Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

snow

CSNW’s Winter Activities

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We often get asked what the chimpanzees do throughout the winter. Despite what you would expect, the chimps do go out in the snow, but for shorter durations. It’s been snowing here all day with zero breaks and I don’t believe anyone has ventured out to their outdoor enclosure because of how much snow is coming down. However, days like these don’t occur all winter (thank goodness!) so usually the chimps aren’t cooped up for long. One of my favorite parts about living in central Washington is that usually there is a long enough break for all the snow to melt before the next snowfall.

Today, I put together a video highlighting some of the things the chimps get up to during winter months. It’s not too different from their daily routine, but with a few seasonal bonuses! The chimps stay pretty busy, despite the winter weather!

Also special shout out to Ellen G. for winning the Three Peas in a Bed sheet for the chimps, featuring Lucky, Dora, and Rayne! Cy’s group was given this sheet today and I imagine Rayne may scoop it up later for her nightly nest, because sheets are her favorite.

Lastly, most of our Amazon Wishlist has been bought already (THANK YOU!!!!) but there’s still a few more things we’re hoping to get before Christmas. Here is a link if you’d like to help. We appreciate it so much!

Stay warm, everyone!

How to Entertain a Chimpanzee

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First up, here is your Honey B update! Despite our best attempts to keep her attention away from her healing eyelid and occupy her time with other activities, she did open up her incision slightly yesterday. Dr. Erin assessed her and for now, we are waiting to see how it continues to heal and consulting with other experts to be sure we have the best plan in place for her. We continue to provide her with extra enrichment, and today one of her enrichment devices doubled as enrichment for the humans who created it.

We have had a large cardboard tube in the Chimp House for the past several weeks without a use for it. Today it found its purpose! We drilled some holes in the tube, added chain through the tube, and clipped it to the caging of Honey B’s room. We added some of her favorite things to the inside of the tube (popcorn, shelled peanuts, raisins) and raspberries to some of the holes to peak her interest. We gave her a bamboo stick as a tool and sat back to see what she did with it.

The idea was that the small snacks would fall through the drilled holes when the tube rolled around the chain, and Honey B would use her bamboo stick to pull the snacks to her. Well…that’s not exactly what happened. To no one’s surprise, Honey B outsmarted our plan! She was able to tap and tip the tube in such a way that the majority of the snacks fell out of either end, so it did not take as long as I had thought it would to finish the puzzle. I would like to create a reusable version of this for everyone with PVC one day, and Honey B has helped me to identify some flaws in my plan! Thank you for the design assistance, BeeBee!

It was a very good day around the sanctuary today. It is warmer here today (not warm…but warmer!). Negra enjoyed a nap in her nest in the greenhouse which was quite cozy with the heater going. Her group enjoyed eating some of the remaining snow, which is now a perfect snow cone texture. Burrito loved looking at himself on my phone and was especially fascinated by his own tongue.

I feel so fortunate to be able to share in these moments with the chimps, and to get to share them with you all. I hope your Saturday has been just as good as ours!

 

A Path Out

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We finally have a decent break from the snow and subfreezing temperatures. Though there are some more winter storms in the forecast, at least most days are going to be fairly mild in regard to temperature. In fact, for the first time in a long time, the sun has broken through the clouds to grace us with it’s warm presence. With the sun out, it was too good of an opportunity not to try to give Annie’s group Young’s Hill. After some light shoveling, a path to Young’s Hill was forged.

I must apologize, however. As I watched the pileup at the door that leads to Young’s Hill was opening, I realized I had forgotten the camera and my phone. I guess it boils down to I was too plum excited to see the color contrast of chimp and snow.

Foxie

Annie

Even with access to get their own snow, sometimes having the snow brought to you is the best. At least that seemed to be Jamie’s preference, with the addition of icicles and black cherry Stur water enhancers.

Missy also had joined Jamie in snow and icicles.

Some bonus photos of Willy B playing with Lucky a couple of days ago!

Snow cones, Squeegees, and Smarty pants, oh my!

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It is another cold day here at the sanctuary! The chimps spent their day with extra projects provided by caregivers to keep them occupied since outdoor activities were off the table for the day given the very cold temperatures. For the most part, this included things like adding seeds to their daily forage for them to search for inside, and providing flavored snow made with fresh snow and sugar free juice. But, as you will see in the video for today, Honey B quickly created her own project, and showed off her tool use skills and determination in the process. Her group enjoyed watching her work, and reaped the rewards when trading parts of her contraband back to caregivers for extra snacks!

Jamie’s group had a more laid-back kind of snow day with lots of relaxing in fabulous blanket nests, eating their flavored snow, and playing together with both caregivers and each other. Enjoy some photos from the day below!

Jamie and Burrito enjoying flavored snow

Burrito, Missy, and Jamie eating flavored snow

Burrito, Jamie, and Missy eating flavored snow

 

And some bonus photos from today…

A VERY handsome Cy Chimpanzee!!

Riders of the Storm

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Like a good chunk of the United States, we are going through one doozy of a storm. When caregivers arrived in the morning, this is what we had waiting for us:

With most of the residents deciding not to venture too far outside (if at all), how do you try to stave off cabin fever? I wonder…

Hmmmmmmmm…….

Throughout days like today, caregivers try to offer many types of enrichment and activities to the chimpanzees.

Whether that enrichment is watching The Devil Wears Prada.

Honey B and Rayne were into the movie. (If you’re wondering, Cy is watching from a different spot.)

Forages are also a way to keep the sanctuary residents occupied.

Gordo

Willy B

We can try to perk up their afternoons with an afternoon tea time (caffeine-free of course).

Jamie

Burrito

Foxie

Or they might take matters into their own hands.

Rayne with a snow snack she grabbed from outside.

You read that right! Rayne took it upon herself to grab some snow. And that in itself started a chain reaction. Later Gordo, Mave, and Dora were seen with massive amounts of snow they gathered. Granted there may have been some thievery at play, but is the start of shifting attitudes for Rayne’s group? Only time will tell.

And for the real reason you are probably here, the winner of the Burrito photo contest!

There were many votes, and though I personally loved every single one of the photos and wanted them all to win, there can only be one that stands above the rest!

And the winner is……

*drum roll*

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*drum roll*

Hey Girl!

Thank you all for participating and sending in your votes! Prints of this photo will soon be available for purchase – stay tuned!

Stay safe and warm wherever you might be!

Snow Toes

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If you watched yesterday’s video of all the celebrations, you may have noticed we did have the whitest of Christmas this year. We did, however, receive some albeit lite, snow over night. It was just enough to glance a peek at who has been visiting the sanctuary during the night.

As caregiver Amanda and I were conducting our daily inspection of the perimeter fence this morning, we noticed not just a plethora of tracks, but a decent variety of tracks.

On our way up the Young’s Hill side, we noticed two sets of tracks going up and down.

Upon closer inspection, we both could clearly see they were left by a some kind of canine.

After confirming with Diana and J.B. that they did not take Abbey, Benny, or Nala for a walk up the hill recently, we can rule them out. With only one other species of canine that inhabits the area, it’s safe to say these tracks more than likely belong to some coyotes. Though there are wolves and foxes in Washington, we don’t really see them around here. Plus the size is a little more consistent with a coyote than the other two.

Also left almost literally all over were deer tracks.

We do have a lot of deer who call sanctuary grounds home. More often than not it will either be mule deer or the occasion white-tail deer. Just because there are two families of mule deer seen recently, I’m just going to guess these were mostly mule deer.

Admittedly, these next tracks I just saw be made.

These were made by a little round fluffy chickadee.

*no archived photo found of chickadee*

These next tracks were left by the absolute most fearless, vicious predator on sanctuary grounds. A predator so fierce, wolves, coyotes, cougars, bears, and all other wildlife are afraid of him.

These tracks belong to the one and only Barn Kitty! It was kind of fun to follow his steps to see where his paws lead him around. And trust me, he walks around a lot more than I thought, and I had already assumed he was walking around a lot.

Here are his paw prints next to one of the chickadees. Yes. I can confirm these tracks were made at two different times since I saw the chickadee make them.

Last but not least, there are these tracks.

Upon closer inspection, I could only guess these were made by that elusive Washington resident: Sasquatch.

Ok. Maybe not the Sasquatch, but his cousin Chimpsquatch.

And course it wouldn’t be a true snow day with some snow treats!

Burrito
Jamie

As a bonus for today, here are some photos from yesterday’s Christmas celebration!

Annie

Missy

Negra and Burrito

And my last message for tonight:

Someone very special has a birthday rapidly approaching! We could really use your help in making it special by going to our wish list and help us acquire some of the supplies/presents we want to give the special guy: Burrito!

Snow Snackin Video and Mora Blanket Thanks!

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Carrying through from my post last week about the chimpanzees enjoying snow, which Chad also posted about a few days ago, I bring you a delightful video of Cy and Terry (mostly Terry).

As you can see, that group really likes to eat snow too!

We are continuing our thanks to donors for bidding on items for the chimpanzees in the Comfort and Joy auction last month. Even if you didn’t technically “win” the item for the chimps, if you bid on it, you contributed to the final donation amount, and we are so grateful to you! Huge thanks again to Monica for donating so many items for the auction!

Our very own Chad was the “winner” who gets final credit for gifting this fabulous and large Mora (Mave + Dora) blanket that was hung so well in the Marmot Mountain Playroom. Hopefully we can catch some chimps nesting with it soon!