Check Out Our Critters!
Pictures of some our animals and birds can be seen on our photo page.
We have provided a place to wash your hands after you have finished
petting and feeding our animals and birds.
Porcupines
Porcupines are found in all wooded areas of the U.S. except for the Southeastern quarter.
They are also native to Alaska and Canada. Porcupines DO NOT THROW THEIR QUILLS. Each animal
has about 30,000 quills. Our porcupines should not be fed corn but they do love to be fed
apples, watermelon, and sweet potatoes. In the wild, they eat tree bark with their yellow
"beaver" like teeth. They also are excellent climbers. Our porcupines have names, so while
you are visiting our zoo, ask to see Quillie Nelson and Catus Jack.
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Pygmy Goats
You can go into the pen with the pygmy goats. Pygmy goats remain small even when fully
grown. All our goats will eat from your hand. They might jump up on you and may pull on
your clothes, but they are not mean and are not trying to hurt you. Goats always run for
cover when it rains--they hate being wet.
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Pigs
Our pig is named "Porkahontas". He is very gentle. You may feed or pet Porkahontas. Did
you know pigs like to eat grass? Pigs cannot stand direct sunlight and can get too hot so we
gave Porkahontas a nice mud puddle to cool off in. Porkahontas uses his snout (nose) to dig
around in the dirt. Porkahontas is NOT a pot belly pig.
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Mini Horses
Our mini will remain small all his life. His name is Stormy. Always stand in front
of a horse--never behind one. Horses can get sick if they eat too much.
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The second largest rodent. It is native to South America. Patagonian
Cavies mate for life. It is a member of the Guinea Pig family. They can hop or
spring on all 4 feet at one time. They eat hay, corn, grass, and rabbit pellets.
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Siberian Lynx
Our Siberian Lynx is named Rusty. Rusty was hand-raised and is very gentle. Siberian Lynx are native to Siberia and Eastern Europe.
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Llama
Our llama DOES NOT SPIT. He will eat apples, cookies, sweet ptato or grain from your hand.
Notice his big eyes and long eye lashes. See his split upper lip and divided toe nails. In
South America the llama is ridden like we ride horses in this country. In the Grand Canyon, Smokey
Mountain National Park and other places like that, llamas are used as pack animals.
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Mini donkey
The minature donkey comes from the Mediterranean Islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Look at
the black stripe down his back and across his shoulders. It looks like a cross. Some call this
a "Jesus" donkey because of the cross. To be a mini, a donkey must be under 36 inches tall at
the shoulders. A male donkey is called a Jack; a female is called a Jennet or Jenny. The
life span of a minature donkey is approximately 25-35 years. Our donkey's name is Samson and
he will eat out of your hand.
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Sheep
The female sheep is called an ewe and a male sheep is called a ram. Our ewe is a little
white lamb named Lamb Chop. She sheds her own wool so we don't need to shear her. Put your hand
through the fence and feel Lamb Chop's hair. Did you know a sheep's "hair" is called wool and
wool is used to make coats and sweaters and other pieces of clothing?
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Raccoons
Raccoons are found in the U.S., Canada, and Central and South America. The South American
Raccoon mostly eat crabs, but ours like all the things you like--meat, vegetables; even nuts,
peanut butter sandwiches and cookies. They have very soft pads on the bottom of their feet.
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"Phyllis Diller?"
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Emu
Native to Australia. The second largest bird known to mankind--only the ostrich is larger.
Their egg is dark green and takes 55 days to hatch. The Emu will put its head through the
fence, so stand back. If you wish to feed the Emu, BE PREPARED FOR A HARD PECK. They also
might peck at shiny objects such as dangling ear-rings or gold buttons.
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Peafowl
The Peacock has the bright blue breast and head and the long green tail. The peahen is
not so pretty. The peacock will spread his tailfeathers only when courting. They can fly
great distances even with their long trailing tail. Incubation period is 28 days whereas
incubation period for a chicken egg is 21 days.
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Pheasants
We have 6 kinds of pheasants, all native to China. The male pheasant is the pretty,
colorful one. The female is drab in color so that she can hide easily and protect her
young or her eggs. Pheasants "molt" or lose their feathers once a year.
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