To the Zoo!

[lydamorehouse]

Mason had yet-anoother-day-off-from-school and since he'd been aggitating to go to the Minnesota Zoo for a while, we decided to go. Yes, it's -5 degrees, but a lot of the stuff at our zoo is actually indoors. We got there by 10 am and went straight to the dolphin show. The zoo just got two new female dolphins from California, and the male, who was supposed to be doing the show solo, kept getting distracted by the presence of the "ladies" in the other room. He'd start doing his thing and then he'd catch sight of one of them and sidle up to the window and stare at them like, "Hey, baby, how YOU doin'?" It was quite amusing.

Mason and I did our usual tour of the other cool things like the tropics trail. We always see something new every time, no matter how often we go. This time we actually saw the clouded leopard and some of the poisonous pitcher frogs. They also have a new anteater type thing in the armadillo cage.

The Minnesota trail is actually outside (although they set up some windbreaks to cut down on the biting cold), and Mason and I retreived our jackets and arctic gear from the lockers and went. I'm glad we did. The lynx kits were really playful. We watched them chase each other. My favorite moment was watching one of them waiting to pounce. She shook her butt just like our kitties at home! We also ran into friends of ours (Andrea and her son Cyrus) on our way out as they were going in, and we looped around to watch the lynxes again.

Probably the very best part, however, was going on the monorail. There weren't many people (the monorail is also unheated for the most part), so the conductor/volunteer (Dave -- Mason read his name badge, the budding secret agent that he is,) let us sit at the front by the driver's seat. Mason actually got a look at all the controls, and, as we were in the "back 40" (actually much larger acrage that is as-yet-undeveloped but owned by the zoo) the driver spotted a barred owl. He stopped the trail so everyone could get a look at it. He actually ran us all a little late because we had such fun looking at everything and hearing all his personal stories. It was cool. No, strike that, SUPER cool.

Speaking of Mason, I must go. He wants to play "Mystery, Inc." and I have to find clues he's hidden around the house that reavel his identity.

Comments

Lynxes and tigers and...

[(Anonymous)]

Cool! I had a similar experience across the river at Como Park Zoo one New Years, only it was Siberian Tiger cubs, five of 'em playing bounce pounce and tussle in the snow. One of them came up the slope and plopped down in front of me, on the other side of the rail, gave me a look (and a lick of the chops) as if to say "Do you taste good?

I smiled back with all my teeth (which I'm told is not friendly in carnivore land) and he ran back to play with his sibs.

Frank

[jiawen]

Wow, that sounds great. I should go out to the Zoo again sometime. It's clearly a lot of fun in the winter.

[lydamorehouse]

More fun in the winter than you'd think, at least. You should come with us sometime! Mason would LOVE to show you around. Do you ever have afternoons free?

[jiawen]

As long as we can schedule far enough ahead, I've got lots of afternoons free. The trick is scheduling. :) Let me know when you're thinking of going next.

[lydamorehouse]

Why don't you email me with some times you could go? If you want to think really far ahead, Mason has the last two weeks in February off and I'll be pretty desperate to talk to any adult during that time. (Uh, not that I only think of you when I'm desperate....) Anyway, seriously, pick a couple of options and we can negotiate. Mason and I are members and might be able to swing a guest admission!