Physical Description
Axolotls are neotenic salamanders (meaning they retain certain larval characteristics as adults) that remain aquatic their entire life. They average 6-18 inches in length and weigh 2-8 oz. Wild axolotls are typically dark in color and have the ability to shift their hue a few shades lighter or darker as needed for camouflage. They have feathery external gills, but they also have fully functional lungs. They also have long tails, four legs and large, flat heads.
Predators
Some predators they may encounter include predatory birds and larger fish.
Lifespan
They live an average of 10-15 years.
Reproduction
Axolotls breed between March and June. After a mating waltz, the female will lay 300-1,000 eggs and attach them to protective substrate individually. The eggs will hatch 2 weeks later and will have no parental care.
Fun Facts
- Because of their limited distribution and their fragmented populations due to habitat destruction, axolotls are critically endangered.
- Axolotls can regenerate their limbs, lungs, heart, jaws, spines, and even parts of their brain over the course of just a few weeks!
Conservation Messaging
In our Reptile and Amphibian (RAD) center you will find many different reptiles and amphibians including venomous and poisonous species of snakes and frogs. Many of these animals fall victim to habitat loss in the wild. Many of the species here are found in South American habitats which are subjected to deforestation, damming of rivers, water pollution, and poor agricultural and management practices.
Physical Description
Tawny frogmouths are nocturnal or crepuscular birds with long wings, short legs, and stout bills. They average 8-21 inches tall with a 25-38 inch wingspan. They have wide, frog-like mouths and are typically gray with some black stripes.
Predators
Predators they may encounter include carpet pythons, foxes, and domestic cats and dogs.
Lifespan
In human care, they live an average of 10 years.
Reproduction
This species is monogamous and stay together for life. Breeding season runs from August-December, and pairs typically return to the same nest site each year. Females lay 1-3 eggs which will be incubated by both parents and hatch in 30 days. Parents will care for the chicks until they fledge 25-35 days after hatching.
Fun Facts
- Tawny frogmouths are not owls even though they look very similar; they are actually part of the nightjar family.
- When threatened, they will “stump,” which means that they will freeze their head craned upward, flatten their feathers, and reduce their eyes to slits in order to look like a broken branch.
Conservation Messaging
Tawny frogmouths face many threats from humans. Many of these birds are killed or injured each year by cars when they are chasing after insects illuminated by car headlights. They are also threatened by poisoning from insecticides and rodent poisons introduced to their environment by humans. Ecosystems have a natural balance so it’s important for us as humans to leave no trace! Once you leave nature, no one should know that you’ve been there. This means bringing out anything that you’ve brought in. Additionally, leaving the environment unaltered is equally important. To learn more about the Leave no Trace initiative and their 7 principles for minimum impact practices, visit www.lnt.org.
Physical Description
Domestic chickens vary greatly in appearance due to breed, though they share common traits: squat stature, rounded bodies, dense feathers, and wattles of flesh around the face. Adult roosters (males) have distinct combs of red flesh and striking plumage including flowing tails and shiny, pointed feathers. They also tend to be larger than females. Roosters may also have spurs on their legs, which they employ in battles with other males.
Predators
Predators include coyotes, foxes, bobcats, weasels, birds of prey, racoons, opossums, skunks, and snakes.
Lifespan
Chickens can live up to 10 years.
Reproduction
Chickens are diurnal, social animals, with one rooster and several hens making up a flock. Nests are made on the ground and females incubate using a bare patch of skin on her chest that develops when brooding. Each clutch can yield up to a dozen eggs. These eggs can incubate for up to a month before hatching.
Fun Facts
- Roosters are known for their characteristic crow. This shrill call is used to assertively communicate territory to other males. Hens will not crow, but may cluck to communicate with chicks or after laying an egg.
- Chickens have very sophisticated social behavior with a dominance hierarchy where higher individuals dominate subordinate individuals. This is where the term “pecking order” comes from!
Conservation Messaging
Chickens as well as barnyard animals are commonly kept as pets on farms and ranches. It is always best to do your research before moving forward with purchasing any livestock. These animals require different needs from say your dog or cat.
For instance, most livestock animals are herd animals so having one is not an acceptable option. As always, every animal has individual needs that must be met in order to provide the best possible welfare which means you will need a veterinarian that specializes in hoofstock.
Physical Description
They are a sturdily built goat with strong legs and an elongated body. Their fawn, gray, or brown coat is short to medium in length with white markings. They average 26-33 inches tall and weigh 120-150 lbs.
Predators
Predators they may encounter include coyotes, mountain lions, wolves, and other large carnivores.
Lifespan
They live an average of 8-12 years.
Reproduction
Breeding begins once the ·day length shortens and ends in early spring. Gestation is about 150 days.
Fun Facts
- They are thought to be the oldest known dairy goat breed!
- Sometimes farmers will have them graze with their cows for pasture maintenance because they will eat many plants the cows don’t.
Conservation Messaging
Goats as well as barnyard animals are commonly kept as pets on farms and ranches. It is always best to do your research before moving forward with purchasing any livestock. These animals require different needs from say your dog or cat.
For instance, most livestock animals are herd animals so having one is not an acceptable option. As always, every animal has individual needs that must be met in order to provide the best possible welfare which means you will need a veterinarian that specializes in hoofstock.
Physical Description
Bald eagles can reach up to 3ft in height, have a wingspan of 8ft, and can weigh up to 15lbs. They have a white head, white tail markings, and a brown body. Bald eagles are not actually bald; the feathers on their head are short and white. Eagles have extremely good vision but can’t move their eyes from side to side. Instead, they have to turn their whole head in order to look around.
Predators
Adults have no natural predators, but chicks are preyed upon by bobcats, wolverines, black bears, foxes, raccoons, and large birds.
Lifespan
Bald eagles live 16.5 years on average.
Reproduction
Courtship usually begins in April with both males and females performing special aerial dances in the sky where they lock onto each other’s talons and tumble/twist in the air. Bald eagles will make their nest near water and will return to their original nest. Females lay 1-3 eggs several days apart, once a year. Both parents will help take care of the chicks, but the female will be the primary caregiver while the male is the primary hunter. The chicks will remain in the nest until they are about 12 weeks old.
Fun Facts
- The bald eagle’s grip strength is 10 times that of the average human.
- When a bald eagle loses a feather on one wing, it will lose a matching one on the other. This way it doesn’t lose its balance.
Conservation Messaging
Most of the Bird of Prey here at the zoo are all rehabilitated birds who have sustained different injuries deeming them unreleasable. These birds fall victim to debris found on the side of the road. If it’s an apple core, banana peel, or some discarded trash it will attract their prey items which will then attract the bird of prey. Birds of prey have tunnel vision when hunting and will often not see a car coming. One simple way we can help is to dispose of all your trash properly, even natural items like apple cores and banana peels.
Habitat/Range: Domestic turkeys are raised throughout the temperate parts of the world. Their wild counterparts prefer hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forest with varied clearings such as pastures, fields, orchards and marshes. Turkeys are native to North America and were taken to Europe by the Spanish in the 1500’s.
Life Cycle/ Social Structure
Males are polygamous and mate with as many hens as are available. Male turkeys display for females by puffing out their feathers, spreading out their tails and dragging their wings, known as strutting. Males may be seen courting in groups, with the dominant male strutting and gobbling.
Physical Description
The Hampshire Sheep is among one of the largest sheep breeds. They weight on average 200-275lbs. They have white wool, as well as dark faces, ears, and legs. This breed is usually polled, meaning it has no horns.
Predators
Predators of sheep can include coyotes, wolves, foxes, bears, dogs, eagles, bobcats, and mountain lions.
Lifespan
They can live anywhere from 9-20 years.
Reproduction
Hampshire sheep are not monogamous, and rams will breed with various ewes during the breeding season. The female’s gestation period is 144-155 days, and a fertile ewe should produce energetic and active lambs in multiples of at least two’s and more per year. Females will protect young.
Fun Facts
- Hampshire sheep have strong and medium length wool that can be combed and used for knitting yarns, socks, and flannels.
- They were introduced to the United States in the 1860s, but the breed disappeared during the Civil War and were not reintroduced until the 1880s.
Conservation Messaging
Goats as well as barnyard animals are commonly kept as pets on farms and ranches. It is always best to do your research before moving forward with purchasing any livestock. These animals require different needs from say your dog or cat.
For instance, most livestock animals are herd animals so having one is not an acceptable option. As always, every animal has individual needs that must be met in order to provide the best possible welfare which means you will need a veterinarian that specializes in hoofstock.
Physical Description
The sheep has a characteristic wide face and long body and comes in white. They can get up to 275lbs.There are two types of Dorest Sheep, the Polled and Horned Dorset. Besides the absence of horns in the Polled strain, they are identical. They will lay down in pastures or fields and chew cud, helping in the digestion process due to the fact that they have a 4-chambered stomach, also known as ruminants.
Predators
Predators of sheep can include coyotes, wolves, foxes, bears, dogs, eagles, bobcats, and mountain lions.
Lifespan
They can live anywhere from 9-20 years.
Reproduction
Dorset sheep are prolific breeders and will breed all year round. They can produce multiple lambs per year.
Fun Facts
- The Dorset sheep is one of the oldest sheep breeds in existence. They originated from a similar looking species in England and were then later brought to the United States in 1885.
- They can produce up to 9 pounds of medium-grade wool annually.
Conservation Messaging
Goats as well as barnyard animals are commonly kept as pets on farms and ranches. It is always best to do your research before moving forward with purchasing any livestock. These animals require different needs from say your dog or cat.
For instance, most livestock animals are herd animals so having one is not an acceptable option. As always, every animal has individual needs that must be met in order to provide the best possible welfare which means you will need a veterinarian that specializes in hoofstock.
Physical Description
The alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. They resemble a small llama in appearance. The adult alpaca reached about 3 feet in height and 154 pounds in weight. Alpacas come in a variety of colors ranging from white to black and brown. They have long, slender necks and fleece that is soft and cool to the touch.
Predators
Their predators can include domestic dogs, Andean foxes, Andean condors, pumas, colocolos, Andean mountain cats, coyotes, and wolves.
Lifespan
In the wild, they live approximately 5-10 years, but in human care, they live about 15 to 20 years.
Reproduction
Alpacas are induced ovulators and can breed at any time of the year. After a gestation period of approximately 335 days, the female will give birth to a single baby, known as a cria. They are usually weaned at about 6 months of age.
Fun Facts
- They are too small to be used as pack animals and are bred exclusively for their fiber and meat. Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items, such as wool.
- It is believed alpacas were domesticated around 6,000 years ago by native people in South America.
Conservation Messaging
Goats as well as barnyard animals are commonly kept as pets on farms and ranches. It is always best to do your research before moving forward with purchasing any livestock. These animals require different needs from say your dog or cat.
For instance, most livestock animals are herd animals so having one is not an acceptable option. As always, every animal has individual needs that must be met in order to provide the best possible welfare which means you will need a veterinarian that specializes in hoofstock.
Physical Description
Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs are about 3 feet long and weigh anywhere from 70 to 175 lbs. They are usually all black with straight tails and upright ears. They get their name “Pot Bellied” because of their rounded, low hanging belly. Both genders have tusks, but males will have larger tusks.
Predators
One surprising natural predator of Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs is dogs.
Lifespan
In the wild, they live approximately 10 years, but in human care, they live about 15 to 20 years.
Reproduction
A male pig is called a boar, and a female that gives birth is called a sow. After a gestation period of approximately 115 days, the female will give birth to an average of 6 piglets.
Fun Facts
- Pigs can actually be trained like dogs because they are also highly intelligent and have excellent recall and concentration.
- Pigs will roll around or wallow in mud in order to stay cool but also to protect their skin from the sun and insects.
Conservation Messaging
Goats as well as barnyard animals are commonly kept as pets on farms and ranches. It is always best to do your research before moving forward with purchasing any livestock. These animals require different needs from say your dog or cat.
For instance, most livestock animals are herd animals so having one is not an acceptable option. As always, every animal has individual needs that must be met in order to provide the best possible welfare which means you will need a veterinarian that specializes in hoofstock.
