Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo Director Ashley Burdick said people often ask when is the best time to visit to see the animals.
“It would be this time of year for sure,” she said. Animals are most active when temperatures are in the 60-80s. On top of that, they are more active in the mornings when many of them are being fed in their outdoor enclosures.
Just remember, visitors should make sure to see the bears while they can, because they will go inside for the winter in the coming months.
“Grizzly bears go through torpor, as opposed to hibernation,” she explained. “Torpor is a lighter form of hibernation where the heart and metabolic rates slow, and they can sustain their bodies from their fat stores. However, they can wake up during this time and when weather is warmer venture out of their dens. Bears in warmer climates that have access to food year-round do not sleep as long or they may not den at all.”
Burdick reported that the barricades that limited access to the male lion’s yard are still up, but they’ve moved a bit closer to the exhibit. Now, visitors can go all the way around the female lions’ yard and also have access to animals in the south portion of the zoo. Those are Poppy the binturong (also known as a bearcat), Geza the Sacred Ibis and Red, the Red-footed Tortoise.
The barricades went up after Luke, the male lion, underwent surgery on his tail, to give him some peace and quiet while recovering.
“Luke has been healing well, but out of an abundance of caution we are taking our time before allowing visitors to be right up next to his exhibit,” Burdick said.
Coming up
There are plans for the zoo to bring in a new animal, Burdick hinted. However, things haven’t progressed far enough for her to release any details.
The zoo will participate in a couple of community events this month. The staff will present a program at the Family Crisis Center’s Fall Festival at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, in Jack Kilby Square. They will also be at Haunting on the Hill at Barton Community College on Saturday, Oct. 25. That event runs from 2-5 p.m. at the Fine Arts Building. Be sure to check out both of these events.
