The chimps were going after a garter snake today. I think that Missy brought it in from outside and then lost her grip on it. The chimps chased it until it crawled into a small space in the caging. I laughed when I saw Jamie with the spaghetti spoon, but it was actually a pretty good choice of tools because she was trying to flush it out from its hiding spot.
The chimps never did get the snake, and Jamie seemed dissatisfied. She spent a good part of the afternoon walking around Young’s Hill, probably looking for more snakes.
Smart smart smart! The ongoing adventures of the CE7!
What a difference from the video a couple of years ago of their encounter with a garter snake in the chimp house and all the alarm calls that ensued (one of my favorite videos)!! It makes my heart sing to see how comfortable they’ve become in claiming their home turf…..such brave chimpanzees. And clever Jamie…..maybe that little snake reminded her of a spaghetti noodle. 😉 (Hope the poor guy safely makes his escape). :/
Do you have to be concerned about rattlers? I know they are fairly common on your side of the mountains. I’ve run into a couple in my lifetime.
Yes, we do. Last year, we put up a rattlesnake fence that surrounds the entire facility, including the 2-acre outdoor enclosure. The rattlesnake fence is made of 3′ tall hardware cloth, buried 6″ into the ground. It is not 100% effective, but should deter most rattlers. Other snakes, like garters, are better climbers and won’t be kept out by the fence.
The chimps have a very healthy respect for rattlers, and I don’t think they would ever go after one like they do with the garters. But we are trying our best to make sure that they never accidentally step or sit on one.
Go Jamie! Her leadership and smarts are always impressive. I agree that it is so wonderful to see them all come along – especially Negra who seems to be beginning to feel safe and to enjoy her life.
I wonder if this is what set off the alarm bells the other day; maybe this is what intimidated Negra? I’m sure with spring there will be many little critters getting into the enclosure, looking to set up nesting places. I’m sure they’ll learn quickly that this particular patch of ground belongs to some intimidating bi-peds!