Aloha!
It's been quite awhile since I've updated everyone, and I'm sorry about that. I guess I got pretty caught up in working! Don't worry though because Week 2 was just about the same in the Bear Mtn section. One of the keepers I was shadowing is very high energy and ambitious, so she pretty much used me as a work horse/pack mule/gun show to muscle around a lot of thing. We did a lot of big cleaning projects (like hosing down the mountain exhibits for the sheep, draining and cleaning bear pools, and filling up wolf dens).
The wolf dens were the hardest because their yard was so overgrown with weeds that you really had to search for the dens they were digging. You might be wondering why we were filling them? Well wolf dens are dug underground, usually under a large rock or old tree. They are dug in a "U" shape and they are too small for most people to fit in. Well when they had to tranquilize a wolf a few weeks ago, he ran into one of the dens and they had to get him out. It's dangerous for keepers because you can't see the wolf down there! It also makes pulling the wolf out very difficult. The biggest problem was that these wolves are really old, and they had to pull and tug and his hips and legs to get him out (not good on 16 year olds with joint problems). So that is why we filled the dens. Filling the dens included wheel barreling broken up chunks of concrete, throwing them into the holes, then filling the gaps with wheel barrels of dirt. Kate left me to do most of the heavy lifting while she cleaned their pool. We joked about it later, but it sure was hard work!
That was the last day I worked in the Bear Mtn section and this past week I started work with some fellow Californians: Harbor seals and California seal lions. This section is totally different. There is hardly any heavy lifting or manual labor. It's more of a relaxed setting which is nice at some times, but I got a little antsy this week waiting to do things. There is only so much I am allowed to do as an intern, and it's hard because I want to do more with the animals and less with the dishes. Gotta work your way up though! The seals and sea lions get A LOT of training. There are 4 harbor seals and 5 CA sea lions and they each get 3-5 training session a day. These sessions include basic behaviors like "down" and "target" (like a hand or training stick) to advanced things like "play dead" and "crawl". It's amazing how smart the sea lions are! They're like dogs with flippers.
In case you don't know the different between the species sea lions are the big, loud, and obnoxious ones that flop on boat decks and harbor seals are the little guys that are more spotted that move on the beach like slugs. So because the harbor seals are so slow, I am allowed to hand feed them! It's pretty fun, but you have to pay attention when feeding them. Some of them have poor vision/are blind and could easily mistake your hand for food. Because the sea lions are fast (and much larger) than the seals, we are not allowed to feed them, but we do get to watch their training session in very close proximity. Like within an arms reach. Friday I got a sea lion kiss! It was pretty cute.
I'm starting to get a little more settled in, but I have to say seeing the seals/sea lions makes me miss the beach even more :( It's just not the same. Especially since on weekends at home if I got bored I could just go to the beach! That's not the case and it's such a bummer! I'll have to find something else around here. Welp, time to run some errands and pay bills. Hello, Real World. Take care until next time!!
~Kaleena
Monday, August 29, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Week 1
Hey everyone!
Well, it's been a pretty good first week out here! I'm still getting settled in, but it get a little better every day. As far as my internship goes, this first week was a lot of procedural stuff. Paper work, meetings with important department heads and supervisors. But it's still a lot of fun! The way we decided to set the internship was that I'd bounce between the 5 sections within the carnivore department, and I'll spend 2 weeks in each section. Currently I'm working in the Bear Mountain section. This includes asiatic bears, grizzly bears, wolves, coatis, big horn sheep, and dall's sheep. Now I know that sheep are not carnivores, but its sectioned this way due to exhibit location in the zoo. The bears and the sheep are really close together, so for efficiency they are grouped with us. In case you were wondering what they heck coatis are, they're like raccoons from South America.
There is a usual routine that the keepers have and I am helping them along in those activities including: cleaning, feeding, diet prep, and shifting (almost). Shifting is moving animals within the exhibit so that we can feed them/lock them in to clean the exhibits. All of the animals with the exception of the coatis are considered Code Red Animals. Meaning that they can kill you. So, interns aren't allowed to shift/be alone with said Code Red Animals. While I do have keys that unlock all the exhibits, it's still just a precaution. I'd rather keep all my limbs anyway, so supervision is ok with me.
I'd have to say that the bears are my favorite so far! There are a male and female for both species, and they all have their own personalities. It's fun to see! While we are separated by multiple reinforced barriers to keep us safe, at points there is only steel fencing and I'm inches away from them! All animals are in the zoo are under what's called Protective Contact. Meaning there is no direct interaction with people. It's safer for everyone because even though some of the animals have been in captivity their whole lives, they are still wild and have the potential (even if accidental) to kill you. The wolves are SUPER old (16) which makes them not as cool as you'd think. They're almost deaf and they want nothing to do with people. They're still fun to watch trot around, but they're not like dogs at all. While the sheep seem harmless, each group has a ram and they are what's dangerous about the exhibits. The Big Horn sheep especially. He rams the doors you happen to be standing next to, and he could easily kill you. He'd break all the bones in your hand if you leave it hanging through the fence. Gotta be careful!
Well I think that's all for now! My weekends are Mondays and Tuesdays if anyone decides to visit :) and some of you were wondering about my address: 2952 East 13th Avenue, Denver, CO, 80206
Aloha
Well, it's been a pretty good first week out here! I'm still getting settled in, but it get a little better every day. As far as my internship goes, this first week was a lot of procedural stuff. Paper work, meetings with important department heads and supervisors. But it's still a lot of fun! The way we decided to set the internship was that I'd bounce between the 5 sections within the carnivore department, and I'll spend 2 weeks in each section. Currently I'm working in the Bear Mountain section. This includes asiatic bears, grizzly bears, wolves, coatis, big horn sheep, and dall's sheep. Now I know that sheep are not carnivores, but its sectioned this way due to exhibit location in the zoo. The bears and the sheep are really close together, so for efficiency they are grouped with us. In case you were wondering what they heck coatis are, they're like raccoons from South America.
There is a usual routine that the keepers have and I am helping them along in those activities including: cleaning, feeding, diet prep, and shifting (almost). Shifting is moving animals within the exhibit so that we can feed them/lock them in to clean the exhibits. All of the animals with the exception of the coatis are considered Code Red Animals. Meaning that they can kill you. So, interns aren't allowed to shift/be alone with said Code Red Animals. While I do have keys that unlock all the exhibits, it's still just a precaution. I'd rather keep all my limbs anyway, so supervision is ok with me.
I'd have to say that the bears are my favorite so far! There are a male and female for both species, and they all have their own personalities. It's fun to see! While we are separated by multiple reinforced barriers to keep us safe, at points there is only steel fencing and I'm inches away from them! All animals are in the zoo are under what's called Protective Contact. Meaning there is no direct interaction with people. It's safer for everyone because even though some of the animals have been in captivity their whole lives, they are still wild and have the potential (even if accidental) to kill you. The wolves are SUPER old (16) which makes them not as cool as you'd think. They're almost deaf and they want nothing to do with people. They're still fun to watch trot around, but they're not like dogs at all. While the sheep seem harmless, each group has a ram and they are what's dangerous about the exhibits. The Big Horn sheep especially. He rams the doors you happen to be standing next to, and he could easily kill you. He'd break all the bones in your hand if you leave it hanging through the fence. Gotta be careful!
Well I think that's all for now! My weekends are Mondays and Tuesdays if anyone decides to visit :) and some of you were wondering about my address: 2952 East 13th Avenue, Denver, CO, 80206
Aloha
Monday, August 8, 2011
DENVER!
Hi again!
I arrived to my new house late Saturday afternoon. I was so tired from all the driving that I moved most of my stuff into the house, but didn't unpack it. All I wanted was a hot shower and to lie down! I was also far too lazy to cook anything, so I grabbed a menu off the dining room table and ordered some Thai. It was great! Panang Curry with tofu and veggies :) Claudia is really nice, and she is just as I had imagined her. A very slender, slow moving, feng shui human. She generally keeps to herself in the office.
Yesterday (Sunday) I went for a morning run through City Park, and ran to the zoo just to check it out. It looks great from the outside! I went into the gift shop just to peek around and there was Sara (the only person I know in Denver)! It was pretty funny since we hadn't seen each other since high school. We talked for a little bit and are headed out tonight for some beers! The rest of Sunday I spent lounging around. I unpacked all my clothes and tried to make my room as comfy as possible. The house is like a giant antique. The hallway walls are pink and the furniture has a mild old wood/moth ball smell. But it's a roof over my head for cheap, so I can't complain. I managed to get out of the house to go buy food. Claudia gave me a kind of judgmental look when I asked about a regular grocery store and not a natural/whole foods place. Hello, college grad on a budget! I was making some pasta with veggies and wanted a glass of wine to go with it, but when I went to find alcohol, my efforts were fruitless. I was really confused! then I realized there was no hard alcohol either! Grocery stores in CO do not sell liquor!!! Only a limited selection of beer. Luckily, there is a liquor store a block away from the house, so I found my bottle of delicious Pinot Nior :)
Today should be fun! I'm planning on a run, shower, possible visit to the museum, and then who knows. I just want to get a feel for some more of the city today. This morning I walked about a mile to check out a bike. Small world the girl was 26 and moving to Berkley! We talked for a bit and then I bought her bike. Great deal! $60 for a bike that looked pretty new and she gave me 2 bike locks! She was sad to see it go, but she said she might be back to Denver in a few months, so I said maybe she could buy it back in November when I leave. Small world!!
That's all for now :)
~K
I arrived to my new house late Saturday afternoon. I was so tired from all the driving that I moved most of my stuff into the house, but didn't unpack it. All I wanted was a hot shower and to lie down! I was also far too lazy to cook anything, so I grabbed a menu off the dining room table and ordered some Thai. It was great! Panang Curry with tofu and veggies :) Claudia is really nice, and she is just as I had imagined her. A very slender, slow moving, feng shui human. She generally keeps to herself in the office.
Yesterday (Sunday) I went for a morning run through City Park, and ran to the zoo just to check it out. It looks great from the outside! I went into the gift shop just to peek around and there was Sara (the only person I know in Denver)! It was pretty funny since we hadn't seen each other since high school. We talked for a little bit and are headed out tonight for some beers! The rest of Sunday I spent lounging around. I unpacked all my clothes and tried to make my room as comfy as possible. The house is like a giant antique. The hallway walls are pink and the furniture has a mild old wood/moth ball smell. But it's a roof over my head for cheap, so I can't complain. I managed to get out of the house to go buy food. Claudia gave me a kind of judgmental look when I asked about a regular grocery store and not a natural/whole foods place. Hello, college grad on a budget! I was making some pasta with veggies and wanted a glass of wine to go with it, but when I went to find alcohol, my efforts were fruitless. I was really confused! then I realized there was no hard alcohol either! Grocery stores in CO do not sell liquor!!! Only a limited selection of beer. Luckily, there is a liquor store a block away from the house, so I found my bottle of delicious Pinot Nior :)
Today should be fun! I'm planning on a run, shower, possible visit to the museum, and then who knows. I just want to get a feel for some more of the city today. This morning I walked about a mile to check out a bike. Small world the girl was 26 and moving to Berkley! We talked for a bit and then I bought her bike. Great deal! $60 for a bike that looked pretty new and she gave me 2 bike locks! She was sad to see it go, but she said she might be back to Denver in a few months, so I said maybe she could buy it back in November when I leave. Small world!!
That's all for now :)
~K
Friday, August 5, 2011
Grab a cup of coffee before reading :)
Hello All! I’m back safely in the internet world, for the moment, and I have included so much that if you get tired of reading I’m doing a bullet point summary at the end. So scroll down.
Zion 8/2-8/4
Zion was absolutely amazing. Words can’t even describe how beautiful it was, and pictures would not do it justice. Due to my car troubles, I left Vegas a little later than I had planned, but I made it to Zion’s Watchman campgrounds just after sunset on Tuesday (which made pitching my tent so fun). Not to mention it was about 100° plus humidity outside at 9 o’clock. After getting all my things sorted out I relaxed and read for the evening, before trying to sleep without sweating. I was not successful in the latter.
Wednesday had a lot of activities it felt like. I started my morning with a 2.5 mile hike on the Watchman trail. It was really close to the campsite (hence the trail name) but it offered spectacular views of the lower canyon and of the drive in. Because it wasn’t later in the afternoon, the shade from the mountains surrounding the trail cast some really beautiful shadows all over the canyon. Perfect first hike. As I was getting back from my perfect hike, all smiling and happy thinking about the beer I’m going to open, I see a whole in the bottom of my tent. ANIMAL ENCOUNTER #1: SQUIRRELS had chewed a hole into my tent and were proceeding to eat the food that was in my tent. I yelled and they all scampered away. The camp host helped me patch it with duct tape, and that’s when he informed me that Zion has VERY AGGRESSIVE squirrels. I’ve never wished more for a BB gun in my life. After the squirrel fiasco, I had some lunch and napped. Then I tried my luck with fishing down at the small river that runs through the site, but was unsuccessful. The current was “too prone to flash flooding for fish to live there,” or that’s what the rangers said.
Since you only live once, and I might not ever stop back in Zion, I decided to go on a 5.4 mile “medium difficulty” trail, Angels Landing. “You should not hike this trail if you are afraid of heights. Steep drop offs. Narrow trails. Slippery and treacherous when wet, windy, or when snow is present. 6 hikers have died hiking the trail.” Super appealing! No, but seriously the ranger recommended it. So I did it. 1,500 feet and 1.25 hours later, I was standing at the top. Photos will show you how gnarly (yup I said it, Jo) the trail was. I almost peed on the last section.
After reaching the top and having a Rocky Balboa staircase victory moment; the view was totally worth it. It was an on top of the world feelings. I was at the highest point on this enormous rock, looking down into a valley and it was just incredible. Then I saw lightning flash in the distance and it was time to go. The coolest part about the hike down, was hearing the thunder. It wasn’t very loud, but it was so cool because you could hear it boom in one spot and then you would get to hear it rumble against every mountain in the canyon. It just lasted forever!
I was exhausted from all the hiking, so I was in tent early. ANIMAL ENCOUNTER #2: mouse enters tent while I’m reading! I saw the little bastard (excuse me) walk in through the tiny opening in the zipper and I jumped up. I tried to shoo him back out of the open tent, but he could not figure it out. I tried to force him into a cup, and got close but no cigar. I did manage to “fling” him out though with a swift smack of the flat edge of my “bear knife.” By fling I meant I smacked him and killed him. No cutting or slicing. Just BFT. Blunt force trauma.The thunder and lightning continued through majority of the nights. The lighting was cool because you could see it flash from inside the tent. The rain finally helped put me to sleep.
Today has been so long! I started by packing up all my things after a yummy eggs with chili and cheese breakfast (Don’t judge me; I burned a lot of calories yesterday). Then I went for my last hike in Zion: The Emerald Pools. It was short but gorgeous again. The trail led you to a series of pools underneath a waterfall or two. They’re named for the green algae that grows in them. I got through with the hike, refilled on some water and then left to Fishlake National Forest’s Single Tree campgrounds.
Single Tree 8/4
The drive to Fishlake was even better than the one to Zion. The array of scenery was simply amazing. From meadows and creeks, to mountainous red rocks, to canyons for miles it was all pretty eye widening. Fish Lake is also gorgeous. I’m liking it better than Zion mostly because it’s not a desert. It’s so quiet and peaceful and exactly what I needed. My campsite it right next to a little meadow. Patsy and Richard, the camp hosts are hilarious. They’re so old and just loving living out of a RV. I must have some rain juju , because this afternoon was on and off thunderstorms. We even got 30 seconds of hail! I’ve spent the afternoon reading and relaxing :)
Tomorrow I’ll be fishing all day. Patsy told me the secret spot and said they come up with2-3lb trout! *fingers crossed* Patsy also told me that bears have been spotted up the road lately. Stay tuned for possible ANIMNAL ENCOUNTER #3.
~Kaleena
SUMMARY
· Zion was really pretty.
· Hiked 3 different trails, almost died on the second one.
· Had 2 ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
· Thunder and lightning
· Drove to Fishlake. Also really pretty.
· Not a desert, actually a forest
· More thunder and lightning
· Fishing and hiking tomorrow
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Vegas
Day 2 of Vegas has been absolutely amazing!
We started nice and early with breakfast at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino. The next stop was Big 5 where I picked up a large "bear" knife. Should I come in contact with a bear in Utah, it best be prepared to get stabbed and doused in pepper spray (courtesy of Mom). Then we headed over to Mandalay Bay to see Shark Reef. It was pretty cool! Lots of sharks (obviously) and the tanks were really well designed. Fun to walk through with all the glass windows and tunnels. After Shark Reef, we made our way over to Fred and Margie's usual Thai place. SO GOOD. I had the spicy thai noodles which may not have been the best choice in the 100 degree weather today, but it was delicious none the less. Lunch was followed by an afternoon nap.
After my cat nap, we received some kind of bummer news. My car will remain in the shop over night. They replaced the fan that cools down the engine, but the thermostat was still jumping up when it shouldn't have been. They were still running tests on it, and hopefully it will be ready at a decent time tomorrow so that I can get on the road to Zion. But, at least I'm in Vegas where family can take care of me and not in the middle of no where stranded!
The day finished better than I could have asked for though. I had the pants down, yea I said it...the pants down BEST MEAL of my life. We ate over at Sunset Station again, but this time in there Sonoma Cellars Steak House. We started with some great appetizers: Ceasar salad, jumbo shrimp cocktail, bacon wrapped shrimp, and crab cakes (nom nom nom nom!). Dinner was paired with probably the best bottle of wine I've ever had the pleasure of drinking. A 2007 Nickles & Nickles Cab Sauv. Dinner itself was the Surf & Turf special. A 5oz filet and a 5 oz lobster tail, with a plethora of sides including mashed potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, and potatoes au gratine. I was beyond full at this point, but we all know I'm no quiter...so we continued gorging ourselves with tiramisu and dolce de leche. Dessert was paired with Taylor Tawny, a 20 year old dessert wine, and quite possibly the best cup of coffee I've ever had, too. I am still full to say the least and tomorrow I'm going to try and avoid food in order to fit into my shorts.
Happy eating to the rest of you!
We started nice and early with breakfast at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino. The next stop was Big 5 where I picked up a large "bear" knife. Should I come in contact with a bear in Utah, it best be prepared to get stabbed and doused in pepper spray (courtesy of Mom). Then we headed over to Mandalay Bay to see Shark Reef. It was pretty cool! Lots of sharks (obviously) and the tanks were really well designed. Fun to walk through with all the glass windows and tunnels. After Shark Reef, we made our way over to Fred and Margie's usual Thai place. SO GOOD. I had the spicy thai noodles which may not have been the best choice in the 100 degree weather today, but it was delicious none the less. Lunch was followed by an afternoon nap.
After my cat nap, we received some kind of bummer news. My car will remain in the shop over night. They replaced the fan that cools down the engine, but the thermostat was still jumping up when it shouldn't have been. They were still running tests on it, and hopefully it will be ready at a decent time tomorrow so that I can get on the road to Zion. But, at least I'm in Vegas where family can take care of me and not in the middle of no where stranded!
The day finished better than I could have asked for though. I had the pants down, yea I said it...the pants down BEST MEAL of my life. We ate over at Sunset Station again, but this time in there Sonoma Cellars Steak House. We started with some great appetizers: Ceasar salad, jumbo shrimp cocktail, bacon wrapped shrimp, and crab cakes (nom nom nom nom!). Dinner was paired with probably the best bottle of wine I've ever had the pleasure of drinking. A 2007 Nickles & Nickles Cab Sauv. Dinner itself was the Surf & Turf special. A 5oz filet and a 5 oz lobster tail, with a plethora of sides including mashed potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, and potatoes au gratine. I was beyond full at this point, but we all know I'm no quiter...so we continued gorging ourselves with tiramisu and dolce de leche. Dessert was paired with Taylor Tawny, a 20 year old dessert wine, and quite possibly the best cup of coffee I've ever had, too. I am still full to say the least and tomorrow I'm going to try and avoid food in order to fit into my shorts.
Happy eating to the rest of you!
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