
True or False -- The Missouri River flows directly into the ocean.

E-mail your answer by Wednesday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check out FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and for more information about rivers in Missouri and their connection to the ocean.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Cheetah!

If you guessed that cheetahs are the fastest land mammal, you are correct! (Or, maybe you already knew this!) Cheetahs can reach speeds up to 70 miles per hour over short distances and can reach 45 miles per hour in two seconds.

They have non-retractable claws on all four feet (more dog-like than cat-like). Only one claw on each foot - the dew claw - is sharp. The dew claw never touches the ground and is used to knock down prey.

Cheetahs have few means of defense, and unfortunately, this often means their hard work chasing and capturing prey results in a "steal" by a more aggressive carnivore (lion, hyena or leopard) or vultures - who watch the action from high in the sky and swoop down in an attempt to scare off the cheetah.

Congratulations to Nicole Backerman from Carthage whose name was drawn for those submitting the correct answer this week!

We had a huge response this week to our Tuesday Trivia question. Play along again next week for your chance to win a pair of one-day admission passes!

Tuesday Trivia Answer - True

True or False: Black and white ruffed lemurs are native to the rainforests of eastern Madagascar.

True

Congratulations to this week's winner - Randall Wheeler!

Black and White Ruffed Lemurs Facts

Scientific Name: Lemur variegatus

Range & Habitat: Rainforests of eastern Madagascar.

Size: Approximately 23 inches in length; weighs 8 ½-11 lbs.

Life Span: About 14 years

Gestation: Almost 100 days; 2-3 young (about 30% twins, 30% triplets)

Wild Diet: Fruits, leaves, bark, nectar and seeds

Zoo Diet: Leaf eater biscuits, assorted fruit and vegetables

Habits: They live in families of 2-5 animals.

Black and white ruffed lemurs like to sunbathe in the early morning and rest during the hottest part of the day. They are most active at dusk and dawn.

Lemurs are agile leapers and climbers with prehensile hands. They are rarely found on the ground. 

Female lemurs make nests in holes in trees or in the forks of branches and line them with their own fur, which they pull from their flanks or thighs. Their fur is thick and woolly to provide protection from heavy rain.

Tuesday Trivia

E-mail your answer by tomorrow, Wednesday, at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

True or False: Black and white ruffed lemurs are native to the rainforests of eastern Madagascar.

Check out FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and for more information about black and white ruffed lemurs.

Locavore Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, considered celebrating with a locavore meal. As previously discussed in our Oct. 8 blog post, a locavore is someone who eats food grown within approximately 100 miles of his/her home.

Several of the traditional Thanksgiving fruits and vegetables are currently in season in Missouri and will be the most fresh in markets. Apples and pumpkins will be the most ripe of the fruits in the next few weeks, but you might also find fresh grapes, plums and raspberries.

A large range of vegetables ripen during November and December -- beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, greens, horseradish, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and turnips.

And, "The Ozark Locavore" Sandy Clark, reminds us about Missouri's staple (and very available) -  black walnuts. They add a nutty crunch to holiday dishes as diverse as dressing and cookies.

Considered using fresh foods in your holiday meal. Locate markets sell organic foods, where you can also find meats and natural ingredients for dishes such as turkey, dressing and rolls. In the Springfield area, look for locavore items at Akin's Natural Foods Market and MaMa Jean's Market.

Photo credit: The turkeys at Little Portion Monastery Farm, Barryville, Ark. Photo used with their permission.

What's a Locavore?

In a recent issue of WildTimes magazine, contributing writer, Sandy Clark, defined the word "locavore" and explained how to be one. Below is an excerpt from his article.

In 2007, the Oxford English Directory chose "locavore" as the word of the year. Coined by Jessica Prentice in the San Francisco Bay area, the word describes eating within about 100 miles of where you live.

As a concept, it reflected a commitment to eat locally, eat in season and support your community. The arguments can be made that the benefits are flavorful, nutritional, environmental and economic as well.

For more information on how to become a locavore check out local farms, farmer's markets and locally grown foods, and which food are in season.

Photo caption: Emma Maxwell Clark (Sandy's daughter) shows off a bunch of locally grown carrots.

Going Green With Cleaning Supplies

Keeping a clean house is important but can be time-consuming and expensive. That's why we want to tell you about green cleaning supplies that allow you to tidy your surroundings with fewer products, while at the same time preserving the environment.

Companies such as Seventh Generation, Simple Green and Eco Concepts distribute green products that range from household cleaners to heavy duty automotive and janitorial cleaners. All three companies sell an all-purpose household cleaner that ranges in price from $4.99 for a 32-ounce bottle to $24.95 for a cleaner and degreaser combo pack. Seventh Generation and Simple Green offer online and store coupons when users register for the savings.

For those of you who want to try your hand at making your own cleaning supplies, Green Planet offers tips on how to create cleaning supplies with vinegar and baking soda.Simply add warm water to either of the household cooking products, and you have an all-purpose cleaner.

Keeper Notes: Fox on Stilts

As you begin your journey thru South America, you may notice the aroma of a skunk. You might be surprised to learn that it is the musky odor of Dickerson Park Zoo’s maned wolf. Often called a “fox on stilts,” maned wolves are the tallest of any of the wolf species. Their beautiful red coat and extra long legs help them to blend in to their native habitat of savanna grasslands in Brazil. Maned wolves are endangered in the wild due to habitat loss, disease from domestic dogs, and occasional hunting by ranchers for eating chickens which are an easy lunch.

Dickerson Park Zoo has cared for maned wolves for several years. We are a holding institution for animals as well as a breeding facility. In years past, wolves born in captivity were often “pulled” from the parents and hand-raised to eliminate the risk of death by the parents. If there is too much activity from humans, the wolves may become aggressive toward the young pups or to people, often with bad results. Anymore, the goal is to have the parents raise the pups on their own.

Our main breeding yard is off exhibit in an area called “the hill.” There, “people” traffic is minimal, and the area is fairly secluded. There are two barns that are heated and two “puppy” boxes, much like a standard dog house, where the female can have her puppies and rotate them from barn to barn as she feels the need. Five days before the January 2007 ice storm we had a litter of pups born. The mother was a first-time mom; and the father, a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, did a very nice job raising “Meek” who can be viewed by the public in the exhibit yard.

Maned wolves typically live 12-15 years, and this past December our oldest wolf turned 13. Each year the wolves receive physicals from the staff veterinarian. In the past year, we were part of a study to determine what might be the best zoo diet for maned wolves. In the wild, they eat a variety of small prey animals, fruit and vegetable matter may make up as much as 50 percent of their diet.

At DPZ, we feed the wolves lettuce, apple, banana and tomato that is blended in a food processor to a course applesauce consistency. The wolves also receive Bil-Jac dry senior dog food. Maned wolves can have crystals in their urine which can be caused by their diet. These crystals can lead to health issues, which is the main reason we looked into a better diet for them. You would not think a wolf would eat lettuce, but they really like our diet. Through the Maned Wolf SSP® (Species Survival Program), other zoos will learn about our “green” diet.

So, the next time you visit Dickerson Park Zoo please take an extra moment to observe the Maned Wolves. We are working both here at the zoo and in the native habitat to help these beautiful animals thrive both in zoos and in the wild – even though he smells like a skunk!

Written by Patti Rader, Zookeeper

Tuesday Trivia Answer - C.

FACT SHEET
ECLECTUS PARROT

Scientific Name: Eclectus roratus

Range & Habitat: Found in semi-tropical and tropical rainforests of Southern Moluccas, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and parts of Australia

Size: 14 inches

Life Span: 30-35 years

Incubation: 30 days; 2 eggs

Wild Diet: Fruit, nuts, seeds, berries, leaf buds, blossoms and nectar

Zoo Diet: Mazuri parrot grain, assorted fruits and vegetables

Habits: These birds are strong flyers.  The males typically fly in front of the females.  On long flights they go rather slowly with full, deliberate wing beats, interspersed with brief periods of gliding.

Nests are attended by groups of seven or eight birds of both sexes.  The nest is high up in a hole in the trunk of a tall tree which is located near the edge of the forest.  The nesting female is fed frequently by the male.

The females are brightly colored red and deep purple; males are bright emerald green.

They have an excellent ability to mimic human speech and are highly vocal.