young's hill

A New Day

December 8, 2016 by Elizabeth

Maybe it’s because they spent so much of their lives confined indoors, but the Cle Elum Seven have a wonder and an appreciation of the natural world that’s inspiring. This time of year, the humans at the sanctuary can often be heard grumbling about the frigid temperatures and the icy roads and the neverending piles of snow to shovel. We get so bogged down in the inconveniences of the season that we don’t often take time to appreciate what each day has to offer. But each morning when we open the door to Young’s Hill, the chimps line up to see what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.

The things we do.

December 7, 2016 by Katelyn

We are supposed to have a big winter storm headed our way tomorrow, but today has been dry and sooooooo cold, remaining well below freezing all day. So the chimps have been hunkered down in the toasty chimp house for the most part. They are handling it like troopers, but it can be extra challenging to try to pre-empt the inevitable boredom that comes with being stuck inside all day. So it’s in our mind throughout the day to come up with new, interesting, and even silly things.

One way to break up any tedium is for the humans to act as enrichment and attempt to entertain the chimps. So volunteer caregiver, Holly, and I took turns wearing a vibrant purple wig she brought in. Sometimes we get mixed reactions. Jamie will often look us up and down and just stare at us as if to express how embarrassed she is for us given our foolish behavior. Foxie will sometimes spit at us. And sometimes they will completely ignore us. But the wig was a hit with all today and had Foxie hanging upside down laughing and kicking the ceiling with her feet! Burrito was full of kisses for us and Missy thought it was pretty hilarious. Even the boss gave several head-nods of approval. So naturally, I had to have ever-the-good-sport Holly don the wig for lunch service. It’s the little things…:

Holly serving Jamie as Annie and Jody wait patiently:

Jody, Annie and Jamie (and Holly, of course):

After lunch, Jamie decided freezing temps or not, we were going for a walk. Missy is a good right-hand gal to Jamie and reluctantly, braved the cold with her. Missy kept stopping to wait for Annie who gave it a go, but in the end stood huddled with her arms wrapped around herself and then hightailed it bipedally back to the warm chimp house:

So Jamie and Missy and I carried on:

By the time we reached the downhill back to the chimp house we all decided to pick up the pace:

When it’s below 20 at night we close off the greenhouse to help maintain heat in the chimp house overnight. And the chimps wouldn’t be out there when it’s this cold anyway. After a warm dinner of roasted acorn squash, mini-peppers and onions along with peanut butter and banana inside cups for evening enrichment, and extra blankets still warm from the dryer, everyone is settled inside for the night. Jamie just asked for her favorite boots to sleep with and I just turned off the chimps’ lights. Everyone is tucked into their nests safe, warm and cozy for the night. So goodnight from the chimp house!

That Time Of The Year, Again

December 4, 2016 by Keri

It’s here, it’s here! The snow has arrived! And the chimps know what to do when it starts getting cold and the snow has fallen.

Last Monday, I watched both Missy and Annie (and took the following photos), make the rounds on Young’s Hill, with a very specific goal in mind; to find ice chunks “hidden” within the various outdoor structures. It was indeed cold enough last week for there to be ice, but there was not enough moisture.

This morning, it was a different story. Missy and Annie set out on Young’s Hill to check all the usual spots where ice forms overnight, including in the bottom of this tire swing. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get outside in time to take photos of them finding the ice chunks this morning when Katelyn called on the radio to say they had found some. So, stay tuned for more pictures of the chimps gathering their snow and ice enrichment in the coming months!

Annie

Missy checked the same tires (but none of the photos turned out where she was reaching in).

Here’s a couple extras of Missy on the hill last Monday that I couldn’t resist adding to the blog.

One of my favorite Missy action shots.

On Young’s Hill

November 25, 2016 by J.B.

For Jamie, patrolling Young’s Hill is serious business. Tell that to Jody, Foxie, Annie, and Missy, who all seem like they’re having a little too much fun.

A chimp family stroll

November 9, 2016 by Katelyn

We are being gifted with a stretch of incredibly spring-like weather. The mornings start out damp, foggy and cold, but by the afternoon it’s warm, bright and sunny. The humans decided we needed a walk around Young’s Hill as much as Jamie did so we all decided to join her. The sight of a group of their caregivers always gets the chimps excited and often all or most of them will join us. This also gets our resident wild elk friend excited and she decided to tag along as well (though I am pretty sure the chimps attempted to un-invite her). You know, just a chimp family stroll in our own wonderful world at the sanctuary (missing Keri and Elizabeth who are home recovering from colds, and Negra and Foxie who were nesting in the sun).

We all hold so much gratitude in our hearts for this most special and magical of places and all who make it possible. A sanctuary to so many, non-human and human alike.

Anna, Diana, Yuri, Ellie and JB:

Missy and Annie (L) and Ellie and JB waiting for the others to join us:

Missy, Burrito and Jody suggested Ellie walk elsewhere at which point she ran to catch up with the humans:

On a second lap around the hill, Jamie decided to check out the happenings in the neighborhood atop her beloved Twister:

When She’s Not Constantly Moving….

October 30, 2016 by Keri

When one’s mission in life is to stay in motion, to go from point A to point B, running as fast as one can, climbing everything in sight, exploring new structures and tightrope walking (well, in this case it’s fire hose walking), it can be hard to get good closeup pictures. Do you know which chimpanzee I am describing? I’ll give you a hint, she was one of the chimps featured in yesterday’s blog.