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critter SPRING 2017

Zoo Calendar 50 Years and Counting! by Ken Frye, Director Spring Hours If you remember visiting Scovill Zoo during Mike facilitated many important changes 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Weekdays its first season, I’m going to guess you are over over his 30-year tenure, including the 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Weekends 50 years of age. Scovill Zoo marks its own 50th Z.O. & O. Express, Endangered Species in 2017! Established as Scovill Farm in 1967, Carousel, AZA accreditation, and exhib- Summer Hours the facility has evolved greatly over the years. its like the flamingos, wallabies, primates, May 27 - August 13 The ground on which the zoo and the Chil- , eagles, zebra, camels and many 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Daily dren’s Museum of sit was donated to more. Dave Webster became the third di- the Decatur Park District in 1948 by Rose and rector in 2008, followed by Ken Frye in Last admission 1 hour before closing Guy Scovill. They had sheep grazing in this 2015. During these years, a new conces- area, and their summer home was the “Scovill sion building, restrooms, and entrance Zoo Admission House” that sits behind the Oriental Garden archway were completed. The penguin Children (under 2) - FREE just north of the zoo. In the mid-sixties, the exhibit was added in 2014. The zoo’s Children (2-12) - $4.00 Park Board decided that that a 5 - 6 acre chil- 50th season will include several special Adults - $6.50 dren’s zoo should be built. The total celebrations, including the Golden Egg Seniors (65+) - $5.50 cost was $56,000, and the Kiwanis Hunt on April 15 and Chamber After Club generously donated $14,000 to Hours on May 10. Free memberships will Free admission days are the effort. Ray Sigley served as the be given to lucky guests when Thursdays beginning June 1 first zoo director. In 1974, the zoo attendance reaches 5,000 changed its policy to avoid exotic and 50,000. Over the past and carnivores, and two 5 decades, 3.5 million in- Special Events Malayan sun bears became part dividuals have visited Sco- of the collection. Mike Borders be- vill Zoo, and we’re looking 50th Anniversary Golden Egg came director in 1975, and the name of the forward to welcoming you Celebration in partnership zoo changed to Scovill Farm Zoo, then Sco- and your family during our with Neuhoff Media, Team vill Children’s Zoo, and finally Scovill Zoo. anniversary season. Soy and Children’s Museum April 15, 1:30 p.m. New Family ZooMu Pass World Penguin Day & Earth Where can you find wild animals, interactive exhibits, education, Day presented by Advanced and fun in the same place? In Scovill Park! Purchase a Family Disposal ~ April 22 ZooMu Pass for $155 and receive great benefits at the zoo and Children’s Museum of Illinois. Purchase your pass by July 1 and Zippy Zoo Day with Mom get 4 limited edition ZooMu stadium cups. Benefits include May 13 admission to the zoo and museum every day of the regular season; discounts on parties, camps, classes, train rides and carousel tickets; Dads’ Day Dollar Deals discounts at Giggles at the Museum and Scovill Zootique Gift June 18 Shop; subscription to zoo and museum newsletters; 4 Museum “Make Space” coupons; 4 Z.O. & O. Express Train tickets, and 4 Ice Cream Safari presented by sno-cones at the zoo. Call 421-7435 or 423-5437 for details or to Prairie Farms Dairy ~ July 16 purchase your pass today!

Complete 2017 Zoo Calendar 71 S. Country Club Rd. • Decatur, IL 62521 • 217/421-7435 Scovillzoo.com Email: [email protected] • www.scovillzoo.com 2 SCOVILL ZOO critter chatter • SPRING 2017

Zoo Leaders What’s New at the Zoo? by Ken Frye “What’s new at the zoo?” is the most monkeys, made possible by a grant from Decatur Park Board frequently asked question by nearly ev- the TS & Juanita Ballance Foundation. Bob Brilley II, President eryone I meet. Why? It rhymes, is fun to We have removed the dated toucan ex- Chris Harrison, Vice-President say, and people really are curious to learn hibit and moved the birds to the aviary Chris Riley about new animals and displays coming on the south side of the spider monkeys. Stacey Young Jack Kenny in 2017. Since the completion of Boo at The hawk and vulture will have a new ex- the Zoo, we have been working behind hibit next to the zebra deck. New fencing Decatur Parks Foundation the scenes to build and upgrade has been added to the camel exhibit and Jim Schwarz, President housing. Ring necked doves and the petting zoo. Our camels, Mona-Sasha Dr. Bill Van Alstine, Vice President now have outdoor lodging. Barn owls and Jack, are big animals with big, de- Mindy Chadwick, Secretary and screech owls now have larger enclo- structive personalities. They love to bite Rod Schanefelt, Treasurer sures. New mesh has been erected be- and test just about anything they can get Chris Riley, Park Board Liaison hind the eagle exhibit. The shelter their mouths around. Their new fence Stacey Young, Park Board Liaison has been renovated with a new floor and replaces the chewed, kicked, and abused Erv Arends interior siding. Soon, we will enhance boards the camels have “loved” over the Natalie Beck Brandy Brown the holding areas for the red pandas and years. So, what’s new at the zoo? Oh so Brian Byers crowned crane. Construction has begun much, but make sure you check out the Cindy Deadrick-Wolfer on a new winter holding building for the baby . They are adorable. Kara Demirjian-Huss Tom Hostetler Dr. Stephen Huss by Ryan Kirkland Kara Johnston Tentacled Snakes! Chuck Kuhle This season, we’ll welcome six tentacled device. Their diet is made up completely Judy Locke snakes from Dickerson Park Zoo (Spring- of fish, which they kill with mild venom Kitty McCarthy field, MO). These strange creatures na- that is only effective on fish (harmless to James Neff tive to southeast Asia are completely humans). An abnormally long prehensile Bruce Nims aquatic and only surface to breathe. They tail allows them to anchor themselves to Michelle Reynolds get their name from the two projections tree roots and spring to life once food coming from their nose that look like ventures too close. Be sure to visit these Executive Director tentacles and are used as a sort of sensory Decatur Park District unique, fascinating new creatures. Bill Clevenger

Director of Recreation & Facilities Simply Enriching by Kelly Lawrence Jamie Gower In the wild, animals must forage and hunt stumps, shade areas, boxes, and mirrors. Zoo Staff for food, build homes, defend territories, Enrichment helps satisfy the physical and Ken Frye, Director and escape predators. In a zoo, the ma- psychological needs of the animals, keep- David Webster, Assistant Director jority of the animals’ needs are provided ing them healthy and happy. Grace Erker, Ryan Kirkland, by zoo keepers. Physical stimu- Heather Purdeu, Kevin Rairdin, lation is needed to mimic the Ben Rapson, Mindy Weaver, animals’ natural environment Kent Winchester, Kathy Winter, and encourage natural behav- Brad Yetter and Nicole Zinn iors. We use different forms of enrichment such as physical environment, food, social, au- For the best discounts and ditory, olfactory (smell), tactile, benefits, become a and manipulation to keep ani- mals mentally stimulated. Take Friend of the Zoo! a closer look at each zoo exhib- it, noticing rocks, ropes, tree critter chatter • SPRING 2017 SCOVILL ZOO 3 Be a Friend of the Zoo! by Ken Frye Saving the by Ken Frye Friend of the Zoo memberships are the Try this: hop in your car, buckle up, and received two more cheetah males, Segosi best deal around! Members receive free drive to the local interstate. As you ac- and Kapenda, from the Smithsonian admission to Scovill Zoo; discounts on celerate to the speed limit of 70 miles Institution Conservation and Research gift shop merchandise, education classes, per hour, count how long it takes. Once Center. The brothers and Jafari were and birthday parties; an invitation to our you hit the speed limit, roll your window not particularly fond of each other in Members Only Picnic; discounted rates down and stick your hand out. Feel the beginning, but over time, they have for the train and carousel; and free or the wind rushing over your hand and stopped slapping at each other through discounted admission to more than 150 through your fingers. Glance to the left the fence. Scovill Zoo supports the Con- and aquariums nationwide! At only and see how quickly the grass and trees servation Center of Species Survival $40 for an individual or grandparent and are whipping by. You are now feeling and cheetah program in North America, as $80 for a family, the membership pays seeing the speed of a cheetah. Cheetahs well as the Cheetah Conservation Fund for itself within a few visits. can hit 65 - 70 miles in Namibia, Africa. an hour when chasing Zoo keepers have Members Ride Pass! their prey, and they also sponsored Do you love to ride the train and carou- can reach that speed in Anatolian guard sel? Now you can increase the fun (and three seconds. They are dogs, which help your savings) with the Members Ride built for speed, with rel- keep cheetahs, li- Pass! Purchase a zoo membership and atively small heads, long ons, hyenas, and add the pass for an extra $100. All you lean bodies, and a long leopards away from have to do is show your membership tail that functions like livestock. The AZA card, then ride the train and carousel as a rudder when turning has designated the much as you want! Perfect for families corners. Unlike a house cat or lion, their cheetah one of its 10 signature SAFE spe- that visit the zoo ten or more times each claws are not retractable; it’s like they are cies. SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinc- season. wearing a pair of track shoes all the time, tion) is collaborating with leading experts ready to race at a moment’s notice. Chee- in zoos, including holding facilities like $21 Zoo Fun Pack tahs are endangered, and only 10,000 Scovill Zoo, to save the cheetah. A por- If you visit the zoo regularly, consider a remain on earth. Scovill Zoo has been tion of your admission fee helps support Zoo Fun Pack that offers the following supporting cheetah conservation since cheetah conservation, so by visiting the benefits at a $10 savings! the arrival of Jafari and Runako in 2003. zoo this summer, you are also helping • 2 admission tickets Jafari turned 15 at the end of March, but save cheetahs around the world. May we • 2 Endangered Species Carousel tickets in the wild, cheetahs generally reach just always see spots in front of our eyes, even • 2 snow cone tickets 6 - 8 years of age. Last April, Scovill Zoo at 70 mph. • 4 Z.O. & O. Express Train tickets Call 421-7435 or visit the Gift Shop to purchase your Fun Pack today! Poop: Love it or Hate it by Kelly Lawrence What do I like best about my job as a zoo an animal. Differences from the norm Animal Adoptions keeper? The daily contact with awesome can be a sign of diet deficiency or disease. Do you have a favorite animal at Scovill animals, caring for them, interacting When toucans relieve themselves, for ex- Zoo? Adopt it! Donation amounts range with them, and learning as much as I can ample, they usually have a more liquid- from $15 for leopard geckos and glass about them. What is the worst part about like output. A few years ago, our toucan lizards to $75 for penguins and . my job? Well to be honest, it’s the poop. keeper noticed the output was more solid Benefits include a personal- Tons to be exact. Zoo keepers always dis- for our red-billed toucan, Curly. After ized adoption certificate, cuss which poop is hardest to clean up, discussing the change of consistency with subscription to the hardest to find, and smelliest. Jokes aside, the vet, it was decided that he needed Critter Chatter news- feces and urine teach us a lot about ani- more fruit in his diet. Fruit was added, letter, and invitation mal health. Our veterinarians can test fe- and the droppings became more liquid- to the annual Zoo Par- ces for intestinal parasites and hormone like and normal. Perceptive “poo keep- ents picnic. Call the zoo to levels. This can be a very useful tool in ing” paid off with a healthier bird. learn more! determining the health and well-being of PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DECATUR, IL PERMIT NO. 330 71 S. Country Club Road Decatur, IL 62521

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SPRING 17 2017 Foundation Events

Scovill Zoo Open Golf Outing Date: Friday, May 19 Time: 11:30 a.m. Lunch 12:15 p.m. Shotgun Start 5 p.m. Reception & Awards Place: Hickory Point Golf Course Save the date for the Scovill Zoo Open, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Scovill Zoo! You’ll enjoy a great day of golf, buffet lunch, prizes, music, and afternoon wrap-up party. Fee is just $600/team of four. For details, call Scovill Zoo offers a Kurt Rogers at 422-2211. All proceeds benefit Scovill Zoo and junior golf variety of camps for programming. youth aged 5 - 17! Zoo-rific Evening in Las Vegas For details, visit August 26, 2017 w 5 p.m. w $75/person scovillzoo.com or call Don’t miss the 2017 Zoo-rific Evening in Las 421-7435. Vegas, featuring a grand buffett, casino games, animal interactions, Elvis (yes, Elvis!), and a fabulous auction in “The Lounge” at the end of the evening. All proceeds benefit renovations at Scovill Zoo. For tickets facebook.com/scovillzoo and sponsorship information, call Jill Applebee at 422-5911.