Posts by J.B.
Burrito’s Birthday Dinner
For the last couple of days we’ve been forced to focus less of our attention on Burrito’s birthday and more on the historic snowfall that we experienced this week. According to the National Weather Service, we recorded the most snowfall ever for our area in a 24-hr period, coming in somewhere around two feet, with…
Read MoreWhat a Year
Each year, our wonderful friend and amazingly talented graphic design volunteer, Kathleen, sends us a custom advent calendar for the chimp house. I know that for many of us, 2021 has felt like another lost year at best. But for the past month, this calendar has served as a daily reminder that we have so…
Read MoreThe Night Before Christmas
We try to have fun with holidays here at the sanctuary. To state the obvious, the chimps have no idea what we’re celebrating on Christmas or New Year’s or solstice. They do, however, enjoy a good party, and holidays are a great excuse for the staff and volunteers to treat the chimps to some creative…
Read MorePortraits of Negra
Just a few shots of Negra as she waited for breakfast this morning:
Read MoreBless this Mess
Knowing what you should do and doing what you should do are two very different things. When a chimpanzees refuses to cooperate with the daily routine, you should take the opportunity to problem solve. Why do they refuse to shift? Are they anxious about being confined to certain areas with other chimps? Is there something…
Read MoreThe Eternal Dilemma
Each morning, Negra is forced to choose between her two greatest loves: food and bed. The arguments in favor of food are myriad. Let’s start with the obvious – we all need to eat to survive. So put a point on the board for breakfast. In fact, maybe this isn’t such a difficult decision after…
Read MoreOut of the Fog
When I set out on my perimeter walk this morning, the sanctuary was blanketed in a dense fog. Climbing the 80 or so feet in elevation to the top of Young’s Hill was all it took to escape into the first rays of morning sunlight. This morning’s walk was particularly enjoyable because I got to…
Read MoreGreenhouse Days
Running a chimpanzee sanctuary in snow country does have its downsides but you can’t beat the cost- and calorie-free enrichment that snow provides. This was the first snowfall for Lucky’s group and they certainly enjoyed their tub of the white stuff in the recently buttoned up greenhouse. It was great to see them peacefully enjoying…
Read MoreTwo Ways to Spend a Rainy Day
See how Cy and Dora spent a rainy Friday morning. Speaking of Cy…this morning there was a large blanket under a door that I needed to close at breakfast time. Hydraulic doors can be closed securely with blankets in the way but then the blankets tend to get wet when we clean the floors. So…
Read MoreThe Road More Traveled
Young’s Hill is not a very densely vegetated enclosure. Nevertheless, the chimps have developed a network of trails throughout its two acres. You’d hardly think it necessary in such a wide open space. Perhaps it’s the dampness of the grass in spring or the potential dangers that lurk beneath in late summer. Leaving the trail…
Read MoreLittle Benny’s Big Debut
Diana and I recently adopted a dog named Benny and he came to live with us, along with our dog Abbey and our cat Loulou, at the sanctuary. As soon as he was acclimated to his new home and family, we brought him to meet the rowdy neighbors up the driveway. Not all of the…
Read MoreCarry Out
Who was able to hold the most food from this afternoon’s forage? Burrito: Negra: Jamie:
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