web Jody lick frost log bridge yh IMG_8746

Decemburrr on the Hill

December 12, 2011 by Jackie -

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As J.B. mentioned in his post the other day, it has been really cold in Cle Elum, but we still haven’t had much snow. We have had significant doses of hoar frost though, which is beautiful! Maybe it’s not as exciting as snow to some, but Jody and Foxie have really been enjoying licking it off of things.

Jody licking hoar frost off of the log bridge:

Foxie was really enjoying licking it off of the climbing structure

And later, Jody joined her

Hoar frost on a tree

13 Comments

  1. Avatar Lynn on December 12, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    Brrrrr – don’t know how they can be out there with bare feet! Does the frost affect the fence at all?



    • Avatar Jackie on December 16, 2011 at 11:59 am

      Sorry for the delayed response, Lynn. I agree- I don’t know how they do it with bare feet! I always think “COLD TOES!!” But I’m so glad they are still going out there!

      The frost doesn’t affect the fence voltage too much, though if the snow gets too deep, it will drain it a bit. We have a minimum voltage policy in place to ensure that the voltage is high enough, and we always check the voltage before allowing the chimps to go out there.



  2. Amy M on December 12, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    Speaking of Jody, I see that her son Bart is on the last trip of Save the Chimps’ Great Chimp Migration from New Mexico to Florida! Leaving today!!



    • Candy (Tyler, TX) on December 12, 2011 at 5:05 pm

      Yahoo, it’s been a long, long journey for Save the Chimps and what they have accomplished is phenomenal!



      • Amy M on December 12, 2011 at 7:06 pm

        They’re on the road now!



  3. Avatar Anna on December 12, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    Those are some pretty rugged chimps – going outside at near freezing temperatures!



  4. Candy (Tyler, TX) on December 12, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    This southerner had to look up this unfamiliar term “hoar frost”, it is very lovely though. I hope the girls don’t get a splinter in their tongues.



  5. Avatar diane on December 12, 2011 at 5:42 pm

    They are brave and fearless going outside in the December cold.



  6. Avatar Marcia Douthwaite on December 12, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    Makes me shiver to look at it—it is amazing that these two are braving the cold to check it all out. Maybe they should be wearing some cowgirl boots!



  7. Avatar Anna on December 13, 2011 at 11:57 am

    I know that one of the values of CSNW is to encourage and allow the chimps to engage in as much natural chimp behavior as possible. But – LOL – just this once, might it be a good thing to teach them to put on a sweater? The sanctuary is where it is, and despite global warming Cle Elum isn’t going to become a tropical environment any time soon. Just wonderin’ … 🙂



    • Avatar Dawn on December 13, 2011 at 4:25 pm

      Well, I have already made them two polar fleece vests and a large shawl blanket that I had hoped Negra would be able to wear, it is like wearing your favorite “blannie” — but so far I have not heard that any of them has figured out the arm holes. My thought too, was that if they had nice polar on, they could move freely and yet keep body heat in!



      • Avatar Jackie on December 16, 2011 at 12:03 pm

        I’ve still been keeping my eyes open for someone to put their arms through one of your vests, Dawn, but no such luck yet. You’ll be the first to know! 😉

        Anna- I know what you mean! We don’t encourage the chimps to put on clothes because we want it to be their choice, though I did see Jamie put on a scarf before going out on the hill one time! She is one smart cookie! 🙂



  8. Chris on December 13, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    Ha…had to laught at Anna’s suggestion and oh yeah….how bout some ear muffs and warm socks and cowgirl boots! :}



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