Foraging is all about strategy.
You start by evaluating each type of food. Watermelon: sweet, refreshing, can be consumed quickly. Corn: Delicious but time-consuming, gets stuck in your teeth. Primate chow: satisfies those carb cravings but leaves your mouth too dry to eat anything else. Lettuce: great palette-cleanser but not much bang for the buck.
Next you survey the landscape. Walking long distances requires time and energy so you’ve got to do the math. Just spitballing here but I’d say a watermelon at 200 yards is worth two corns within arm’s reach.
And finally, you need to understand the competition. Foxie’s got bad knees, so you can outrun her. But be careful, Missy will fight you for an ear of corn.
Then the moment arrives. The door opens and two acres of 4th of July forage lay before you.
The gang sets off to the far corners of Young’s Hill in a quest to stuff themselves silly.
Wait! Oh, no. As usual, Negra has been distracted by the first piece of lettuce she saw. Keep your eyes on the prize, Negra!
While the others race by her, she bites gingerly from her slice of iceberg, oblivious to all the awaits her.
Meanwhile, Jody and Missy each race to claim a stump covered in watermelon slices.
Jamie swiftly climbs to the top of the cabin for more corn.
Missy reaches the pinnacle of the Escher climbing structure to capture the watermelon atop the tallest post.
Meanwhile, Negra wonders if it can get any better than this. Warm sun, cool breeze, and a quarter head of iceberg lettuce.
Burrito races from structure to structure with his bounty…
…pausing only briefly at a vantage point from which he can survey the area for more treasure.
Missy scampers across the shaky bridge from Carlene’s Tower to Jamie’s Tower…
…and returns with more food than a single chimpanzee should be able to carry.
Jody is up to her ears in watermelon.
Annie’s up to her eyes in ears of corn.
And Burrito is attempting to walk and chew watermelon at the same time.
All the while, Negra happily savors her slice of lettuce. They just don’t grow lettuce like this anymore, do they?
Back in the greenhouse, Jody takes a much needed break from being upright.
And Jamie works to polish off her corn and lettuce. While I personally swear by typewriter style, Jamie eats around the full circumference before working her way down the cob.
Luckily for Negra, Jamie didn’t finish all of her corn. Negra later returned to the Greenhouse, emitting a sound somewhere between a whimper and an alarm call, as if she had seen a snake. As the gang turned to her to see what was wrong, Negra swiped an ear of corn from Jamie’s feet and waltzed into the Playroom. It’s good to be the Queen.
Maureen says
Good for Negra. I feel for her at times, as though the best is passing her by. But good to remember she enjoys what she has and knows how to get more.
Vida Lohnes says
Terrific written (and visual) narrative, JB. I laughed out loud!
CeeCee says
Yay, for Negra, Happy 4th to everyone !
Those are such awesome pictures, Now I want corn and watermelon for dinner 🙂
Margaret says
Parents should show this to any children who won’t eat their fruit and veggies. Oh how the chimps value this wonderful food!
John Joseph O'Brien says
I didn’t know Foxie has bad knees. For how long? How long can a Chimp walk upright?
J.B. says
Yes, actually it’s one of her hips that is most arthritic. All of the chimps are on essential fatty acid supplements to help with this but we all get old. She’s been somewhat arthritic as long as we’ve known her but it has gotten worse over the last few years.
Chimps can walk upright for quite a ways when they need to but they typically only do it up to a dozen paces or so. It really depends on why they are doing it – for example, they will walk bipedally for a while if they are carrying something with both hands. But if they just want to see over the tall grass they will switch back to quadrupedal walking as soon as possible.
Beverly Donovan says
I have bad knees also, so I feel Foxie’s pain….
Sherry P says
Wonderful pictures and narrative, JB! 😀
Hope everyone has enjoyed Independence Day to the max allowed while keeping safe and well!
Jenny Wilson says
I do believe Negra is a Zen master. Be grateful for what is in front of you. Savor it. Look around and enjoy life. You go girl.
Linda Critchley says
I’m in Sydney, Australia and follow your blog daily. It’s always a gorgeous read but JB, you’ve really outdone everyone with today’s effort. So funny ? good old Queen Negra, she’s still got it! Loved it, thank you. And thank you for what you are doing for these guys ??
Julie Medrano says
Awesome writing!! Able to take a forage for food and turn it into a full-blown, amusing essay!!
Kathleen says
This is hysterical. You are like an old-time radio baseball announcer only funny! Negra firmly planted in place with her lettuce and your commentary, too perfect. lol. Can’t believe she feigned a snake alarm so she could nail Jamie’s corn! What did the boss think of that maneuver?
Question, while you are outside hiding the forage goodies all over Young’s Hill, do the chimps spy on you to see where you are placing the food? Sure would give them a leg up if they did, right? : ) I have go read this one more time, it’s just too funny.
Julie Harwell says
Oh, what a wonderful read. I have tears of laughter! And, Negra. She is my spirit animal for sure! Thank you, JB. This was awesome.
Linda C says
I keep telling you guys…Neggie seems like the benign senior citizen, but she spends the least effort, lets everyone else do all of the work, and still gets what she wants. That’s not dumb, in my book. Opportunistic, maybe, but dumb she’s not!
For the life of me, with her appreciation for lettuce, I don’t know how she’s still so round! (Wouldn’t have her any other way!)
Funny they can’t work out a barter system..corn for watermelon, etc
Always glad to see that Farmer Jo is as happy as ever with her prizes.
Sorry to hear about my tiny friend’s knees….tell her to go easy on those backflips!
Julie O says
Perfect end to this wonderful post! Go Neggie!
Elaine Reininger says
This was the funniest blog ever sent. JB, you have outdone yourself and believe me, that’s something. Very clever. And I did not know about Foxy’s arthritic knees, but I know whatever she needs for pain is being done for her. Thanks again, JB for making my day with this post. It’s a WINNER
Lisa Brihagen says
Absolutely enchanting read!!!
Barbara says
J.B. I hope you have plans to write a book. You have such talent. I would certainly buy it.
Thanks to all of you for what you do for these lovely people.
Marya says
I’ve re-read this post about 5 times and each time I find it more delightful! JB, thank you for the time and effort you put into sharing the forage photos and your running commentary with us, and for your obvious writing talent. As well as for your clear love and respect for the gang. Everyone’s posts are different but each writer has your own twist on how you experience the chimps and their antics. Thank you all for your presence and hard work on behalf of these very special beings.
Debi says
.It’s now Sunday evening (almost 10PM,) & I’m still laughing….
Now Miss Neggie has earned a new nickname…She has brilliantly & cunningly morphed into, “That little Royal Sneak…”
I love her sweet story…seriously, I can’t stop cracking up…
JB, thank you for such a fun & ‘feel-good’ post…I just love it…
Manda says
What a sweat distraction this beautiful family of Chimps.
Many thanks to the caregivers and staff for giving this special family a wonderful home filled with love. God Bless you all.
Jordan Bower says
I absolutely love this post. And I love Negra. On some level I can relate to certain aspects of each chimp’s personality. In this post, it is Negra spot on. Grab something I love (although, I would be lying if I said it was lettuce) right off the bat and enjoy it is peace and sunshine.