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Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary for primates.

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hawk

Sanctuary Wildlife

May 10, 2019 by J.B.

Things have been quite busy around here lately with construction and the usual springtime projects so like any rational person I prioritized my task list, divided it into manageable pieces, and proceeded to tick them off one by one in a steady and methodical manner. Just kidding. Instead I became consumed with an unrelated and largely unnecessary project: decorating the new sanctuary bathroom!

We decided that the bathroom should be filled with photos of wildlife taken on the sanctuary property so we went about searching through our archives. I enjoyed this so much I thought I’d share them with you. Long-time blog readers will recognize most of them.

Above is a photo of one of a pair of coyotes that built a den in the old irrigation canal just below the sanctuary residence. For a few months we would watch them return to the den with freshly caught rodents and the occasional chicken from our careless neighbor’s house.

Below are a couple of mule deer fawns. The deer on the sanctuary property are unbelievably tame. Some of the does will even challenge our 85-lb pit bull to a fight through the fence, which to my mind seems just a bit reckless. The herd doesn’t travel very far from our 90 acres so we get the pleasure of watching them year after year and seeing them grow up, sometimes to have fawns of their own.

The sanctuary has a number of distinct wetland areas owing to several springs that flow year round. In an area that doesn’t receive any measurable rain for the summer months, these become oases for many species. But some animals have discovered the benefits of moving into the irrigated gardens surrounding the chimp house. This guy found a perfectly nice grape leaf that gets a light rain every night from 2:00 to 2:15 a.m. As long as he doesn’t go in the chimp house, it’s the perfect set up. If he goes in, he will be Negra’s dinner.

The fence posts and wildfire sprinklers around the chimp house are popular spots for many birds like this blue bird pair. Here, the male sings his song and boasts of his athleticism and his many achievements.

Some birds take up residence in our barns, like the pigeons, swallows, and this fledgling Steller’s jay who wasn’t angry that I was taking his photo, just disappointed.

The sanctuary’s compost system is now the Grand Central Terminal to a vast network of ground squirrel tunnels. In the spring they are lithe and svelte. After a few months of compost scraps this guy is going to need to widen his tunnel.

The skies are always filled with raptors, including bald eagles and red-tailed hawks, keeping us under constant surveillance.

No collection of sanctuary wildlife photos would be complete without a photo our beloved and not-so-wild friend, Ellie.

And while cows aren’t wildlife, we’re using the term loosely to mean “not chimps”. Betsy, Honey, Meredith, and Nutmeg are the first four cows to call our sanctuary home and will soon be moving the lush, green pastures surrounding Young’s Hill. We’ll see how they get along with the chimps.

There are a number of animals on the property that we haven’t yet photographed, like cougars, bobcats, and bears, who are typically more elusive. But the plump hoary marmot that lives beneath the front porch of the upper cattle barn is just begging for his picture to be taken. We’ll have to find some room in the foyer for the rest of our wildlife family.

Filed Under: Cattle Tagged With: bluebirds, chimpanzee, cow, deer, elk, ellie, fawns, frog, ground squirrel, hawk, northwest, red-tailed hwk, Sanctuary, steller's jay, wildlife photography

Safety in numbers

October 24, 2014 by J.B.

Hank the hawk continues to use the sanctuary as his hunting grounds. But while the chimps were once scared of him, some of them are starting to enjoy having him around, if only for the excitement that he provides.

This morning, Missy was sitting quietly on a climbing structure on Young’s Hill.

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Foxie was nearby, with troll in hand.

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Missy approached Foxie and reached out her hand, holding it under Foxie’s chin.

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Then suddenly, she stood up, climbed down the ladder, and swung on the fire hose.

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She leaped off the fire hose and into a full sprint toward the top corner of Young’s Hill, where the hawk had been perched just days before.

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As soon as she reached the top, she turned and ran back to the climbing structure.

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And swung on the fire hose again.

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The other chimps took notice of Missy’s antics and started to move towards the top of the hill. Missy continued jumping, leaping, and tight rope walking while they gathered.

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They began to congregate on the platform closest to the top of the hill.

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They all looked around for any sign of the hawk.

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Finally, Jody walked toward the corner to get a better look.

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But Jody, it seems, does not share Missy’s sense of adventure. Not yet, at least.

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For now, she’d rather play it safe.

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Filed Under: Foxie, Jody, Missy, Young's Hill Tagged With: chimpanzee, hawk, northwest, patrol, Play, rescue, Sanctuary

Waiting for the boss

October 17, 2014 by J.B.

The chimps spent most of the morning inside due to the rain. When it finally let up, Missy ran straight for the far corner of the hill. Something was up.

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Jody followed after her but seemed nervous about getting too close.

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They both looked around for reassurance.

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Annie was perched safely on the bridge, and showed no interest in putting herself in danger.

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And Neither Foxie nor Burrito showed any willingness to come down from their platform to join the patrol.

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Finally, Missy spotted Jamie at the bottom of the hill and asked for her help with an outstretched arm.

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Jody’s hair was standing on end (also called “pilo erection”), showing her nervousness. She approached Missy for reassurance.

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Neither seemed to have the courage to get any closer.

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At one point, Missy got spooked and decided to bolt, leaving Jody all by herself.

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web_Jody_bipedal_YH_jb_IMG_4306

Lucky for her, help was on the way.

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With Jamie on the case, Missy decided to rejoin the group.

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They headed toward the top corner of Young’s Hill.

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As it turns out, the subject of their apprehension was a hawk that had been roosting on one of the fence posts. The chimps promptly scared it away.

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Jamie is so cool in moments like these. While Missy ran around frantically and Jody looked on helplessly, Jamie calmly strutted her way up the hill, totally confident in her ability to protect her home from invaders. I guess there’s a reason why she’s the boss.

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Filed Under: Chimpanzee Behavior, Jamie, Jody, Missy, Young's Hill Tagged With: chimpanzee, defend, hawk, northwest, patrol, rescue, Sanctuary, territorial, territory

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Cle Elum, WA 98922
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509-699-0728
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EIN: 68-0552915

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