This time last year, Cory and I were starting our vacation in Japan! Hard to believe it’s been a year already. I remember that we’d had some cold and snowy weather leading up to vacation time, but the morning that I left [so very early] for the airport, it was quite warm.
This month started off with some wintry weather. I woke Monday morning to a forecast of snow, freezing rain, and rain; I decided it was a good day to work from home.
I changed my mind! Let me in!
By afternoon the snow was melting. There are definitely still large patches of snow out there, but also many large areas of bare ground.
I happened to see some posts on facebook last week about Ray’s Reptile Zoo coming to the Saint John Hilton. What caught my attention was the photo of a man – Ray, one presumes – holding a Lynx. So Thursday I headed down to the Hilton to check it out. I only spent about a half hour there, since I was on my lunch break, but I felt it was well worth the admission price.
Personally, I’m not so interested in snakes; nothing against them, just not my thing I guess. They also had a couple of birds: a turkey vulture and a hawk – much more interesting to me.
Harris Hawk
Turkey Vulture
The turkey vulture was putting on quite a show, extending his wings and standing right up, but there was a lot of glare so it was hard to get a good photo. It was impressive though.
There were reptiles other than snakes of course.
White Throated Monitor
Curviers Dwarf Caiman
Bearded Dragon
They had an alligator and a tortoise that you could actually get close to and touch (handlers present), and they were of course crowded with kids. I happened upon the start of a demonstration that involved audience participation…
And, finally, the Eurasian Lynx – meet Hazard. In typical feline fashion, she was doing her best to ignore everyone; not that I blame her. Isn’t she beautiful though!
Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo sounds like a really good organization. They are a zoo, but they are also an animal rescue. They take in wild animals that would otherwise have no place else to go, and they work to educate, and to advocate for animals.
It was an enjoyable change of pace from the usual work day and if they come back I will try to visit again.