At the sanctuary, a way to know spring has officially ended and summer has kicked off is the Greenhouse panels coming down. The Greenhouse panels keep the Greenhouse secure in the winter months from snow and rain. It also maintains temperature quite a bit, which while helpful in the fall/winter, it would be quite brutal if we did not remove them in the summer. Once Washington gets warm enough, which is usually late May or early June, the Greenhouse panels come down and the chimps get to take in the fresh air and breezes, apart from being in their outdoor habitats and chute space. The Greenhouses are a popular hangout spot year-round, but the chimps definitely get excited for the panels coming off. Specifically this year with the panels coming off of Greenhouse 1, there was much excitement because it allowed Jamie’s group to watch Cy’s group more closely on The Bray and in their chute.
One of my personal favorite things about my job is the greeting committee every morning. Is it considered a committee if it is just one person? Either way, one of my most favorite things is driving up the driveway on my way into work and seeing Cy waiting to greet me in the Riverview Greenhouse. Some days, he sits there quietly and stares. Some days, he bipedal swaggers with excitement. I decided to record Cy’s morning greetings randomly so I could make a blog video about it. Apologies in advance for having to listen to my high-pitched, excited voice greeting Cy back!
