“I need your help. I found an animal…”
Springtime is in full bloom here in Texas and our phones have been ringing off the hook with animal lovers who have stumbled upon a wild species that they think needs our help. Lots of baby bird, baby cottontail, opossum, and "I’m not sure what this is" phone pleas for help and "rescue."
Abandoned Babies: One thing we’ve learned at Zooniversity is that "rescue" is not only sometimes unwarranted, often it can [more...]
Simon – The Iguana Who Started it All
As a professional biologist, I knew better. But, I am also a mother; which means that I too sometimes abandon all sense and logic to appease the pleadings of one of my adorable, and always convincing, children. Meet Simon, the iguana who started it all.
There was Simon, perched lopsided on that branch in that crummy pet store. He was maybe 6 inches long and bright green. His twisted and broken [more...]
A Zooniversity Shopping List
Think you spend a lot of time and money shopping for your family, your school or your library? We bet you don’t have these items on your shopping list or in your budget. Here’s a small sampling of what’s on Zooniversity’s monthly shopping list—a list only a wildlife educator could appreciate:
40 lbs. fresh Spring Mix (that expensive salad and herb stuff served at elegant eateries—only the best for our animals)
60 [more...]
“Sydney,” Journey of a Joey Wallaby, Part 2
I’d like to be a joey wallaby. I’d spend long hours sleeping peacefully in a fuzzy pouch, stretch my oh-so-big feet upon waking, guzzle milk when I was thirsty, delicately nibble on hay and grass when hungry, hop-hop-hop faster-faster-faster at play time, and “huff” for my humans to give me some always needed attention and cheek rubs.
Such is the life of our little joey wallaby, “Sydney,” who came to Zooniversity [more...]
A Chameleon’s Eulogy
Sometimes you find an animal that acts unlike any other of its species, that defies all published descriptions of typical behavior, that beats the survival odds, and that far outlives its maximum lifespan. It’s rare, but it can happen, and these rare finds make the finest of animal ambassadors. The stories that come with these special creatures teach lessons that are more far-reaching than just the facts—their stories teach empathy, [more...]
“Sydney,” Journey of a Joey Wallaby, Part 1
Life is tough when you’re this little. Life is even tougher outside the security of Mommy’s pouch. Life is really tough when formula replaces Mommy’s milk and you’re surrounded by tall, strange-looking animals without fur or tails or pouches. Meet baby “Sydney,” an orphaned Bennett’s wallaby joey, who came to Zooniversity for foster care. This is Part 1 of her story.
Sydney was born about 7 months ago. Like all wallaby [more...]
Blind “Faith,” the Fennec Fox
No, this is not a chihuahua. Meet "Faith," named for the phrase "blind faith." Yes, she’s blind. Faith is a fennec fox, usually found in the Sahara desert of North Africa and up into the Middle Eastern deserts of Saudi Arabia. Faith used to be one of Zooniversity’s most traveled and popular educational animals. She starred in thousands of stage programs, met hundreds-of-thousands of children and adults, had her [more...]
