Getting green
April 5, 2013 by J.B. -
Last summer, over half of Young’s Hill was burned in the Taylor Bridge Fire. We knew that the grass and bamboo would recover, but it was hard to imagine it ever looking the same again.
But with a little spring rain and some warm weather, the grass has come back as good as ever and we should be seeing some new bamboo shoots in the next month or two.
The chimps used to run for cover at the first drop of rain, but lately they’ve been staying outside through some of the lighter showers. This morning, Missy, Foxie, Burrito, and Annie all ate their breakfast together in the rain. Jody, however, took her bag back to the greenhouse and dried herself off.
The chimps love to eat spring grass. Most eat it a blade or two at a time, but Burrito stuffs handfuls in his mouth and eats it until his teeth turn green. For a guy that thinks about food nonstop, it must feel good to be completely surrounded by it.
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It must be the name. Scary how much we are alike!
the chimpsters are becoming pacific northwesters … they are starting to dig the rain
Have they not yet figured out that they can stay dry inside Negra’s cabin when it’s raining?
Yes, most of them have. In fact, Annie headed right to the cabin when the rain got a little heavier. But when the rest of the chimps went back inside, she didn’t want to be alone out there.
This kind of thing is quite common with the chimps. Some folks figure something out or get a little more comfortable doing something new, but until the whole group joins them they are hesitant to do it. We saw that with Young’s Hill – Missy was confident from Day 1, but without any friends joining her she was reluctant to stay outside.
Of course, they may be smarter than we give them credit for (this is usually the case). The cabin would keep them dry in the rain, but if it doesn’t stop pouring they eventually have to run 50 feet in the open to get back to the building. Maybe they just don’t want to get stuck out there and figure they might as well run inside before it gets worse.
It’s great to hear that they are becoming even more confident by staying out in the rain. One day they will be outside playing, running, jumping, eating, despite any weather, which will be fantastic. Burrito, Burrito, Burrito…what can one say. He loves his food, green teeth or not. At least he has the freedom to eat as much as he wants now. He’s in heaven!
Burrito seems to eat whatever you put in front of him. Yep, Burrito is a total guy.