The Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo recently acquired an opossum. In July, the public was invited to help select its name and, by popular vote, chose Leonard, or Lenny. Other choices were Billy and Theodore.
As with all new animals at the zoo, Lenny is in quarantine for a few days and is not yet available for public viewing.
Zoo Curator/Supervisor Ashley Burdick said the “possum” was found in a backyard with no mother in sight and he tried to latch onto a dog.
“He had to be tube fed for many weeks and doesn’t really have a fear of humans.” He also struggles to gripe things well enough to survive on his own in the wild, so he will live at the zoo and will be used for educational programs.
World Lion Day
Saturday, Aug. 12, the zoo will celebrate World Lion Day. There will be a Keeper Chat at the lion exhibit at 1:30 p.m. The zoo has three lions – a male and two females.
Wine in the Wild
Tickets have just gone on sale for the 2023 Wine in the Wild event, which will be held at the zoo on Sept. 15 from 5-8 p.m. “This is a fundraiser for the zoo and we’ll have wine tastings from Rosewood, hors d’oeuvres from The Spread, as well as live music and a silent auction,” Burdick said. “Tickets can be purchased at City Hall.”
Storm cleanup
When central Kansas was hit by a major storm on July 16, the zoo did not escape damage. Before the night was over, the zoo staff had a post on Facebook letting everyone know that all animals were safe and secure. Cleanup began on Monday the 17th and portions of the zoo were not open to the public for several days. A zoo day camp was canceled.
The weather has played a factor in many decisions at the zoo this summer. The doors closed early on July 14 because of a downpour. There have also been days when the temperature was 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Anytime it is 85 degrees or warmer, the animals are allowed to choose whether they will come outside where they are visible in their yards, or stay inside, out of public view.
The zoo remains open for its regular hours, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and admission is free. A few signs of the storm remain. A sign warns visitors to be respectful of any barriers as there are still large trees to be taken down.
