Zoo hosts day camp, too
A little earlier today we told you about the Oklahoma Aquarium hosting day camps for kids put out by the weather. For those of you who don’t live in the Tulsa area, here’s a kid-friendly, animal-friendly day for you:
It’s warm and toasty inside the Oklahoma City Zoo’s Conservation Education Center and starting at 8:00 am Friday, January 8th, it’s also a quick solution for working parents whose kids are out of school due to the severe cold. A special Cold Weather Safari Camp will be held for a cost of only $20 per child. Pick-up is available till 5:30 pm and early drop-off begins at 7:30 am. This fee is discounted over 50% from our regularly scheduled day camps as a community service during this after-holiday, unexpected cold weather snap. This means parents can make it to work in a timely manner and have a safe, fun, educational place for their children for $3 or less per hour. Age appropriate activities may include live animal encounters, crafts, stories, songs, discovery stations and much more! Children are asked to bring a sack lunch. A morning and afternoon snack will be provided. Call ahead registration is recommended, but not required. Attendance is limited to the first 100 children between the ages of 4 and 15. Call (405) 425-0218 for registration or information.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
It’s raining lizards
In addition to record cold temperatures, Florida residents are dealing with another strange phenomenon — iguanas falling from the trees.
An iguana lies frozen, or possibly just in suspended animation, on the ground at a Florida Keys park following a cold snap - Tim Chapman, Miami Herald
The iguanas, which are not native to Florida, don’t do well in the cold. With record low temperatures in the state, the reptiles are falling frozen out of the trees in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne.
The iguanas aren’t actually frozen. They are in suspended animation, coming back to life once they warm up. However, extended cold temperatures could kill them.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Aquarium hosts day camps for kids out of school
Brandi Moss, an aquarist at the Oklahoma Aquarium, touches one of the aquarium's loggerhead turtles. All six species of sea turtles are either endangered or threatened, meaning they are on the verge of extinction.
Looking for somewhere to take your kiddos in the Tulsa area because school is out? The Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks has you covered:
It’s warm and dry inside the Oklahoma Aquarium and starting at noon Thursday, January 7th, it’s also a quick solution for working parents whose kids are out of school due to the severe cold. A special Cold Weather SeaCamp will be held from noon to 5:00 on Thursday and from 9:00 to 5:00 on Friday. The cost of the camp is $20 on Thursday and $30 on Friday. Late pick-up is available till 5:30 for an additional $5 both days. Early drop-off is available Friday at 8:30 for $5. This fee is discounted from the Aquarium’s regularly scheduled SeaCamps as a community service during this dangerously cold weather. This means parents can make it to work and have a safe, fun, educational place for their children for $4 or less per hour. Children are asked to bring a sack lunch and wear warm layers as temperatures vary in different parts of the Aquarium. Call ahead registration is recommended as attendance is limited to the first 100 children each day. Call (918) 296-FISH. Details are on our website, www.okaquarium.org.
Maybe your kids will have a chance to see awesome turtles like the one shown here. They probably won’t get to touch them, though.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – where’s Santa?
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Made in Oklahoma: Barking Dog Bakery. (Oklahoma City)
- Pet Tales: Canine helpers assist in finding Santa Claus. (Oklahoma City)
- Whale of a deal. (California)
- Dogs get new homes. (California, page 4a)
- Woman, daughter killed by elephant. (Kenya)
- Dog-training difficulties unleashed in new list. (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show – Pitt Boss star Ronald Lee Clark!
Listen to Pet Show! We are joined by Ronald Lee Clark, one of the stars of the new Animal Planet series Pitt Boss.
Clark is originally from South Korea, but he was adopted by an American family. He grew up in Choctaw and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He met Shorty Rossi and joined his team at Shortywood, a performing agency for little people. Though Clark is a booking assistant, he doesn’t just workin the entertainment industry. He helps Rossi with his side project – a pit bull rescue. Clark tells us he’s always been an animal advocate, but this job has given him a new appreciation for pits.
The show debuts Jan. 16 on Animal Planet. Check our local listings here.
Here’s the commercial:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Can I be in the picture?
Remember that squirrel who crashed the couple’s photo on the bank of a lake and became an instant Internet star?
Apparently seals are getting in on the act too, only they are targeting penguins and their much bigger families.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Chilly tails everywhere
The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals sends us this helpful reminder in light of this terrible weather:
Severe weather conditions are expected to last through the weekend. Pets that are left outdoors without sufficient shelter can be in mortal danger quickly. Oklahoma law calls for animals to have adequate food, water and shelter. In current weather conditions, animals should be brought indoors or must have access to shelter in which they can remain warm, dry and completely out of wind. Short haired dogs, elderly animals or ones which are underweight or otherwise in poor health can be in the greatest danger. Do not leave senior pets or short-haired dogs outdoors unattended. Water bowls left outside will freeze. Pets should be offered water indoors or in areas in which a bowl cannot freeze. If pets are indoors in a carrier, do not leave the carrier too close to a heat source or fireplace. Make sure that bedding is safe and also is not near a heat source.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – putting the “free” in freezing
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Zoo promotion puts the “free” in freezing. (Oklahoma City Zoo)
- Protecting your pets from cold. (statewide)
- Peta ad adds first lady. (Washington, D.C.)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – cougar on the prowl
We only have one animal story in The Oklahoman today, but at least it’s a good one -
- Trail camera snaps a big cat. (Atoka)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Get this dog some steak
A golden retriever named Angel lived up to her name last weekend when she jumped between a boy and a charging cougar.
Austin Forman, 11, was gathering firewood in his backyard in Boston Bar, Canada, when he noticed his dog, Angel, strangely following him around. Moments later, she ran towards him and hurdled a lawn mower to protect the boy from the cougar.
Austin ran inside and called for help to save his dog. When authorities arrived, they found the cougar chewing on Angel’s neck under the family’s back porch. Authorities shot and killed the cougar.
Angel survived despite puncture wounds on her head, neck and one of her hind legs.
You can find the CBC news article about the story here. Note: linked article includes graphic photos.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
