Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
I was cleaning in the Mezzanine recently when I glanced at the window that looks into the Marmot Mountain Playroom. To my surprise, all I saw was a pair of dangling legs and white-ish sheet hanging from the ceiling. Though October, the traditional Spooky Season, has come and gone, this individual was not accepting of that fact. This individual clearly thinks Spooky Season is a year round celebration, like her mother.
Can you guess who the ghost of Marmot Mountain is?
There are times I wish I was able to peek into the chimpanzees’ thoughts to see what they actually are thinking. For instance, I really wish I could peek into Honey B’s mind to see what that brain conjures up imaginatively.
For the six years I have known her, watching her has always been intriguing. If you were able to watch her almost every day, you too would understand that mind is running on all cylinders at all times. From the luring in of unsuspecting caregivers to spit in their face, to the placement of toys in places to mess with daily shifting, to her strategic placement of items when she is building her nests, and yes, to some how figuring out how to steal a hose while the caregivers were away.
I was spending time with her in the afternoon while she was in the mezzanine. She was specifically in the area commonly know as “the cubby.” If there is an spot in her areas that she without a shadow of a doubt love, it’s that little spot. She was in such a playful mood (with me at least), spinning around on her back, making her little grunts of happiness that serenades my ears. She reached outside her area, grabbed a purple blanket and drug it in. Draping it over her head, she grabbed two corners and held them up into the cage mesh.
It looked like a little tent or fort. Honey B then invited me to come closer. It was like we were both playing a little game of “fort,” which she seemed to think was fun.
It was really reminiscent of being a child again, playing fort and telling secrets. And as it happens somewhat frequently, I missed a grand opportunity. I was telling my friend about it, to which they asked if I had a blanket on hand to complete Fort B. Unfortunately, I did not since I had not anticipated this fun little game. Next time though! (Hopefully there is a next time.)
Side note: here is Honey B’s mother, Missy, utilizing a fort during “Blanket Fort Day.” Missy was enjoying her food puzzle and watching that young whippersnapper, George, as he was on the Bray earlier.
*Bonus Photos*
It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are coming up and Jamieween is just around the corner!
This year, we’re trying to be more proactive about getting everything we need for the upcoming celebrations: Jamieween, Chimpmas, birthdays, and all the fun enrichment and day-to-day supplies the chimpanzees love and rely on. So please keep your eyes peeled—starting this week, I’ll be adding holiday items to our Amazon Wish List!
While Amazon is a big part of our wish list planning, we also want to highlight Jerrol’s, our amazing local store here in Ellensburg. Jerrol’s has been incredibly supportive and helpful, supplying us with almost all of our cleaning products. However, they also have arts and crafts materials, books, and more! If they don’t have a product we’re looking for, they go out of their way to find it for us. They’ve been such a reliable partner, especially as we continue to have issues with Amazon not shipping certain items to our address. You can support us through our Jerrol’s Wish List, or donate to our bill, which allows us to get exactly what the chimps and the staff need.
As some of you may have noticed, Amazon has been a little difficult lately. If you try to purchase something from our Amazon Wish list and get a message such as:
“This item can’t be shipped to the selected address”
Don’t worry! Here are a couple of options:
OR purchase an Amazon gift card instead and send it to us at [email protected] and we can buy items off the list
I want to express how grateful we are for all of you and say thank you so much for being part of our community. Your support, whether it’s buying something off our list, sending a gift card, or just cheering us on, it helps make every day, and every holiday, special for the chimpanzees! Thank you!
Here are a few teasers of items to look out for on our Wish Lists!
More keys!
Fluffy, soft socks:
Sweatbands and more bouncy balls:
Wooden spoons:
Wood wool:
Toy hammers:
Blankets!
Books:
CSNW Founder, Keith, along with friends and family, spent the weekend improving the Bray habitat. We were able to turn a pile of leftover materials into a new tower, and we repurposed a shaky bridge that had to be taken down during our fence renovations. We also planted a few more trees with the hope that they’ll survive the chimps’ curiosity to one day provide some more shade at the bottom of the hill (thanks for the plum tree, Patti!). The chimps took an instant interest in all of it—even Willy B braved the grass to check it out. Stay tuned for George’s reaction to the new climbing structures.
Many thanks to the whole crew for helping to build an even better Bray habitat.
Today, Foxie and her twin baby doll friends went for a stroll around Young’s Hill. It’s unusual to find Foxie out and about without at least one of her “babies”.
Since her recent birthday, Foxie has been toting around one or more of her brand new dolls everywhere she goes. She takes them to meals, she naps with them, she plays games with them, and she goes on long walks with them.
Foxie LOVES her dolls! She carries them in her mouth, on her back, or in her pelvic pocket. She kisses them, tosses them, asks caregivers to babysit them, and she even disciplines them when needed.
Dolls are Foxie’s absolute favorite form of enrichment!
My favorite form of enrichment is a good book, especially a thriller! I’m currently reading The Only One Left by Riley Sager.
What’s your favorite form of enrichment?
Speaking of enrichment…our wish lists are chock-full of enrichment items and other staples that can be donated to keep our chimps as happy and healthy as can be! Thank you for checking it out!
Cy and Honey B’s groups have been getting access back to areas that were used for George’s quarantine now that he has been given a clean bill of health. Last week Willy B and Honey B discovered a new addition to the space, the new Looky-Lou feeder with a mirror! Willy was fascinated pretty immediately and later Honey B took it for a spin, check it out in today’s video!
How much fun is it to watch a chimpanzee entertain himself? Pretty fun!
Who do you think is featured in this video?
Hmmm?
