Red Meat for Red Wolves

Finding enough food to feed six hungry wolves can be rather difficult. That's why we are so thankful to local deer processors for letting us rummage through their leftovers. 

It's also a nice change of pace from a normal day; just another reason I love what I do! 

Opossum success!

Treats found and opossum happily munching. 

It's a good day. 

Opossum enrichment cont.

See our opossum explore an old Christmas Tree riddled with treats!

Animal Enrichment is healthy and fun!

One of the most fun things about my job is something called, "animal enrichment."
 

Animal enrichment is where we come up with different games and activities for the animals to enjoy, which are designed help them use their natural gifts and abilities. This practice allows them to utilize those skills they would need if they were truly one of their counterparts living in the wild. 

Here, we have one of our Virginia Opossums playing in a leftover Christmas tree. There are a variety of treats hidden in it for her to find.

A new tail to tell

As a Wildlife Biologist you never know what the day will bring. Playing with opossums, hanging out with birds--who knows, you may spend the day catching feeder rats for the different animals in my care.

Coffee Thoughts

With winter here, the landscape and scenery have changed so much, but it is no less beautiful and serves an important role in nature. 

Our lives are much the same: things change and we go through stages and phases--each one, though different, is no less important than the other. 

Just as the changing of the seasons helps to shape nature, so too the changing of our lives helps to shape us.

Coffee thought of the week

It is such an amazing thing to be able to work here at the Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center at Reflection Riding.

The beauty here makes it easy to unwind from a busy week. Nature has an amazing capacity for calming the soul. No matter where you work, be sure to set aside some time to get out and enjoy nature and use that as a tool to find your center and de-stress. 

Come out this weekend! 

I'll be hosting two animal presentations!
Free for members and free with admission for nonmembers. 

December 14:11 a.m. Skullduggery: Find a skull, but don’t know what animal it’s from? Learn how to tell the difference during our basic Skull I.D. class!
2:30 p.m. Red Wolf Program: Learn about the Red Wolf Recovery Program and see and perhaps help feed the wolves!

For more information visit www.chattanoogaanc.org