I realize this is cliché but holy macaroni that summer went by fast! It’s back-to-school time. Even though it has been umpteen billion years, I still remember those first days of school as a kid, back when we didn’t get our supply list until the first day of classes, and then it was a mad rush to the two stores in town that had what we needed!
Animals, including those at the Saskatoon Zoo, prepare for the seasons as well. They know it’s time by the shorter days, the temperature and for some, food becoming scarcer. The Zoo staff also help in the preparations. For instance, there are some animals that move to outdoor habitats in the summer, but because they are from warmer climes, like the lemurs, they move inside for winter. The picture below is a meerkat, who is the winter zoo neighbour of the lemurs. He/she seems to be looking around for its winter pals across the way.
The Prairie Butterfly House has closed down for the season, because… well, have you ever seen a butterfly in Saskatoon in minus 20 degree weather? I took the picture below of a friend who was able to meet a butterfly up close and personal. (I deliberately ‘chopped’ off his head in the picture to give him his privacy.
It may seem early, but I have already seen plenty of decorations and costumes in stores, so it’s time to discuss Hallowe’en and fall fun. Notice I put an apostrophe in Hallowe’en? That’s because I’m old school. It’s the OG way!
Pumpkins After Dark is October 9th to 31st at Prairieland Park and proceeds support the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation. It’s Canada’s largest outdoor walk-through Halloween experience, with thousands of hand-carved pumpkins along the path, complete with music, displays, and special effects. It’s a family friendly event, which is good because my friend and I went through a haunted house once, and they had to come in and lead us out because we were too scared to move. And yes, I was an adult when this happened.
I have no Hallowe’eny zoo pictures, so I thought I would experiment with AI. I call the first picture “The dingo ate my candy!” If you know the saying I am referencing, you are of a certain age, like me! You can visit the dingo habitat at the Saskatoon Zoo, but I promise they won’t steal your candy.
This snowy owl was just innocently perusing her environment and I took a picture and AI’d it into a Hallowe’en theme. How rude of me, but I mean no disrespect.
Tickets for Pumpkins After Dark are on sale at: https://pumpkinsafterdark.com. Use code ZOOPUMPKIN for 15% off and support the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation!
Also, the Saskatoon Zoo and Forestry Farm Park is open all year long, so drop by for a visit when you get a chance. A reminder, the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation’s mandate is to raise funds for capital projects and improvements. When you donate, you are helping the animals as well as the visitors, who then become more connected with nature. Along with wildlife conservation, the Zoo is about education and research.
Your Zoo Foundation blogger,
Carol Thomson
