Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Chad de Bree

The Penny Arcade

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It was a nice enough day that the chimpanzees were able to enjoy a lunch forage on Young’s Hill. It wasn’t too hot, too cold, and there was a bit of an overcast.

On today’s menu was avocados, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and tomatoes. As we were watching them foraging on the hill and taking photos for the blog, I had one instant the reminded me of a mutoscopes of the late 1890s/early 1900s (the only reason I know what they are is because a local theme park where I grew up had a penny arcade that still had them). A mutoscope was a machine that housed a reel of cards and was operated by a hand crank that flipped the photos to create a moving picture. Sort of like a machine operated flip book.

While the chimpanzees were on Young’s Hill, I saw Missy on the top of Negra’s Cabin with a stash of tomatoes.

As she finished the last slice she had, she made her way to the firehose that leads to another platform on the hill. This is usually one of the most common places where she tightropes across. I prepared myself to get some photos, and away she went.

Here are some other photos from today:

Burrito during the forage.

Negra heading back inside after scoring a couple of avocado pieces.

Honey B and Mave grooming on the top platform of the tree in one of the new playrooms.

As staff are working very hard in preparing for the Lucky Six‘s arrival, we are very excited to see the possibilities they take when they are provided new opportunities here. You can help their arrival by sponsoring their journey to Washington during the Queen’s Brunch auction! Be sure to check out the different tiers of sponsorship that are available.

Last minute bonus photo of Jody eating her potatoes at dinner:

Sights, Sounds, and Sensation of Summer

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As Katelyn mentioned yesterday, Summer is making a quick visit the next couple of days. With 90ºF temperatures today, the chimpanzees have remained relatively low key. Each in a spot in the indoor enclosures in the shadiest of spots, or in front of the fans to escape the heat. We did offer them some icy treats throughout the day since it seemed like today called for it. Some of these spots are very tricky to get photos of, and the only photo I was able to get of any of them was of Negra climbing down from the platform in the Greenhouse to head indoors.

The cattle have been spending most of their day lounging around in the shade at the top of the pasture, just like the chimpanzees. However, it’s far easier to take photos of them on days like today. They did spend an hour or two grazing in the mid-day sun.

Can you spot all four in this photo!?

And taking turns licking the mineral block.

And don’t worry, Meredith was there, just waaaay in the back.

With summer creeping up on us, the sights, sounds, and smells of summer are starting to come in. Here are some of those things found around the sanctuary.

The strawberry plants are starting to fruit.

The grape vines are starting to bunch.

Squirrel moms are calling for their kits.

Racer snakes are seeking shelter in the raspberry bushes.

Barn swallows are beginning to nest.

And white-crowned sparrows are collecting food for their babies.

Though the temperatures are foretasted to go down by the end of the week, these sensations of summer (minus the heat) are sure to stay until it’s official arrival.

The Search for a Phantom

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As I opened up the door that leads to Young’s Hill this morning, Burrito bolted out and we went for our morning jog.

As we were headed toward the final stretch around the hill, he turned back around and began running up the other way for Lap 2.

As we were heading back up the hill, we heard Annie screaming. My initial thought was she saw a snake. As any nearby chimpanzee converged on Annie’s location, my heart raced. We have begun trying to recall the chimpanzees off the hill after a snake sighting to ensure a venomous snake didn’t somehow make it’s way through the fence. As Missy, Jamie, Foxie, and Burrito met with Annie, her screaming and calls stopped and she began foraging for some of the prickly lettuce. What did she see? I still don’t have a clue, and none of the others seemed to know why she was creating a fuss either as they shot her looks of confusion as well.

Nonetheless, that didn’t stop the others in searching for a phantom menace.

Foxie and Jamie check on Annie to see if she is okay.
Burrito arrives.
Jamie meets with Burrito on his arrival.
Jamie leaves no stone, or log, unturned while Annie looks on.

Foxie watches with a somewhat confused look on her face as Annie forages for prickly lettuce.
Burrito also began foraging for prickly lettuce.
While everyone else began to forage, Jamie stood watch.

Soon after, they heard the food grunts of staff to let them know breakfast was ready and about to be served.

While the chimpanzees and cattle call this plot of land their home, so do a great deal of other amazing creatures. So let’s meet some of them! (Note: I use a couple of apps on my phone to help identify them, they aren’t 100% accurate, but usually lead me to the right direction. So If I misidentify someone here, please let me know!)

White-tail Deer

Deer can be found grazing most of the year right outside our gate. Every year, its always the sight to see when there is a mom and her fawns.

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Marmots are found mostly during the spring, summer and fall, and retreat to their dens for the duration of winter. This particular individual caught me laying on the ground, catching my breath last summer after going around Young’s Hill with Burrito three times in a row.

***Warning: The next set includes insects, amphibians, and reptiles. If you don’t like those these types of creatures, you can probably skip the rest***

Virginian Tiger Moth

I found this moth right outside the Greenhouse one day after cleaning. It was very beautiful and I could not resist taking a photo of it. Before the chimpanzees regained access to the Greenhouse, I relocated them to someplace a little safer.

Sphinx Moth

I had trouble confirming the species of this sphinx moth. It does seem that it is leaning toward a Wild Cherry Sphinx Moth. It was huge and very beautiful! I found it right outside the construction area (you can spot Honey B in the back watching me take photos of them). Though sphinx moths are extremely beautiful when their wings are open, this one was resting and I didn’t want to bother it. Still beautiful though, if you ask me!

Praying Mantis

I’ve never really come across a praying mantis that was willing to pose as long as this one. This one was found right outside the door one day.

Dragonfly

I couldn’t find the identification for this one, though it may be a lance-tipped darner… maybe? I was cleaning the Seven’s Playroom one day and this fella took me by surprise as I walked passed a window and it flew out. I was able to catch it (with the aid of a few pieces of paper) and released it outside.

Long-toed Salamander

Long-toed salamanders are one of the most common creatures we find in the Chimp House, particularly the drains. This guy was found in such place and was released near one of the ponds on the property.

Northern Pacific Tree Frog

This is THE most common creature found in the Chimp House in the spring and summer if you ask me. And they are found…

every….

where!

One thing that always fascinates my the range of color they come in. From a dull brown to a vibrant green, they are pretty regardless. And their evening songs sooth the soul. When we catch them, they are usually released near one of the ponds.

Garter Snake

This is one of the most featured snakes in videos of past, like here, here, here, or here (and please keep in mind these videos have been taken over the course of several years). They are usually found near the grape vines. The are non-venomous and pretty docile. They try to hide from anything they see as a threat (human or chimpanzee), and will generally hide from it. Though they are great hiders, Annie is a great seeker and usually spots them even if they are on the other side of the fence.

Northern Rubber Boa

The northern rubber boa is a constrictor that is the most northern of all constrictors. I didn’t realize it at the time how they can be somewhat elusive and hard to find. This guy came to us in the Chimp House one day, and I didn’t realize how lucky I was one bestowed us with its presence. And don’t worry, they are non-venomous, rather small, and extremely docile! I have never seen a snake this docile!

Western Racer Snake

This snake is also a non-venomous snake that is seen a good chuck of times on the sanctuary’s grounds. They are very quick and adults are usually a grey color with a tint of green. The baby racers are slightly different.

Their pattern resembles that of another, more dangerous, snake. This is an adaptation feature they gained to try to ward off any potential predators. This little guy found it’s way along the fence trying to get to the other side, so I happily obliged him. Happy for him, and happy for the chimpanzees. It was a win-win situation.

Pacific Gopher Snake

Gopher snakes have been seen on the property, though they don’t really come near the Chimp House like the others. As you can see, they have very distinctive markings again, similar to another, more dangerous snake. However, gopher snakes take is a step further. If they feel threatened, they will coil up, flatten their head, and if near dead leaves or dry brush, will shake their tail. These guys go through great lengths to be left alone from would be predators. I found this guy on the driveway near the street as I was leaving work one day. I was scared I almost hit him. But he was okay and made myself seem as nonthreatening as I could. He later uncoiled and slithered his way in to some brush in the adjacent property.

You may be wondering, if both racers and gopher snakes adapted these traits to look so much like their more dangerous cousin, how to we know how to tell them apart? We as staff have been trying to hone in on our identification skills to be able to identify a snake as quickly as we possibly can. One way to tell is the tail. We have trying to pay close attention to spot that (along with other key traits). For instance, in the case of this gopher snake, through his clever disguise, I saw right through his bluff. My key was his tail.

They are long, slender, and to a point. Their cousin’s tails have a rattle on them, which make noise, and never come to a point like this. Even as a juvenile or when shedding, their tails are bulbous.

There more amazing creatures who live around the sanctuary property that I either didn’t have a good photo of, or have been featured in other blogs, such as bobcats, coyotes, elk during their migration, and hundreds of birds! Though we care for ten chimpanzees (soon 16!) and four bovine, we like to think this piece of property in central Washington is a sanctuary for these creatures from being harassed or killed for living their life as well. We have a catch and release protocol for any that find their way onto the wrong side of the fence. Though we keep them out of the chimpanzee side of the fence, most of the rest of the property is theirs to explore. And for those not new to the blog who may be wondering, we have been hard at work fortifying our fences and security measures so events such as last year are mitigated more so, though that was a first in the (going on) 13 years.

Have a great day, everybody!

Spring’s Bounty

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These past couple of days have been a whirlwind of seasons. On Sunday, the weather hit nearly 85º. Then yesterday the temperatures dropped into the 60s and we had a brief stint of rain. Today, the weather is in the low 50s with strong winds. By the end of the week it’s supposed to climb back into the 80s. As I watched the Group of Seven explore Young’s Hill this morning, it finally hit me. With these sporadic days of high temperatures, could this be Summer trying break through Spring’s hold? There is only a month left of Spring before Summer begins. Then I found some supporting evidence that Spring is in it’s final month.

As I was cleaning the Greenhouse, there was a grave yard of goat’s beard dandelions. As some of you know, goat’s beard dandelions are one of Missy’s favorite Spring time treats. Goat’s beard bloom from May to June, so the window to forage for them is relatively small. Though I did see Missy go out on Young’s Hill several times today, I hadn’t put two and two together yet. It wasn’t until I saw Jody race around the Hill grabbing whatever dandelion and prickly lettuce was within arms reach, that I realized we are in peak Spring. Neither wind nor rain nor heat will seem to stop them from enjoying the plentiful Spring bounty Young’s Hill is currently offering.

Here are some photos of Jody gathering some dandelions and prickly lettuce on Young’s Hill then enjoying them in the Greenhouse:

Bonus Photos:

Missy eating her sweet potato during lunch.
Burrito with Dora the Explorer.
Mave watching and waiting for breakfast to come out.

The Zen of Mave

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You may have noticed some of the most recent posts have been very lilac-y. That’s because lilacs are in bloom and before we know it, they will be gone. So we have been trying to take advantage of the season. Last week, I was able to capture these images.

To give a little background, Honey B, Willy B, and Mave tend to be a little suspicious of new foods or items. Last year it took them a while to even nibble at the lilacs. Same as last year, at first they seemed to be completely insulted we even offered it to them last week. Mave, however, ultimately collected all of them and was found munching on them throughout the afternoon. Last Thursday, when we received another collection of lilacs for the chimpanzees, we offered some to the Three. Honey B did end up with one, which she ended up passing to J.B. and he passed back to her. She began munching on hers shortly after.

Willy B was genuinely disinterested in them and walked right passed them.

But MAVE on the other hand had other plans. She collected as much as she could. But instead of immediately beginning to munch on them, she just casually carried them around with her for a while.

As she carried around her bouquet, she would take time just to sniff them.

As she sat in the Chute with her lilacs, sniffing them periodically, she gave off this aura of pure relaxation and content.

I tried the get the perfect photo of her in this state, however we try not to stay for too long when taking photos. It’s a “in and out” type of operation as to not stress them out. I though I had the perfect shot, but after I made my way back inside, I realized she had blinked during my opportunity. However, I will always admit she is blinking in this photo if anybody asked, but it almost added to the vibe of the situation and photo. You will have to imagine this photo but her eyes open for of a more realistic idea, but everyone who has seen it so far said, “She looks so zen in this photo!” which makes this imperfect photo the perfect photo of Mave. (Though Mave is always perfect!)

It’s almost impossible to know exactly what is happening in their minds, but we can always just imagine.

Here are some bonus photos from today:

Burrito

Burrito with a Dora the Explorer doll.
Burrito doing Burrito things.
Burrito walking through the long grass.

Negra

Negra enjoying an orange during a forage on Young’s Hill.

Annie

Annie eating chow biscuits during the forage.

Foxie

Foxie going back to get Dora the Explorer who fell off her back.

Jamie

Jamie teaching Sofìa and Sam about her rules about going around Young’s Hill with the Gator. Kelsi was there to also help them get used to Jamie’s rules.

It’s the Great Tomato Hunt, Missy!

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To watch Missy during a forage with tomatoes involved is like watching a pinball in a pinball machine. At first it seems like random zooming all over the place. But after a while, you realize that it’s all controlled and Missy indeed has a plan. The best way to describe it is “organized chaos.”

Last August, caregiver Anthony was able to perfectly describe Missy’s tomato obsession.

As soon as she spies us take those waxy red orbs out of the refrigerator, Missy turns into a ravenous lunatic whose sole objective is to ingest as many tomatoes as quickly as possible.”

When Missy first makes her way outside, first thing is to grab whatever tomato that is immediate vicinity.

Once all those are gone, it’s time to make her way to the structures. This serves as two benefits:

1) There are usually some hidden at the base of the structure.

2) Structures also provide a good vantage point to spot more tomatoes.

(Plus there may be a hidden one on the top of the structure.)

At times, when she is at a high view point, it almost seems that she plans out her route to capitalize on her movements.

While during the initial start of the forage, Missy eats as she goes. When she passes this stage, she begins collecting her prized foods. This is where her planning from the top comes in. Racing from one spot to the next, grabbing all that she can hold onto with her hands, feet, and mouth.

Once she cannot carry anymore, she anchors in a spot and enjoys the bounty of her tomato hunt.

It’s days like today, watching Missy zoom from place to place in the hunt for tomatoes, we feel very fortunate to be able to provide things they love. You can help us by donating to this year’s Give Big Washington campaign, which ends tomorrow. Anything helps us reach our goal and it directly helps them. So please consider donating if you can.

Bonus photos of Burrito and Jody grooming:

Negra and The Uninvited Lunch Guest

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Today, staff put out a lunch forage of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, and lettuce for the Seven on Young’s Hill. After staff vacated the hill and security checks were performed, the hill was ready for the Seven. As the door opened and the chimpanzees began to scatter every which way, there was an alarm.

Negra had spotted something. As she began to alarm call and asking for reassurance from anybody close enough, the others were set to find the source of her alarm: a coyote on the other side of the fence in the adjacent pasture.

Jody kept Negra company as they watched the coyote scamper away into the tree line after realizing she/he was spotted.

Once the uninvited guest was gone, lunch could continue.

Though Negra took it upon herself to be on the lookout for the coyote or any other uninvited lunch guests.

While Negra kept the lookout, the others foraged as usual.

Jamie:

Foxie:

Missy:

Jody:

Annie:

Burrito:

As they returned to the Greenhouse with their hauls, they all ate their lunch in the most relaxing positions.

Burrito
Foxie
Annie
Jody

And if you are able to, please help support us in this year’s Give Big Washington campaign. The Give Big campaign ends May 5th. We do have a pretty ambitious goal this year, but it’s because we have a lot of ambition and enthusiasm to continue to provide care for our 14 current residents, as well as welcome 6 more home later this year. All of your support, whether through donations, campaigns, fundraisers, the Chimpanzee Pal and Bovine Buddy programs, Sponsor-A-Day program, being a Produce Patron, or becoming a part of the sanctuary with a Personalized Stone, helps us to ensure days like today can continue to happen, as well as help us prepare for the Lucky Six when they arrive. Any thing helps! Truly, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!