Randuwa II: Turtle Back Zoo: North American Speies

Monday, November 7, 2022

Turtle Back Zoo: North American Speies

Not exactly knowing how to proceed upon entering the Turtle Back Zoo, I found the nearest restroom! I'd been driving for over 3.5 hours and I needed to pee. At the risk of TMI, I'm of an age were managing the old #1, isn't always done from the standing position with a bladder fully loaded. Don't laugh young men...your day will come! Using the opportunity to study the zoo map proved unhelpful. So, upon finishing my business, I just headed to the right...kinda like our nation...

As fate would have it, this led me into a series of habitats that I would call Animals of North America.

BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOGS

The habitat was spacious and fun. Little folk could enter a tunnel and pop up in orbs at prairie dog eye-level. A common conceit at many zoos. I wasn't clear on the giant sunflowers...a nod to South Dakota?

NORTH AMERICAN BLACK BEAR

Has an amazing habitat. Was not out to be seen...

AMERICAN BISON

A nice space that is home to three from what I could tell. A magnificent bull and a pair of cows. It was not easy to see any of them because of their choice of being within the habitat. You can't fault animals for their choices, and kudos to zoos that have rich enough habitats to provide options.

The beautiful bull

BIRDS OF PREY

Above the Bison is a loop of habitats devoted to large birds: American Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Harris Hawk and Raven. The Eagle and Raven were off exhibit because of the Avian Flu epidemic, and the Hawks were there, but not easy to see, a common problem at zoos with Hawks.

Generous American Eagle habitat, without an Eagle.

Raptor Row: home to Hawks and Ravens.

My best photo of the Cooper's Hawk

GREY WOLVES

The habitat was amazing. Lots of space, a flowing stream, a den with public viewing. Also a Docent to ask questions of! The zoo is home to three Grey Wolf female siblings. They are rather on in years, so no surprise that they were all sleeping. She also told the origin story of the zoo's name. Apparently there is a bolder in a stream nearby that is huge and resembles a Turtle Shell. It is reverenced by the Lanape Native Americans and from there became the name of the zoo.

BIG CAT COUNTRY

The top of the hill is home to two large felines: Pumas and Jaguars. The habitats are side-by-side and feature large, scalable rock features with perches to sleep a lazy unseasonably warm Monday away on.

MOUNTAIN LIONS (PUMA)