When is the best time to go to the Zoo?

When you have to bundle everyone up until they can barely walk? Yes. When you must keep moving from exhibit to exhibit just to keep semi-warm? Absolutely. When they don't even have some of the animals out like the elephants or bird show because it's too cold? You bet. When absolutely no one else in their right mind would go to the Zoo because of the frigid temperatures and wet snow on the ground? By all means......just try to see how many pictures are crowd-less. If you have ever gone to a big city Zoo before, you'll know what a rarity this is, and was one of the few perks of going to the Zoo at a time like this. Our Zoo membership expiring in 2 months may have something to do with our recent 3 trips within a single month. Kids are sure resilient and don't seem to mind the cold too much. But next time I am definitely bringing several thermoses cholk-full of Hot Chocolate.

So glad that chain link fence is there. This guy kept prowling back and forth just itching to get the fresh meat that keeps walking by so tauntingly close. He was hungry and could see some fresh, tasty morsels right under his nose. Probably really annoyed that they keep getting away when they're just so so close.

In the wild, they usually go for the smaller animals since they're weaker and easier to catch (Just ask Planet Earth). No doubt sizing little B up.

This guy also found a path that he would follow over and over. I was able to get a close up shot before they put a tree branch in this exact spot the next time we visited.

Scratch that, it wasn't a tree branch. Several small trees were used. Too bad. Being inches away from the face of this predator was really really cool.





The 2nd time we went to the Zoo, we got to go with Trent's 2 sisters and their families. Do all Zoos let the turkeys go wild? Kyleigh thought it would be cool to pet one, but she wasn't quite able to catch them. And I didn't let her chase them. I feel bad for the poor things...I saw way too many little boys run after them and 1 (not Brenden) tried to throw a rock or something at the peacock. These animals looked like they believed their life was in danger as they ran away from their own predators.

Cold temps and wet snow kept the rhinos, mama elephant and new baby Zuri in hiding. They were probably tucked away under a space heater. Lucky chaps.

You must see him/her in person. Very large. It's rather neat to see this impressive animals so close when normally the most a kid would see of these animals would be on pictures in a book or on the tv screen. Nothing like visiting them in person. This gorilla got tired of the throngs of little kids that kept pounding on the glass, so she went to hide in the stall next door....only to be followed by the entire child population. (There were more people in here because it was indoors....warmer.....). My Mom has a different approach to making these big apes happy in this post from last year.

The cold sure makes some of these animals lazy. These wolves were sleepy...

...as were the tigers.

5 of these guys just laying around. Must rotate the shifts when prowling the overhead walkway.

I can't remember....are we on the farm or at the Zoo?


Alright, what's next?

Well, come on and I'll show you...

What are those guys doing?!!?

They're licking the wall, son. All Giraffes do. Don't you remember in March of 2009 when we saw the Giraffes in similar strange behavior? Click this link if you don't remember.


Alright, now what are these guys up to?

I had stashed a few suckers in my pockets just in case the kids got cold, whiny, wanted to run away, etc....any number of things that weren't exactly as I wanted them to do (like stand right next to me, look at the animal that I tell you to look at, ride in the stroller, etc), so since Brenden was being good, I thought it may be better to reward good behavior than use the sweets to curtail the bad behavior. Kind of a preventative measure.
And Kyleigh wanted in on the goods. She is not allowed to hold her own, for obvious reasons, so she found a nice guy who would share his.

And he was so patient with her to allow lengthy licks.

But enough is enough....eventually.

 Until she sneak attacks the unattended lollipop. Smart girl. (Brenden was busy listening to his Dad).

 But he caught her.

 And since he really is a nice and kind older brother to his 'sissy', he allowed her another take.

And she was both grateful and envious. (But, how could you be envious of a kid who has a cone-head? How embarrassing. Probably because you have 2 of them with pom poms on each end. Yep, I'd be envious too. He only has one to walk around and be seen with. These kids need to have their parents buy normal looking and appropriately fitting beanies. At least they kept the kids warm)   :)

3 Different zoo trips. And the last round we finally got Dad to come. Since we're in Utah and it gets cold real fast once the sun goes down, they close the gates at 4. Trent doesn't get off until 4:30, so we had to wait until Saturday for him to tag along with us. By next year, the kids could probably give their Dad a tour of the Zoo. They are becoming quite the capable animal-watchers.
And as long as there are always a few treats to be shared and enjoyed (Brenden had his first taste of cotton candy here last year), they probably wouldn't mind going back on a regular basis. But Kyleigh Mae will most likely not stand for sharing a lollipop next year. More lollipops and new beanies. Will do.