The Keepers and Interns walked in to find the following on the dry erase board. Any ideas?
Some knew exactly what it was, while others (Jamie in particular) seemed a bit concerned. And, after I updated it, it looked like this:
I often draw on the boards and my skill at drawing is limited at best. See another drawing of mine.
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
#1: Name the pigs ( easy?)
#2: Whose arm is in the first photo (also fairly easy)
#3: What two items are being fed to the pig
Need a clue as to the food? If so, continue reading. If not, stop right here.
The two foods are holiday/festival related, although the holidays are unrelated to each other. Think Halloween and Pesach (Passover).
1. Miss Piggy and Auggie
2. Dr. Cannedy
3. Pumpkin and matzah?
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
Here’s a quiz: What bird is in the photo? ( Also, what native bird species is this bird related to and where in North Carolina was this photo taken)
Nene.
Canada Goose relative.
State bird of Hawaii but the picture may have been taken at either Sylvan Heights (Scotland Neck) or the Zoo in Asheboro. Probably Sylvan Heights.
I’m going to go with whatever Ranger Greg answers!
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
We’ve been staffed sparsely for the past week so people could have some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday. I hope everyone had a wonderful few days with family, friends, pets, or alone. With not many keepers around, there’s been little time to sit and update you on life here. With that said, here are a few photos to share about some of the things that have been going on here:
I’ve been training Jessi to handle Phoebe, our education alligator.
Jennifer Armstrong (who helped smash up pumpkins during Pumpkin Fest 2012) checked out the trees over the fish stream and waterfall in Carolina Wildlife. We’re making a plan to clean them and add more.
I had a really bad splinter in my left thumb. I’m a lefty, and could not dig it out. Jennifer and Marilyn tried, but they were unsuccessful. After a few days, Annie was able to get it out for me – it was about 4 mm long and I was relieved to have it out.
Annie gets out my splinter
I’ve been preparing for an emergency drill – this one will focus on a bear escape/recapture. Kristen found this bear and donated it to the training cause. Big Big Bear lives at my house. ( I have another bear named Big Bear and this bear is bigger than the other, hence the name Big Big Bear)
Big Big Bear. I bring her in for drills.
And finally, a little quiz for you. Below is the picture I took when we released our new male red wolf, 1414, into the wolf exhibit. How many of the people below can you name?
(Left to right) Aaron, Marilyn, Kent, Jessi, Sarah, Jill, and Katy. I’m just unsure about the three at the fence.
Last time I helped with bear escape training, Kent wanted to use the tranquilizer on me…best training ever..
very nice post, i surely enjoy this wonderful site, persist in it
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
In the tradition of Sherry’s quiz about her trip with Aaron, I’m posting a quiz about our training program here at the museum. Answers to follow in a few days!
1. Which animal are we currently training to get voluntarily into a trailer, just in case they need to be transported to the vet?
a) Auggie
b) Lightning
c) Gus
d) Chummix
2. Craisins are the favorite training treat for which animal?
a) goats
b) lemurs
c) black bears
d) donkey
3. Which animal recently made a break through in their crate training, going all the way into their crate for the first time?
a) Max
b) Yona
c) Auggie
d) Miss Piggy
4. Which animals are station training to stumps in their exhibit?
a) lemurs
b) alpacas
c) bears
d) pigs
5. Which animals are not involved in the training program because of their involvement in a reintroduction program for an endangered species?
a) lemurs
b) wolf
c) bears
d) alligators
6. Who recently added mango to their list of favorite reinforcers?
a) Max Steer
b) Cassandra Lemur
c) Lightning Donkey
d) Yona Bear
7. How long ago did the museum start their behavior management program?
a) 6 months
b) 1 year
c) 3 years
d) 10 years
8. Which staff member is involved in a training program to increase their tolerance for random hugs?
a) Sherry
b) Julie
c) Marilyn
d) Kent
1-Chummix
2- lemurs
3- miss piggy
4-bears
5-wolf
6- max
7- 3years
8- sherry
1. Lightning
2. lemurs
3. Miss Piggy
4. bears
5. wolf
6. Max
7. 3 years
8. Kent
Ok well I know it’s not Marilyn. So Kent or maybe Julie called herself out.
You know me well Ro! I love hugs!
Nope, not me! I’m a hugger! (So I guess we know the answer to that one…) 
#8 – he is being forced into this training program!!!! My heart goes out to you Kent!!!!!
What were the final answers?
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
You’ve been dying now for a few days to know what the heck the answers are to my AARON QUIZ. Okay- here you go. 
I barely got a smile out of Aaron for the photo. He was too tired to give me his usual “ta-da” photo pose.
Good thing he didn’t run Sherry, he would have overused his man perfume! Would have stunk you out of the car!
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
On Tuesday Aaron and I spent 16 hours together driving to Atlanta and back. We were taking the male wolf to his airplane so he could flyout non-stop to his new home in Tacoma Washington. It was a long day for sure, but things went great. Aaron and I arrived back at the Museum tired but safe sometime around midnight. The wolf arrived safe and sound and was let out of his crate around 10 PM pst (1 AM Durham time). 
You can imagine, or maybe not, what went on in the van all day long. Somethings are secrets to never be shared (you know, what happens in the van stays in the van). However, I’ll share some things, in QUIZ form of course. See how many correct answers you can get on the “Aaron quiz”. (answers will be posted in a few days).
#1 Which of the following liquids did Aaron not pack for the trip?
#2 How many cups of coffee did Aaron drink on the entire trip to Atlanta and back?
#3 Which were the snacks that Aaron packed (you have a 50/50 chance to get this one right)?
#4 Who called us at 6:45 PM (on Sherry’s cell phone. I know- not about Aaron but still an interesting question)?
#5 What songs did Aaron sing during the trip
# 6 If Aaron were to win $200,000,000 in the lottery, what new profession would he undertake?
# 7 When we stopped for lunch did Aaron
# 8 Approximately what portion of the trip did Aaron drive?
#9 What TV series is Aaron currently watching with his son(s)?
#10 What did Aaron do to keep busy for the hour or so we waited around Atlanta for the flight to take off?
What are we playing for?
1. 5-hour energy drink
2. six
3. Hmm, I’m gonna go with #2
4. security guard
5. all of the above
6. I haven’t the foggiest. #4?
7. #3
8. 0%
9. I hope it’s #4
10. #3 (at PUBLIX!!!!!!!)
1. Water
2. three
3. definitely the first choice!
4. Delta
5. none
6. chef
7. #3
8. 50%
9. #1
10. #3
1- mt dew
2- 6 cups
3- junk food! I overheard this at lunch today
4- Debbie May
5- none of the above, although you’d think differently if you ever heard him on the hall
6- chef
7- ate the same meal twice
8- 25%
9- Buffy wouldn’t be surprising
10- bought produce
1-1
2-1
3-1
4-1
5-I seriously hope not 1
6-4
7-3
8-3
9-4
10-2
1. Water
2. One
3. The tasty ones, not the healthy ones
4. Security Guard
5. I hope all of the above
6. DJ
7. Ate the same meal twice
8. 25%
9. Buffy
10. Sing Sherry to sleep
1. Water
2. Six
3. Chocolate
4. PetFirst
5. Piano Man
6. Would not work
7. Ate the same meal in 7 hours
8. 25%
9. Big Bang Theory
10. Went for a run/jog
1. Creamer
2. six cups
3. carrots, celery, etc.
4. Debbie May
5. None of the above
6. Chef and restauranteur
7. Ate it and had the same meal later
8. 50%
9. NCIS
10.Went for a run
#1-Mountain Dew
#2-Six cups
#3-”Healthy” snacks
#4-Security guard
#5-All of the above!
#6-DJ
#7-Ate the same thing 2x
#8-0%
#9-hm.. Buffy?
#10-Went for a run, but imagining #4 made me laugh.. especially if it was in the middle of the airport, and Aaron’s volume level was the same as in the dept. Haha
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
Our fiscal year ends September 30th. I’ve been watching the budget closely and been waiting to see if we have money to get some items that we can use now and store to help out with next year’s budget. So, yesterday I went to Costco and filled up my truck:
I had a cart full of stuff too, but this is the nuts and dried fruit.
Sarah walked into the kitchen after we unloaded, took a look, and turned around and left! (180 pounds of peanuts (36 bags); 180 pounds of raisins (40 boxes); and then only about 12 bags of mangoes, Craisins, apricots, and blueberries.
Here’s a Quiz for those who’d like to try. Take a look at the photo below of my truck loaded and tell me:
#1: What items on my truck are not in the photo above
#2: Which of these other items (I think there are five items on my truck that were not on my cart) are used for the animal department.
My truck is overflowing with stuff!
I think this is the most filled my truck has been with food (even the watermelon didn’t take up this much space). We’ll also use the raisin boxes for enrichment!
#1 Water, gloves, some sort of pastry, cookies?, Farmland stuff.
#2 Water…
Don’t know about the contest, but you need a bigger truck Sherry…!
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
Katy was training the bears last week and got them all to their station. YAY KATY for having your camera to document the feat. Each bear has a specific station (stump) that they are supposed to go to. Katy’s been working hard to get the bears to their specific station, and to have all four bears at their specific station at the same time is awesome!
all four bears at their station at the same time!
Can you name the bears, from left to right? (Sorry Katy, you know the answers so let others chime in first).
That’s a hard one. You’re asking us to ID them by their rumps. I’m going to say Mimi, Virginia, Gus and Yona.
Well done Katy!
Great Job Katy!! Awesome picture as well. I know Virginia’s stump so I won’t guess yet.
I think I’m going with Ginny, Mimi, Gus, and Yona.
Virginia, Mimi, Gus and Yona?
And that really is awesome, Katy! Its great that you managed to get the picture, but its also funny how it really is either a butt or side shot for everyone.
Nicely done, Katy!
Thank you everyone. I’m so proud of the bears! Especially Gus!!! This behavior has been confusing for him.
This is a great picture!! Wonderfully took!! I like it!
Wow good job!
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
At the end of the day on Thursday I was discussing a leaking pipe with some keepers and drawing on the board to try to get a visual. Let’s just say my drawing skills are poor-at-best. One of the keepers then says to me can you draw us walking out the door and going home.
Below is my drawing of the three keepers heading home. Do you want to guess which three they are (in order, left to right?) (this drawing is not edited nor touched up, as tempting as it was to re-draw or make changes, no such actions occurred).
I’m guessing Kent, Kimberly and Aaron but I didn’t think they all lived together and I’m pretty sure none of them live in a cardboard box.
I’m going with Kent, Kimberly, and Marilyn.
I’m guessing Kent (hat), Kimberly (shortest of the three, with long flowing hair), and Marilyn (tall with a little bit of hair). Not sure if those circles around the eyes are glasses, but that qualifies them too, if those circles are indeed glasses.
I agree with Sarah and Ranger Greg
Well I know it’s not me or Jill, since we were closing that day and got to see the picture when we came back in from Explore the Wild!
Why do they live in cardboard? I thought they all lived in houses!!:)
If you have an account on any of the Museum's blogs, you can sign in with the same login to contribute to the discussion.
If you don't have an account, signing up is free and easy.
Frisbee football?
I think our intern Jamie’s response was my favorite: “Why is my name circled? Are you guys going to put me in a cage!?!”
Intern Jessica assumed she wasn’t inlcuded…
It’s hard to tell from the drawing, but this is the wolf yard (Jamie is on top of the dens, Katy and Aaron are high on the cliff).
If we think we are going into the wolf yard to catch wolves up I draw on the board people’s positions and which way they might move.
Jessica was going to work the drop gate.