It was weird to join the CSNW staff in the middle of summer.
Although many features of the sanctuary felt familiar, there was one aspect of the return that felt foreign: warm, sunny weather. Strangely, I had never actually spent time at the sanctuary during the summer. I began to intern here in the fall of 2015, was away for the entire summer of 2016, and only volunteered during the following fall and winter before accepting an employment offer from another sanctuary in early 2017. Because of this patchwork timeline, my earlier experiences here were largely characterized by damp weather and cold temperatures. Until this year, I had never experienced the wonders of summer in the Pacific Northwest and witnessed the amazing opportunities that the season provides for the chimpanzees.
Those golden summer days are long gone, and they won’t be back for a long while. Winter is here. Without the ex machina heroism of Arya Stark, we have no reason to believe that it will end early.
Last night, the skies began their annual efforts to cover this half of the state in a blanket of snow and ice. As I trudged up the sanctuary driveway this morning, I saw that Young’s Hill, the chimpanzees’ outdoor enclosure, was covered in a film of white powder that gradually thickened over the course of the day. Within a few weeks, the structures and grass will be hidden under perhaps several feet of snow that won’t fully melt until the spring. Given that chimpanzees have evolved to live in tropical forests, one would think that this climate would be detrimental to their well-being. Indeed, it creates many challenges for us caregivers, such as keeping the building warm at night and finding other ways to occupy the chimps besides repeated walks around the Hill. Despite its hassles, however, winter also allows the chimpanzees to have novel and exciting experiences, adding to the overall quality of their sanctuary life. Just as the human residents of the Pacific Northwest make the most of each season, so do the chimps.
On one January morning a few years ago, the other interns and I were helping J.B. to move thick, wet snow in order to make paths for the chimps. J.B. was using the tractor to bulldoze through the snow around the perimeter of the Hill, thereby creating a route for Jamie to patrol. The rest of us had shovels and were tasked with creating trails up to the nearest structures and bamboo forest. Nobody had seen the chimpanzees out on Young’s Hill since the last snowfall, so our goal was to give them a way to access their favorite spots without wading through the deeper drifts. I was halfway up the Hill, slinging the snow aside, when I noticed an odd pattern cutting through the smooth white surface off to my right. There, winding their way up the slope, were a set of chimpanzee tracks. They were unmistakably chimpy; each foot-print featured a conspicuously large thumb and each hand-print was really just a set of four knuckle-prints. I was in complete awe that one of the chimpanzees had, without any coaxing, ventured out alone into the icy landscape in search of some bamboo shoots. I placed my fist in the snow next to one print, snapped a photo with my phone, and returned to my labor.
Although chimps are often afraid of new or unpleasant sensations, sometimes they can surprise us by being brave and adventurous. In this way, even the most experienced caregivers can occasionally underestimate their adaptability, audacity, and determination.
With winter now upon us, I am looking forward to spending more time observing the sanctuary’s residents making the most of it. The cattle seem to be frustrated that the green grasses of early summer have desiccated until next year, but they seem to enjoy the extra hay and alfalfa that we provision. They’ve certainly changed quite a bit since their arrival here last winter, and it seems like they have grown more adaptable and independent. They’re also looking fuzzy and warm in their dense winter coats, so perhaps they won’t mind hanging out in their lower pasture until spring comes. Perhaps they can even dream of grazing in bright green fields as they lay in their barn this winter.
I am also eager to see how Willy B, Honey B, and Mave adjust to the seasons. They just had their first CSNW Thanksgiving with us a few days ago, and they may be given buckets of snow to eat and play with before the end of the week. Although they’re not regularly getting access to Young’s Hill after their first attempts to venture outside weren’t very successful, they will have plenty of opportunities to experience the winter season from the security of the outdoor chute. We’re not sure if the “Californian” chimps have ever seen snow before, but I’m confident that, like the seven chimps before them, they will embrace the new experiences with gusto.
P.S. Burrito had another good day today. He’s definitely itchy and possibly a bit bored, but he’s healing nicely. Bubba spent the day eating normal foods, picking at his scabs, and playing with vigor. We’ll hopefully have more updates soon.
Judy says
Anthony… it is always a pleasure to read the CSNW posts.. each “author” has their own style. I love them all… I thoroughly enjoy your posts and your descriptive way of giving us a window into what it is like from your perspective. As I said.. I really enjoy everyone’s posts.. I just wanted to say thank you for this lovely, thorough and “picture painting” collection of words… since I hang on every word it is great to see lots of them! That is not to say that I would expect longer posts from everyone… you are all very very busy and I appreciate all that it takes to give the extraordinary care that the CSNW staff provide for Mr. B and the other 9.
Francoise says
Lovely post, Anthony. CSNW has a full stable of excellent writers.
Does Burrito partake in books and magazines?
Jackie says
Great post!!
Kathleen says
This was a wonderful bedtime story for me. Thank you Anthony. Here on the east coast we are getting our first winter snow fall with some freezing rain mixing in (think heavy and hard to shovel). Yes, “Winter is coming”! As someone who lived in sunny CA for two decades, I am very curious to see how Mave, Honey B, and Willy B take to the cold and snow. Personally I am not a big fan and I am already dreaming of spring. : )
Diane DePoe says
Thank you for the wonderful post – it made my day!
Arlene and Michael says
What a beautiful post Anthony. We look forward to following along each day to see how all of the chimps spend their winter days and nights. Thank you so much for the update on Burrito, it’s such great news!
Marcie Milam says
I agree, great post! Yes winter is definitely here as the Starks warned us for 6 seasons. Thanks for the update on our beautiful soul, Burrito. Thanks to you and all the generous staff at the sanctuary for all your hard work.
Jean Martin Zbinden says
Every night I look forward to a new CSNW post, and they never disappoint. My son and daughter-in-law live in Leavenworth, WA, and when my husband and I lived in Florida, we were active volunteers at Save The Chimps. So for several reasons I love reading these blogs. We now live in New Hampshire, far away, but the chimps are always in our hearts. Always. ??