Sometimes your friend just doesn’t want to play with you. So you have to make them.
Archives for October 2018
In memory of Donald and Shirley Freyermuth
Today was sponsored by Brian Freyermuth in memory of his parents, Donald and Shirley, on their anniversary. Brian shared this beautiful message about today:
“I am sponsoring today in honor of the memory of my parents, Donald and Shirley Freyermuth, on what would have been their 62d anniversary and my dad’s 83d birthday. While both have passed in recent years, their impact on my life and my wife’s life has been and continues to be immense. While the values they instilled in me are too numerous to count, the most important one is that opportunity should be available to all no matter the circumstances to which they are born. While we normally think of opportunity in terms of people, I think it also holds true for the other creatures with which we share this planet, especially our closest brethren the chimpanzees. I know that they would have loved CSNW and the opportunity to thrive that it gives (and will give!) its current and future residents. Thanks Mom and Dad!”
Brian, thank you so much for the opportunities you’ve made possible for the chimpanzees (as well as those to come) and the lasting difference you’ve made in their lives. Your parents sound like special people and clearly their legacy is living on through you. All of us at CSNW are wishing you a day filled with joyful and comforting memories.
Jody and her faithful companion, Burrito:
Best of friends, Missy and Annie:
Jody and Missy:
The More the Merrier
Walking through the chimp house this afternoon, I came upon this multi-player, cross-species grooming party.
Intriguing browse
This weekend the chimpanzees tried Lemmon’s Willow browse for the first time and they LOVE it! It has this amazing sticky sweet smell that reminds me vividly of hanging out in the shade along the local Yakima River during those warm summer afternoons.
Apparently, if you ask many of the chimpanzees, the leaves (and even some bark) make pretty great eating and wadging materials. Jamie found a dual purpose for the branches today, as I kept catching her using them as long supple tools. Luckily, she kept her mayhem relatively tame and didn’t try to spear any unsuspecting caregivers.
Here’s Jody working on a branch last night:
Pilo!
Piloerection, noun (pi·lo·erec·tion): “bristling of hairs due to the involuntary contraction of small muscles at the base of hair follicles that occurs as a reflexive response of the sympathetic nervous system especially to cold, shock, or fright”
-Merriam Webster
For humans, we are familiar with piloerection as goosebumps or when the hair on the back of our neck stands up. Since chimpanzees have longer, thicker hair that covers their entire bodies, we can really notice when their arousal levels change.
Here is Jamie working up to a display. In addition to grabbing her barrel so she can bang her fists on it and push it around, her hair starts to stand on end to make herself look bigger (and more intimidating):
Here is a pilo Annie showing the loose neighbor’s cow just how scary she can be:
And an upset Negra getting reassurance from Jamie (who is also pilo):
Here is Foxie looking a little “fluffy”:
And Missy who is clearly a bit chilly:
Burrito spends a great deal of his time with his hair standing up:
This morning Jody rushed up to Missy with extremely pilo hair. This set off an urgent game of chase around Young’s Hill:
It’s October!!
It’s October!! And you know what that means…it’s the countdown to Jamie-ween!!!
For those of you who might be new to the blog/sanctuary, Halloween is probably the biggest party of the year at the sanctuary as we go all out to celebrate boss lady, Jamie, and her honorary birthday on the 31st (she turns 41 this year!). One can never plan too early. And it doesn’t hurt that we humans are all pretty crazy about Halloween. At least this human is…
Jamie had other pressing matters to attend to, but Burrito made a “new friend” during a game of chase in the greenhouse with Kelsi today:
“Can I eat this thing?”
It didn’t take him long to realize his “new friend” was a great back scratcher:
The surrounding mountains, hillsides and sanctuary property are turning all the beautiful shades of autumn:
Every season seems to gift the chimpanzees with so much abundance. They are currently enjoying freshly picked pears, apples, and Italian plums from the property orchard, and a new treat of freshly harvested Lemmon’s willow which seems to be a new favorite.
J.B.’s been working hard getting ready for our new bovine family members to arrive and has been making some adjustments to the fencing around the orchard. Our deer neighbor families are thrilled to finally have temporary access to all the pears they can possibly eat:
All the beautiful wild roses that Jamie, in particular, loves to eat during the summer have now turned to a bounty of rosehips:
Kelsi captured these lovely photos of Jody, who seems to have become the self-appointed sentry and guardian, posting herself at the opening to Young’s Hill where she takes in the early morning view of their outdoor habitat, scanning her family’s home for any signs of trouble or danger and watching over them all:
Look at that gorgeous eye healing up!
It really is such a magical, beautiful time of year. This time of harvest, full of so much abundance. Not just the local bounty of food and beauty available for the chimps to enjoy each day, but you. Every day we look around and see the abundance you make possible.
Phase I of the expansion of the chimp house literally grows by leaps and bounds each day. We’re still reeling from the overwhelming generosity and support you provided during our Summer Biddin’ online auction and the recent Giving Day for Apes event! You set up fundraisers on Facebook for the chimps, participate in your employee giving programs, supply us with all the in-kind gifts we could need to care for and provide entertainment and comfort for the chimps through our Amazon Wish List, you share your love for the chimps with others, and you show up, here, in this online space, every day to see what the chimps got up to, learn about them, and honor each of them for the amazing individuals they are.
In so many ways, you stand together with us not only in providing Jamie, Burrito, Jody, Foxie, Annie, Missy and Negra with the abundance of hope, love, and home, but also as we prepare to grow this special family in welcoming others in need of sanctuary. From our hearts, thank you for making the chimps’ lives rich beyond belief. And the lives of so many humans as well.
In memory of John Frazee
Today was sponsored by Sandy Frazee and she shared this message about her touching gift:
“The chimps were very special to him and I would like to sponsor this day in memory of my late husband John Frazee.”
Sandy, we so appreciate that you would think of the chimps as you honor John today. We are so sorry for your loss and are wishing you comfort and peace. Thank you for your and John’s compassion and generosity and for making a difference in the chimps’ lives.
John carved these special gifts for the sanctuary and we are so touched to have them. What an amazing amount of work and care he put into them. We will be thinking of him today.
Jody:
Negra:
Jamie:
Jamie, Foxie, Missy, Annie and Burrito: