Animal Information North America

Animal Information North America Table of Contents Golden Eagle……………………………………………………………………………………………2 North American River Otter…………………………………………………………………….4 Canada Lynx…………………………………………………………………………….……………..6 Brown Bear………………………………………………………………………….………………….8 Mountain Lion……………………………………………………………………………………….10 Snow Leopard………………………………………………………………..……………………..12

Updated January 2019 Golden Eagle 2 Aquila chrysaetos John Ball Zoo Habitat – Golden Eagles Aviary opened in 1988. Originally housed Bald Eagles. Individual Animals: 2  Male – Frank/Francis o Wild Born Est. 1987 o Arrived on March 20th 2007 . Cheyenne Mtn Zoological Park (Colorado)  Male – No Name (Ernest) o Wild Born – Unknown age o Arrived on June 30th 2007 . United States Fish and Wildlife Services o Detached Retina (cloudy left eye) Life Expectancy  Average Life Span: 28 years  The oldest known golden eagle lived to 46 years under managed care Statistics – North America's largest predatory bird.  Weight – Females: 8.6-13.5 pounds; males 6.6-9.8 pounds  Length: 2.3-2.8 feet; wingspan: 6-7.2 feet Diet  Wild – primarily small mammals such as rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and marmots. They also eat birds, reptiles and fish in smaller numbers. o Golden eagles occasionally capture large prey, including seals, ungulates, coyotes and badgers. A pair of eagles will often hunt together; one chases the prey to exhaustion, and the other swoops down for the kill. Predators – Golden eagles have few predators.  Wolverines and grizzly bears are the only recorded predators of golden eagle nestlings. Habitat  Tundra, shrublands, grasslands, woodland-brushlands, and coniferous forests. Most golden eagles are found in mountainous areas, but they also nest in wetland, riparian and estuarine habitats. Region – They occur throughout Eurasia, in northern Africa, and in North America. In North America, golden eagles are found in the western half of the continent, from Alaska to central Mexico, with small numbers in eastern Canada and scattered pairs in the eastern United States.

Golden Eagle 3 Aquila chrysaetos Reproduction – Monogamous: may maintain pair bonds for several years.  For migratory golden eagles, pair formation and courtship begin when the eagles return to the breeding grounds, between February and mid-April.  Courtship activities in this species include undulating flight by one or both members of the pair, chases, dives, mock attacks, presenting talons, soaring together and circling.  Golden eagles breed from March through August, depending on their geographic location.  The female lays 1 to 4 (usually 2) eggs, with 3 to 4 day intervals between each egg. The female begins incubating after the first egg is laid, and is responsible for most of the incubation, though the male often takes part. Incubation lasts for 35 to 45 days.  The chicks are brooded by the female with decreasing frequency for the first 45 days.  Both parents bring food to the nestlings. The nestlings begin to leave the nest between 45 and 81 days of age by walking, hopping or falling out of the nest.  They begin to fly around 10 weeks of age, and become independent from the parents 32 to 80 days after fledging.  Juveniles do not breed until age 4 to 7 years, after attaining adult plumage. Adaptations – Powerful feet and massive, sharp talons to snatch up a variety of prey. Behavior – Solitary or in pairs  They can fly up to 80 mph, though the average speed is 28-32 mph, and may reach speeds up to 200 mph in a dive. Conservation Concerns  The golden eagle is federally protected under the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1962.  Many golden eagles have been electrocuted in power lines, caught in steel traps set for coyotes and other animals, and poisoned by ranchers.  Recreational activities may also disturb breeding, migration and wintering activities. Golden eagles are likely to abandon nests during incubation if they are disturbed. Conservation Ask  Be thoughtful when engaging and connecting with nature  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Donate time/money to the zoo . Become a member, return visit, make purchase North American River Otter 4 Lontra canadensis John Ball Zoo Habitat – Otter Habitat, located in North America  Otters joined the John Ball Zoo collection in 1973. They have been in their current habitat since 1982 when they replaced Sea Lions. Individual Animals – 1 Male, 1 Female  Female – Chumani (Black patch of fur under nose) o Born March 02, 2007 . At Connecticut’s Beardley Zoo o Arrived March 12, 2008 . From Connecticut’s Beardley Zoo  Male – Slyde o Born March 20, 2012 . At Detroit Zoological Society o Arrived November 20, 2012 . From Detroit Zoological Society Life Expectancy  Average at AZA institutions: 12.1 years  Oldest recorded at AZA institutions: 27 years  Wild: 8-9 years Statistics ● Body Length – 3-4 feet ● Tail Length – 0.9-1.6 feet ● Weight – 10-30 pounds Diet – Primarily Carnivorous ● Wild – Fish, turtles, crayfish, crabs, birds, eggs, small land mammals, and aquatic plants.  Zoo – Feline diet twice a day. 300 grams of fish which varies between smelt, trout, capelin, and herring. Sweet potatoes, and carrots in the morning. Clams for enrichment. Knuckle bone once a week. Predators  Alligators, bobcats, birds of prey, wolves, coyotes, cougars and other large predators. Habitat  Freshwater and marine habitats such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and estuaries. Anywhere with a permanent supply of food and water source Region  Canada through the United States except for Mohave Desert of Nevada and Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Southern California. Reproduction – Polygynous: having more than one female mate at one time.  Breeding takes place in late winter or early spring.  Gestation lasts 60-63 days, but the female may delay implantation up to 8 months. North American River Otter 5 Lontra canadensis

 Females give birth to 1 to 6 young per litter, with an average of 2 to 3, in a den near the water.  Pups are cared for solely by the mother until weaned around 3-4 months.  At 6 months the pups head off on their own. Adaptations  Physical shape made for quick swimming. Long slender bodies, small ears, nostrils that can close underwater, webbed feet and nictitating membranes (clear eyelids for underwater hunting and navigation). ● Sensitive whiskers help detect fish and other prey.  The North American River Otter has 2 layers of fur; the first is a thick, dense under layer and a longer over layer of guard hairs that trap air bubbles for insulating while swimming.  Their ‘playful’ behavior often serve a larger purpose such as strengthening bonds, improving hunting, or scent marking. Behavior – Territorial  They are known as playful animals, exhibiting behaviors such as mud/snow sliding, burrowing through the snow, and water play.  Very high metabolism  Can stay underwater for up to 8 minutes  They normally hunt at night, but can be seen at all times of day. Conservation Concerns  Sensitive to pollution so will leave areas with water pollution.  They were once extirpated in many areas of their region due to unregulated trapping, habitat destruction, and pollution specifically related to coal, gas, timber and tanning industries. Reintroductions and habitat restoration efforts have been deemed successful increasing the population. Conservation Ask  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Action – Participate in local conservation and citizen science efforts . Example: Local River and beach cleanups  Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions. o Action – Refuse single-use plastic

Canada Lynx 6 Lynx canadensis John Ball Zoo Habitat – North America – Canada Lynx Habitat  Originally constructed in 1964 to house elephants. Renovated in 1982 to house Prairie Dogs and Coyotes, previously housed Bobcats. Individual Animals – 1 Male, 1 Female  Male – Thor (Larger of the 2) o Born 03, 2013 . At New York State Zoo at Thompson Park o Arrived March 15, 2018 . Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo  Female – Norrie (Smaller of the 2) o Born May 06, 2017 . At Cheyenne Mtn Zoological Park o Arrived February 28, 2018 . From Cheyenne Mtn Zoological Park Life Expectancy  Wild: On average 15 years  Under managed care lifespans of 26 years have been recorded. Statistics  Weight – 10-38 pounds (Males tend to be larger than females.)  Length – Head-Body: 2-3.5 feet; Tail: 2-5 inches Diet – Carnivore  Wild – Snowshoe hares, also rodents, birds, and fish. Predators  Young kittens are vulnerable to other large carnivores, such as wolves and bears.  Hunting by humans is managed through regulated seasons. Habitat  Usually mature forests with dense undergrowth, but also rocky areas, or tundra Region  Throughout Canada, in western Montana, and in nearby parts of Idaho and Washington. There are small populations in New England, Utah and possibly in Oregon, Wyoming and Colorado.

Canada Lynx 7 Lynx canadensis Reproduction – Polygynous: having two or more mates, either simultaneously or successively.  The mating system of these animals is not well reported.  Females reach sexual maturity at 21 months and males at 33 months.  Females enter estrus only once per year, and lasts 1 to 2 days.  Mating in February and March.  Gestation lasts 8 to 10 weeks.  Females give birth to one litter a year, usually in fallen logs, stumps, clumps of timber, or similar tangles of roots and branches. Litters typically have 2 or 3 kittens, though the number may range from 1 to 5.  Lynxes weigh less than half a pound at birth.  Lactation lasts for 5 months, although kittens eat some meat as early as 1 month of age.  Young remain with the mother until the following winter's mating season, and siblings may remain together for a while after separation from the mother. Mothers may help to educate their young in hunting techniques, and cooperative hunting has been observed.  Males do not participate in parental care. Adaptations – The paws are quite large and furry, helping to distribute the weight of the animal when moving on snow. Behavior – Nocturnal and solitary  Territorial – female home ranges are usually encompassed by the home range of a male, and the home ranges of multiple females may overlap.  They hunt mainly at night. Prey are normally stalked to within a few short bounds and then pounced upon, although some lynx will wait in ambush for hours. Conservation Concerns  Habitat loss, fragmentation, and trapping can reduce lynx populations.  Interspecific competition from the eastern coyote, which expanded its range into eastern North America in the last few decades. Conservation Ask  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Donate time/money to the zoo . Volunteer . Become a member return visit, make purchase . John Ball Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan for Canada Lynx Brown Bear 8 Ursus arctos John Ball Zoo Habitat – Built 1958, remodeled 2012/2013. The back wall was removed. The remodel added a waterfall, a pool, a kids cave, natural substrate and a training wall. Individual Animals – 1 Male, 1 Female  Male – Yogi (Smaller, darker color) o Sub-Species: Ursus arctos horribilis . Grizzly Bear o Born February 1992 (Estimate) . Wild Born (Montana) o Arrived August 04, 1994 . From US Fish and Wildlife Service  Female – Boo Boo (Larger, lighter color) o Sub-Species: Ursus arctos gyas . Peninsula Brown Bear o Born February 1994 (Estimate) . Wild Born (Alaska) o Arrived July 09, 1994 . From Alaska Dept. Fish & Game Life Expectancy  Under managed care, up to 50 years of age; average is 35 years.  Most Brown Bears die in their first few years of life in the wild, but they can reach 20-30 years old. Statistics  Weight – 200-1300 pounds  Length – 3-9.5 feet from head to base of tail Diet – Omnivore  Wild – grass, roots, moss, bulbs, fruits, nuts, fungus, berries, tubers, insects, carrion, and fish. They are known to hunt moose, elk, mountain sheep, and mountain goats  Zoo – Bear maintenance biscuits, apples, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Predators – Humans. Cubs can be attacked by other Brown Bears, Mountain Lions, and Wolves. Habitat – Desert edges, high mountain forests, ice fields, tundra, alpine meadows, and coastlines. Region – Western Europe and Palestine to eastern Siberia and the Himalayan region. Stable populations are found in Northern North America and small populations in parts of Western United States. Brown Bear 9 Ursus arctos Reproduction – Polygynandrous: Females mate with multiple males, and males mate with multiple females.  Sexually mature around 4-6 years.  Estrous last 10-30 days.  Mating takes place from May-July  Males may guard the females for 1-3 weeks.  Implantation in the uterus is delayed for 5 months.  Gestation period of 180-266 days.  2-3 offspring are born blind, naked, and helpless (usually from January-March).  Cubs stay with mother until they are 3 or 4 years old.  Females do not ovulate for 2-4 years after giving birth. Adaptations  Exhibit a period of deep sleep (October to December) in which they allow their body temperature to drop by a few degrees. It is not true hibernation, it is called Torpor, and bears can generally be aroused readily from their winter sleep. o Store up to 400lbs of fat during the summer for use during this time.  Brown bears have an excellent sense of smell (able to follow the scent of a rotting carcass for more than two miles), human-level hearing, but relatively poor eyesight.  Large muscle used for digging create hump above shoulders  Claws on front feet are curved and reach 4 inches in length which helps them in digging compared to Black Bear with shorter (1.5 inches) and used for climbing.  Can run at speeds up to 40 mph Behavior – Solitary, Diurnal  Brown bears communicate primarily through smells and sounds.  Brown bears may excavate shallow depressions in which to lie. Conservation Concerns  Persecution, habitat destruction and fragmentation threaten them throughout their range. Both bears here at John Ball Zoo were brought here due to repeated human area conflict and would have been euthanized if no suitable placement was found. Conservation Ask  Be thoughtful while engaging and connecting with Nature. o Actions – Participate in nature friendly behavior . Only feed animals the appropriate diet in appropriate locations. Mountain Lion 10 Puma concolor John Ball Zoo Habitat – Constructed in 1982  Located in between the Bear and Snow Leopard Habitats in the North America section of the zoo. Individual Animals – 1 Male, 1 Female  Female – Elsa (Smaller, lighter color) o Born May 28, 2011 . At Alameda Park Zoo o Arrived October 20, 2011 . From Alameda Park Zoo  Male – Eli (Larger, darker color) o Born Summer 2011 (Estimate) . Wild (Oregon) o Arrived February 08, 2012 . From Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Species – Puma concolor  Common names: Mountain Lion, Cougar, Puma, Panther, and Catamount Life Expectancy  Average at AZA institutions: o Male: 13.6 years; Female: 16 years  Oldest recorded at AZA institutions: o Male: 20.1 years; Female: 21.5 years  Average life span in Wild: 8-13 years Statistics  Weight – 64-264 pounds (males tend to be larger)  Length – 3.5-5 feet Diet – Carnivore  Wild – Moose, elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, caribou, squirrels, muskrat, porcupine, beaver, raccoon, striped skunk, coyote, bobcats, other mountain lions, rabbits, opossums, birds, and even snails and fish.  Zoo – Feline diet 6 times per week and a knuckle bone on the 7th. Predators – They may be preyed on by other mountain lions, wolves, or bears when they are young or ill.

Mountain Lion Puma concolor 11

Habitat – Coniferous forests, lowland tropical forests, lowland tropical forests, grasslands, dry bush lands. Dense vegetation, caves and rocky crevices provide shelter. Region – Ranging from areas in Canada, down through the United States, south to Central and South America.  Historically, mountain lions had the most extensive distribution of all American terrestrial mammals. They ranged from coast to coast in North America, and from southern Argentina and Chile to southeastern Alaska. Reproduction – Polygynous: having more than one female mate at a time.  Sexually mature at 2.5-3 years  Mating occurs year-round and estrous can occur any time of year.  One to six cubs are born to a litter (average of 3-4) after 82-96 days of gestation.  The cubs are weaned at 40 days of age and remain with mother as long as 26 months. Adaptations  Retractable claws  Mountain lions have one additional smaller premolar on each side of the upper jaw than do bobcats and lynx. Behavior – Nocturnal, Solitary  Mountain lions mark their territories by depositing urine or fecal materials by trees.  The Mountain lion quietly stalks prey animals, then leaps at close range onto their back and breaks the animal's neck with a powerful bite below the base of the skull. Conservation Concerns  Mountain Lions are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and poaching of their wild prey base.  They are persecuted across their range by retaliatory hunting due to livestock depredation, and due to fear that they pose a threat to human life. Conservation Ask  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Donate time/money to the Zoo . By supporting JBZ guests are helping to care for animals injured in the wild or displaced by human expansion. Snow Leopard Panthera uncia 12

John Ball Zoo Habitat – Constructed in 1982  Located next to the Mountain Lion habitat in the North America area of the zoo. Individual Animal – 1 Female  Female – Elsie o Born June 25, 2003 . At the Mill Mountain Zoo o Arrived November 04, 2017 . From Blank Park Zoo of Des Moines Life Expectancy  Oldest recorded at AZA institutions: 22 years  Wild: Unknown due to the reclusive nature of this species. Statistics  Weight – 77-100 pounds  Length – Body: 3.2-4.2 feet; Tail: 2.6-3.2 feet Diet – Carnivore  Wild – Birds and mammals. Primarily Blue Sheep, but also Ibex, Markhors, and Wild Boar

 Zoo – 32oz of meat (feline diet) 6 days a week. 8oz in the morning and 24oz in the evening. On the 7th day (typically Saturday) she receives a knuckle bone. o Enrichment/training: chicken, blood, milk, Hard-boiled eggs. Predators  Humans and some predations with other snow leopards when resources are less plentiful. Habitat  Steep, rocky and broken terrain is preferred. Mountains, savanna, or grassland. Region  Central Asia. This includes the entire Himalayan mountain system and extends to southern and western Mongolia and South Russia.

Snow Leopard 13 Panthera uncia Reproduction – Polygynous: having more than one female as a mate.  Females are sexually mature at 2-3, while males may take up to 4 years.  Breeding season takes place in late winter from January to March.  Gestation period of about 90-100 days.  Average litter size of 2-3 cubs. Their eyes do not open until about 1 week of age.  The cubs are weaned at 5 months.  The mother is solely responsible for supplying the cubs with food, protection, resources, and learning for the first year of their life. Adaptations  Large paws, compared to other felids aids in walking on snow.  Relatively long hind legs helps with agility and jumping ability in their rugged habitat.  Small rounded ears minimizes heat loss.  Extremely long tail, equaling 75% to 90% of total body length, is used for balance, but also to cover up their extremities during harsh winter weather. Behavior – Solitary  Crepuscular, meaning that they are most active during dawn and dusk. Conservation Concerns  Competition with livestock, Habitat loss, declines in prey, climate change, and illegal trade in furs, bones and other body parts.  There is a lack of awareness across the globe on the importance of this species to its ecosystem. Conservation Ask  Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Action – Join and support conservation organizations . Snow Leopard Trust o Action – Donate time/money to the Zoo . John Ball Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan for Snow Leopards