Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Love for Foxie

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Today we wrap up our “Love for…” series with the one and only Foxie!

Foxie was born on August 8, 1976 at the Southwest Foundation for Scientific Research in San Antonio, Texas. Her records indicate her mother was Winny and her father was Brian. Foxie is one of 11 babies Winny gave birth to before passing away at Alamogordo Primate Facility in New Mexico.

During her time in the research lab, Foxie was used in hepatitis vaccine research and as a breeder. Foxie gave birth to four kids during her time as a breeder. She had a set of twin boys, David and Steve; records indicate David died at Alamogordo Primate Facility due to unknown causes and no date given. Steve passed away in 2015 at Alamogordo as well. Foxie also gave birth to two daughters: Angie (the 1st) and Kelsey. Angie currently lives at Save the Chimps in Florida and Kelsey made her way to sanctuary at Chimp Haven in Louisiana but unfortunately passed away a couple of years ago.

Foxie, and the rest of the Cle Elum Seven, were rescued from a windowless basement at the Buckshire Corporation in Pennsylvania in 2008.

Foxie on the day of her arrival to CSNW.

When Foxie first arrived, she didn’t want to interact with any of the enrichment items including blankets, pushing them all aside. Then one day, a bright pink-haired Troll caught her eye.

Since then, Foxie is almost never seen without one of her precious dolls, which now include Strawberry Shortcake, Dora the Explorer, and a variety of Disney princess dolls. Foxie loves her dolls as if they were her children, though she seems aware they are not actual living things. It’s not uncommon to find her carrying a doll (or two) in her mouth during a patrol around Young’s Hill…

carrying a doll on her back like a mother chimp would with their young…

taking naps or just relaxing with her dolls…

and playing with her dolls!

One of Foxie’s favorite games to play with her dolls is “Rescue.” She’ll put her dolls in “precarious” locations to “save” them.

Though it may seem endearing to most watching Foxie interact with her dolls as children, it’s also a brutal reminder of her past as a test subject. Would she have raised her actual kids (David, Steve, Angie, and Kelsey) the same way she does with her dolls? We will never know that answer because she was denied the chance to raise her own children. I would wildly guess though that she would have treated them the same and be a fun mother to them.

Foxie is affectionately called “Tiny” by her caregivers. She is the smallest one in her group, but don’t let her size fool you. Foxie embodies the adage “tiny but mighty.” Her tiny stature shouldn’t be taken as weakness and she’ll show you how serious she can be. Here is a series of her double kicking the door separating Foxie and her group and Willy B and his group.

Foxie can be suspicious of new caregivers. She seems to know the concept of which human can do what. She has been known to “tattle” on new caregivers who are training. Before I was hired, I was a volunteer and decided train to be a Level III volunteer caregiver. As I brought breakfast out for the first time to the Greenhouse, the chimps lined up waiting for their food service to begin. As I began giving smoothies out, Foxie ran inside the building screaming. “Weird,” I thought. Then a few minutes later, Foxie came back out to the Greenhouse, with Katelyn in tow! I figured Foxie had ran inside to tattle on me because I was serving them food for the first time. Up until then she had only seen me in the context of cleaning enclosures. This had happened a few times when caregivers are training to serve meals since. Foxie will go to the food service, and if it’s someone who hasn’t served before, she will go find Katelyn to let her know there is a “stranger danger” situation happening! Since then though, Foxie has accepted me and even allows me to babysit her dolls from time to time.

Foxie hanging upside down in the front rooms, laughing as she and I were playing.

Foxie is a good friend to everyone in her group, though that is not reciprocated all the time. More so, Foxie had a special relationship with Jody.

Jody was, from some caregivers’ point of view, Foxie’s protector. Though it has been a rough period adjusting to the loss of Jody, Foxie still has a good friendship with Burrito and Negra.

Foxie deserves all the friends in the world! Whether is be chimpanzee, human, or inanimate object! Thankfully, Foxie has 20 humans who call her friend through the Chimpanzee Pal program. If you wish to be someone who can symbolically call Foxie a pal, be sure to sign up to be her Chimpanzee Pal!

A Special Gift for Jamie: Blundstone Boots

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This is definitely the way to Jamie’s heart.

When I reached out to Blundstone, I wasn’t really expecting a response. They must receive quite a bit of email, after all, but Anna McDonald responded almost immediately and very enthusiastically. She was so excited to learn that Jamie liked Blundstones (or, for those in the know, Blunnies).

I can attest to the quality of their footwear. I have never had a better pair of vegan boots.

Thank you, Blundstone!

P.S. Don’t you think J.B. should be a shoe model?

 

Freezing Rain and Flamingos

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Let’s start with freezing rain.  Because we did, in fact, start the day with freezing rain.  I’m not a fan.  It coats everything, and makes me fall down.  If it’s 27 degrees, and there is precipitation, it should snow (in my opinion).  Right?  If there are any meteorologists out there who want to explain it to me, that would be great.

Enough about freezing rain.

Today, I got to try on one of the items donated through our Comfort & Joy auction, and model it for the chimps.  Sherry R was the generous donor that won the Flamingo Hooded Blanket for the chimps!  It is SERIOUSLY COZY!  Sherry, it’s so cozy, I may pick one up for myself!

Thank you, Sherry R, for giving the chimpanzees a little more Comfort and a lot more Joy with your generous gift!  I’ll bet Burrito curled up in it after making me run around the hill today.  In the freezing rain.

 

On the Eighth Day of Christmas…

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On the eighth day of Christmas, the chimps received cozy blankets. I think you all can guess who put these blankets to good use!

Special thank you to:

CeeCee M. for bidding on cozy fleece blankets for the chimps!

And thank you to everyone who has donated blankets to us over the holiday!

It’s Negra, of course:

Negra in her morning nest. She greeted me and then went back to sleep :).

Will You (Honey) B My Valentine?

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The chimps had an absolute banger of Valentine’s Day party.

There’s a lot to be said about this strange holiday that I won’t say here (although I encourage you to read about the event’s namesake). To us caregivers, however, Valentine’s Day is yet another great excuse to give special treats to the chimpanzees.

My morning began with a safety patrol around Young’s Hill, the chimps’ outdoor enclosure, although the fresh snow made the short walk into an adventure. The valley was veiled in gray clouds that quelled any hope of a visible sunrise. It was surreal to see the climbing structures buried in snowdrifts. Far below, I could see J.B. plowing the sanctuary’s driveway yet again.

 

Back in the Chimp House, everyone else got right to work. While Katelyn shoveled off the sidewalks and stairs around the building, Chad got right to work in the kitchen. As the Enrichment Coordinator, Chad’s the de facto Party Planner, and he had a big spread in mind for Valentine’s Day brunch. The meal consisted of red-colored foods (diluted Gatorade, sliced blood oranges, whole strawberries) and some special heart-shaped banana pancakes made by Patti, one of our amazing volunteers.

When the chimps saw these platters from their vantage in the Playroom, they lost their minds in an excited frenzy. They were all overwhelmed (in a good way). Foxie was the craziest, stomping around and grimacing, until Jody reassured her by gently touching her backside.

Jody
Missy in the loft of the Playroom
Foxie stomping around
Foxie and Jody

 

As we prepared the Greenhouse for the celebration, the chimpanzees milled around the Playroom, peeking through the windows as they passed by each like some sort of primate carousel.

Negra
Missy and Annie
Jamie
Jamie
Burrito

Once we humans were safely out of the Greenhouse, I opened up the doors so the chimps could feast. They immediately diffused around the enclosure, floor to ceiling and wall to wall, foraging for all their favorite bits of the brunch platters. It was difficult for Chad and I to take photos because they were so busy (and the layer of snow on top of the Greenhouse prevented sunlight from getting in).

Negra
Negra
Negra
Missy
Annie
Burrito

On the other side of the building, the chimpanzees weren’t as excited about brunch (which is surprising because they’re Millennials). Honey B and Mave were actually content to stay downstairs all day, so that’s where we ended up serving their meals. They seemed to be feeling well, but the chimps always have a choice to stay where they are (thus declining our generous offer to clean their enclosures). Eventually, they all got to try Patti’s banana pancakes (which the loved) and then settled down for some grooming, napping, and play with caregivers.

Mave relaxed and groomed her friends while Willy B watched Shrek (three times in a row) and frequently checked in on the neighbors. Honey B spent most of the time following caregivers around, playing chase and grooming snow off their boots through the caging. She was always at the window or caging whenever I walked by, so we continued the tradition of playing tag between the windows of the new Playrooms. If paying attention is the only requirement for someone to be called a “Valentine,” then I think Honey B has earned that right today.

Honey B
Honey B
Honey B

Honey B
Honey B

Of course, while Honey B may be my “Valentine” today, our supporters made it clear that all the chimps are loved. Diana shared a video yesterday to celebrate this special occasion with the sanctuary’s family, We even had TWO sponsors for this day of sanctuary, the second of whom is particular enamored with this handsome gentleman.

Burrito

Thanks Jim and Brian

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Jim Spencer and Brian Osborne have spent the last couple Saturdays putting the finishing touches on our new shed. The money for the materials was raised at the last Out of the Box auction and the labor was generously donated by Jim, Brian, and Doug Bucklin.

The shed will house all of our equipment and supplies for events like the auction, the Sippin’ for the Seven wine tasting, and the Race for the Apes 5K. Diana has already moved in, but many of our supplies are now packed up for tomorrow’s Rosyln Olympics. Hope to see you there!