Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your significant otter
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Go, go Gotebo!
The goats are home. OK, to be more specific, the Nigerian dwarf goats at the Oklahoma City Zoo are now at home in the new Children’s Zoo exhibit. Zoo staffers hauled the cuddly creatures from their off-exhibit habitat to their new digs. They’ll be part of the contact barn. The goats, along with all the other Children’s Zoo animals, will debut March 12. Check out these photos sent in from D. Jones and C. Lewis of the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Liz Kock, Registered Veterinary Technician at the Oklahoma City Zoo, gives Jet a lift to his new home in the Children’s Zoo.
Darcy Henthorn, Oklahoma City Zoo Curator of Children’s Zoo & Birds, happily carries Oologah into his barn at the new Children’s Zoo.
Duncan gets a lift from Oklahoma City Zoo Children’s Zoo Supervisor Doug Latham into the new Children’s Zoo Barn.
Brandon Bourassa, a Children’s Zoo keeper, carries Gotebo into the new Children’s Zoo Barn on goat moving day.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – dogs helping in Iraq
This is all we’ve got for you as far as animal stories go in The Oklahoman today -
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – closer to teeth floating
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Eagle enclosure collapses at animal nonprofit. (Noble)
- Committee OKs horse dental bill. (state Capitol)
- Zoo gears training toward volunteers. (Oklahoma City)
- Pet Tales: Dachshund enjoys penthouse. (Edmond)
- Cats proving agile in contests. (nationwide)
- Animals aboard space rocket. (Iran)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Snake with a bad habit
Apparently some guy in Taiwan taught his snake how to smoke.
I’m not sure how much of this story I trust, and not just because of how ridiculous it sounds. The story identifies the nicotine-addicted snake as Po the pit viper, but the snake in the picture is obviously not a pit viper, which is a venomous subset of snake you would want nowhere near you. 
The commenters on the story say it is a Taiwanese beauty snake, and a quick search on Google seems to indicate that is correct.
Either way, this is just wrong.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pets in the paper – unBEARable!
OK, so we only have one animal story in The Oklahoman today. And I wrote it. So this is it -
- Zoo’s Will, Wiley can’t bear any more wintry weather. (Oklahoma City) ( Get it? They can’t bear it, like bare it. They’re bears.)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Two-for-one admission and sharks in February!
Looking for somethign to do that doesn’t involve trying to coax your dog into the yard for a potty break? I thought so. Check out this info from the Oklahoma Aquarium:
Shaking off a case of cabin fever? The Oklahoma Aquarium is making it easier on families to get out of the house with Two-For-Tuesdays, Science Under The Stars and Super Shark Sundays. Through February, visitors can enjoy two-for-one admission on Tuesdays, which is most convenient for scheduling around work and school because the Aquarium is open till 9:00. (Free admission applies to the lowest price per pair of tickets purchased.)
There’s an added draw on Tuesday evenings: Science Under The Stars at 6:30. This interactive program hosted by the Aquarium Education Department features hands-on activities, crafts and close inspection of some of the aquatic world’s most mysterious and fascinating animals. The theme Tuesday, February 2nd is 8-Armed Bandits, examining cephalopods including octopus and squid. Please check our website for program themes through February. www.okaquarium.org
Also in February, Super Shark Sundays! This is a contest open to kids to test their shark smarts to win prizes including a family membership. Just visit the Aquarium on any Sunday in February, pick up an entry form at the information desk for your age group, sleuth out the answer to a scientific shark question, then turn it in on your way out. The drawing for final prizes will be March 1st, but J.P. vanEttinger, “Shark Man” will pass out a limited number of smaller prizes to kids showing off their shark knowledge.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
The bears say spring
Predictions from Will and Wiley at the Oklahoma City Zoo:
Check out The Oklahoman tomorrow for the story.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – smacking the shark
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Bashing shark saves girl. (New Zealand)
- Groundhogs not welcome. (statewide, page 1D)
- Bee sting helps MS patient feel better. (nationwide, page 2D)
- Exotic pets stalk viewers. (nationwide, page 1D)
- Dear Abby: Older man questions whether to adopt a dog. (Nevada)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Phil must be stopped
I’m anti-Groundhog Day.
It’s not that I dislike the sentiment. Punxsutawney Phil looks cute enough when they take him out of that stump, and I have no more problem with a groundhog weatherman than a human one.
What bothers me is that Phil always sees his shadow, as he did again this morning. According to Wikipedia, the little hairball has predicted an early spring only 15 times in 114 years. That works out to about 13 percent.
I’m a warm weather person. This has been an especially hard winter with all the ice and snow, and I, for one, am ready for it to end. Although I’m not ready to take rash measures like Bill Murray’s character in the movie “Groundhog Day,” I am launching a protest against Phil until he becomes more early-spring friendly.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
