Porcupine

Spike does not shoot quills, as most believe, but he does slap his tail hard against the ground, which makes the quills fly out. He is nocturnal which means he sleeps in the daytime.

The porcupine is the prickliest of rodents, though its Latin name means, "quill pig."

There are about two dozen porcupine species, and all boast a coat of needle-like quills to give predators a sharp reminder that this animal is no easy meal. Some quills, like those of Africa's crested porcupine, are nearly a foot (30 centimeters) long.

Porcupines have soft hair, but on their back, sides, and tail it is usually mixed with sharp quills. These quills typically lie flat until a porcupine is threatened, then leap to attention as a persuasive deterrent. Porcupines cannot shoot them at predators as once thought, but the quills do detach easily when touched.

The porcupines found in North and South America are good climbers and spend much of their time in trees. Some even have prehensile (gripping) tails to aid in climbing.

The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest of all porcupines. A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills. North American porcupines use their large front teeth to satisfy a healthy appetite for wood. They eat natural bark and stems, and have been known to invade campgrounds and chew on canoe paddles. North American porcupines also eat fruit, leaves, and springtime buds.

American Bald Eagle

Liberty came to Clovis as a very young, injured bird. After surgery and rehabilitation it was obvious she would never make it in the wild so she makes her home here.

Bald eagles remain most abundant in Alaska and Canada.

These powerful birds of prey use their talons to fish, but they get many of their meals by scavenging carrion or stealing the kills of other animals. They live near water and favor coasts and lakes where fish are plentiful, though they will also snare and eat small mammals.

Do not pick up feathers in this area; it is against the law to be in possession of any part of a Bald Eagle.

Miniature Horse

Mini Me came to Hillcrest Zoo from a private owner who, without realizing the danger, put him in a yard with a pet German Shepherd. After a fight, Mini Me lost one eye. He is very happy to be safe again and his best friend and neighbor, Jackie (one of our Muntjacs), rarely leaves his side.

Miniature horses have a long history and a worldwide distribution. Their exact origins are obscure and they vary from country to country. But horses and ponies, bred-down through selective breeding techniques to become miniaturized horses, have been developed on every continent. In Europe they originated in the 17th Century, where pony breeds were bred as pets for the nobility and others were developed to work in coalmines. The term "miniature horse" encompasses all of these breeds and is considered a breed in and of itself.

Miniature Horses have been known by a variety of names, with the most common being the Miniature Horse, Miniature Ponies, or the Mini Horse. Some are also called Toy Horses, Pigmy Horses, and Dwarf Horses. A few other less familiar titles include Tiny Horse, Midget Horse, and Miniature Toy Horse. Generally the smallest miniature horses will be about 18 1/2 to 19 inches, but the smallest miniature on record was a stallion named 'Little Pumpkin' that stood only 14 inches tall.

Muntjac

Ty (male) and Jackie (female), came from Spring River Zoo in Roswell. Known as barking deer. Close friends of neighbor Mini Me.

Muntjacs are small deer, with dark red-brown fur and white patches on the chin, throat and rump. Males have small antlers (max 15cm) that point backwards, and females have tufts of hair in place of antlers. These deer also have tusks, which are actually extended upper canine teeth. The female's tusks are shorter than the male's. Males have a V-shaped marking running from their forehead to their nose.

Unlike many other species of deer, muntjacs are solitary, but small groups may sometimes gather at feeding areas. They tend to occupy territories of around 14 hectares, which they rarely leave.

Muntjacs bark when disturbed and in the case of females (does), when in season. They are active both day and night, but the main feeding periods are dawn, dusk and in the middle of the day.

Chihuahuan Raven

A big black bird of the southwestern deserts, the Chihuahuan Raven is intermediate between crows and ravens in many ways. It has the shape of a raven but is the size of a crow.

This bird?s diet consists of large insects, cultivated grains, carrion, eggs, young birds, fruits, lizards, small mammals, and garbage.

Dove

White Doves are small birds, about 12" from head to tail. They will live an average of 10 - 15 years, though some may live over 25 years.

In the 1800's & early 1900's the Ringneck Dove and the White Dove were considered to be two different species/races of dove due to the difference in their coloration. They were labeled the "Blond Ringneck" Steptopelia risoria and the "White Ringneck" Streptopelia alba. Many years elapsed before it was determined that these two birds were the same species, just two different color phases. These two colors were the only known colors in the United States until the 1950's.

They are good-natured social creatures that do well when kept in cages or in aviaries. They can be rather territorial however, and will need plenty of personal space. They can be easily tamed with very little effort. They form permanent pairs and mates do well if kept together.

Cavy

Ours is female, part of a pair originally. She always comes running when her keeper brings rodent biscuits.

Closely related to guinea pigs, chinchillas, degus and capybaras, the Patagonian cavy is the second largest rodent in the world. When fully grown, they stand up to 2 feet tall at the shoulders, can be as much as 2 1/2 feet from nose to tail, and weigh nearly 35 pounds! Only the capybara - at 4 feet from head to tail and weighing up to 100 pounds - is larger.

Including over 1,700 different species, the rodent family is by far the largest and most diverse order of mammals, including animals as seemingly different as the field mouse, the porcupine, and the springhaas. However, all have several characteristics in common.

Many of these similarities relate to their teeth. For example, all rodents have four incisors and lack molars. In all rodents, the incisors grow throughout the animal's life. And, all rodents have teeth, which are fairly soft inside, but have hard outer surfaces.

Also known as the mara, Patagonian cavies are found in the dry grasslands of the Argentine foothills, in an area known as Patagonia. Although excellent diggers, Patagonian cavies generally inhabit burrows abandoned by other animals, small caves and other naturally occurring shelters.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Stumpy and Patch have similar stories to the Eagle. Injured in the wild, lucky to be alive, safe, and well fed. These birds of prey are also known as buzzard hawks and red hawks. By any name, they are keen-eyed and efficient hunters.

Red-tails prefer open areas, such as fields or deserts, with high perching places nearby from which they can watch for prey. These birds are adaptable though, and also dwell in mountains and tropical rain forests.

Hawks have even embraced human habitats. They often perch on telephone poles and take advantage of the open spaces along the roadside to spot and seize mice, ground squirrels, rabbits, reptiles, or other prey.

Great-Horned Owl

The great horned owl is the most common owl of the Americas, easily recognizable because of the feather tufts on its head. These "plumicorns" resemble horns or, to some, catlike ears.

Great horned owls are adaptable birds and live from the Arctic to South America. They are at home in suburbia as well as in woods and farmlands. Northern populations migrate in winter, but most live permanently in more temperate climes.

The birds nest in tree holes, stumps, caves, or in the abandoned nests of other large birds. Monogamous pairs have one to five eggs (two is typical), both the male and female incubate, and the male also hunts for food. Owls are powerful birds and fiercely protective parents. They have even been known to attack humans who wander too close to their young.

Like other owls, these birds have an incredible digestive system. They sometimes swallow their prey whole and later regurgitate pellets composed of bone, fur, and the other unwanted parts of their meal. Owls are efficient nighttime hunters that strike from above, and use their powerful talons to kill and carry animals several times heavier than themselves. Owls prey on a huge variety of creatures, including raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, domestic birds, falcons, and other owls. They regularly eat skunks, and may be the only animal with such an appetite. They sometimes hunt for smaller game by standing or walking along the ground. Owls have even been known to prey upon unlucky cats and dogs.

Great horned owls are largely nocturnal so they can be difficult to spot. But in the dark after sunset, or just before dawn, they can often be heard vocalizing with their well known series of "Hoo H'hoos!"

Scarlet Macaw

Macaws are intelligent, social birds that often gather in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. Their loud calls, squawks, and screams echo through the forest canopy. Macaws vocalize to communicate within the flock, mark territory, and identify one another. Some species can even mimic human speech.

Flocks sleep in the trees at night, and in the morning they may fly long distances to feed on fruit, nuts, insects, and snails. Some species also eat damp soil, which may help to neutralize chemicals in their fruity diet and ease their stomachs.

Macaws typically mate for life. They not only breed with, but also share food with their mates and enjoy mutual grooming. In breeding season, mothers incubate eggs while fathers hunt and bring food back to the nest.

Many macaws have vibrant plumage. The coloring is suited to life in Central and South American rain forests, with their green canopies and colorful fruits and flowers. The birds boast large, powerful beaks that easily crack nuts and seeds, while their dry, scaly tongues have a bone inside them that makes them an effective tool for tapping into fruits.

Macaws also have gripping toes that they use to latch onto branches and to grab, hold, and examine items. The birds sport graceful tails that are typically very long.

There are 17 species of macaws, and several are endangered. These playful birds are popular pets, and many are illegally trapped for that trade. The rain forest homes of many species are also disappearing at an alarming rate.

Blue and Gold Macaw

Macaws are intelligent, social birds that often gather in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. Their loud calls, squawks, and screams echo through the forest canopy. Macaws vocalize to communicate within the flock, mark territory, and identify one another. Some species can even mimic human speech.

Flocks sleep in the trees at night, and in the morning they may fly long distances to feed on fruit, nuts, insects, and snails. Some species also eat damp soil, which may help to neutralize chemicals in their fruity diet and ease their stomachs.

Macaws typically mate for life. They not only breed with, but also share food with their mates and enjoy mutual grooming. In breeding season, mothers incubate eggs while fathers hunt and bring food back to the nest.

Many macaws have vibrant plumage. The coloring is suited to life in Central and South American rain forests, with their green canopies and colorful fruits and flowers. The birds boast large, powerful beaks that easily crack nuts and seeds, while their dry, scaly tongues have a bone inside them that makes them an effective tool for tapping into fruits.

Macaws also have gripping toes that they use to latch onto branches and to grab, hold, and examine items. The birds sport graceful tails that are typically very long.

There are 17 species of macaws, and several are endangered. These playful birds are popular pets, and many are illegally trapped for that trade. The rain forest homes of many species are also disappearing at an alarming rate.

Siberian Tiger

Blondie came to us from G.W. Animal Park in Oklahoma. He was being housed as a "breeder" in a horse trailer in Texas, where he was originally rescued. There are currently more tigers in captivity than in the wild. Tigers are solitary by choice in the wild or otherwise, unless breeding.

Siberian (or Amur) tigers are the world's largest cats. They live primarily in eastern Russia's birch forests, though some exist in China and North Korea. There are an estimated 400 to 500 Siberian tigers living in the wild, and recent studies suggest that these numbers are stable. Though their northern climate is far harsher than the habitats of other tigers, these animals have some advantages. Northern forests offer the lowest human density of any tiger habitat, and the most complete ecosystem. The vast woodlands also allow tigers far more room to roam, as Russia's timber industry is currently less extensive than that of many other countries.

Tigers are the largest of all wild cats and are renowned for their power and strength. There were once eight tiger subspecies, but three became extinct during the 20th century. Over the last hundred years, hunting and forest destruction have reduced overall tiger populations from hundreds of thousands to perhaps 5,000 to 7,000. Tigers are hunted as trophies and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. All five remaining tiger subspecies are endangered, and many protection programs are in place. Poaching is a reduced, but still very significant, threat to Siberian tigers.

They are powerful hunters that travel many miles to find prey, such as elk and wild boar, on nocturnal hunts. Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes) and hunt by stealth. They lie in wait and creep close enough to attack their victims with a quick spring and a fatal pounce. A hungry tiger can eat as much as 60 pounds (27 kilograms) in one night, though they usually eat less.

Cougar

Simba and Nala were hand-raised by Zoo staff and are now 14-years of age. Cougars, also known as Puma, and Mountain Lions, are solitary by nature and prefer to be alone unless they are breeding.

Once the most widely distributed land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, cougars have been eliminated in most of their native habitat. Only western cougars still live in large enough numbers to maintain breeding populations, and they live on wild lands in the western United States and Canada. Observations of western cougars provide biologists with information for the cats that once lived east of the Mississippi.

Although generally presumed extinct in the wild, eastern cougars remain protected by the Endangered Species Act. Eastern cougars historically ranged from Michigan, southern Ontario, eastern Canada and Maine south to South Carolina and west across Tennessee. At one time, they lived in every eastern state in a variety of habitats including coastal marshes, mountains and forests.

Cougars usually do not chase down their prey, but stalk and ambush; a cougar may leap as far as 20 feet onto a deer's back and can kill an animal with one bite to the neck. One cougar consumes a deer every week to 10 days, or more frequently if a female is feeding cubs. Cougars have no natural enemies, only humans.

Cougars are mostly lone animals, except for mothers raising cubs and the time a pair spends together while mating. Males may occupy a range of more than 25 square miles and females between 5 and 20 square miles. Both females and males defend home territories. Cougars begin breeding at two or three years old and breed once every two or three years. Females initiate courtship and produce a litter of two to three kittens after a three month gestation. The kittens reach 10 pounds at eight weeks, and may weigh 30 to 45 pounds at six months. Females spend 18 to 24 months raising cubs to maturity. Cougars live an average of eight years.

Bobcat

As a tribute to their dispositions, the Bobcats are named after the Osborne Family (Ozzie, Sharon, Aimee and Kelly). The second male (Bobby) was raised as a housepet until about 9 months old when he became unruly. After being donated to the zoo, he was introduced to Kelly and now they are a pair.

They adapt well to numerous habitats from woods, swamps, and brushy land, near to or remote from human populations. Adults may reach 30 to 40 inches long (including their short tail), stand 15 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh between 15 and 30 pounds.

Mating takes place in February. Dens are generally established in hollow trees and logs, or small caves and thickets. After a gestation period of about 50 days, two to four young are born blind, helpless, but fully furred. Bobcats are mostly crepuscular (active at night) and feed on rabbits and rodents, but also feed on squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and even deer.

Rothschild Giraffe

Jael came to us from White's Animal Kingdom in Carlsbad, NM. Now fully grown, we are presently trying to find her a suitable mate. Mose the Pygmy Goat was introduced to keep her company and they became FAST friends acting almost like mother and child. Giraffes have the same number of neck bones as we do.

Males stand up to 18 feet tall and weigh up to 4,200 pounds; females grow to 16 feet tall and weigh up to 2,500 pounds.

Female giraffes travel in loosely structured herds, as do young males. However, older males are usually solitary, spending their days seeking female herds containing prospective mates. Males sometimes fight, using their up-to-25-pound heads, nine-inch horns, and strong necks. (These battles rarely result in injury.) Females protect their young by kicking at predators with their dinner-plate-sized hooves. First-year calves join creches, which are often left unattended by adults. Ever watchful for predators, giraffes sleep only about a half-hour a day, and this time is usually broken up into about six, five-minute naps.

For about as long as people have been able to hunt large animals, they have sought giraffes as prey. Although people still hunt giraffes, habitat destruction is the greatest threat to them and many of Africa's other large animals. Hunting and habitat loss have driven giraffes to extinction in a number of countries, including Mauritania, Senegal, and possibly Mozambique and Mali. When farms abut giraffe habitat, the animals often raid crops. Some farmers shoot them. However, many cattle ranchers don't mind these high-level browsers, which do not compete with their livestock for food. The future of giraffes, and Africa's other famed plains animals, lies in careful conservation of extensive habitats, both on park and private lands.

Asian Small-Clawed Otter

Houdini and Angel got their names after escape artists and magicians. They tried to escape the very first day they entered their new enclosure. They love fish and love to play in water though it is very hard to find toys they will not destroy. They may look cute and cuddly BUT they can be quite vicious and would bite your nose off if given a chance.

These otters are the smallest of the world's 13 otter species. They live around freshwater streams, rivers, and creeks as well as coastal regions, often near dense foliage.

Webbed paws and great manual dexterity allow otters to grab a variety of animals living near the water's edge, including crabs, mussels, frogs, and snails.

American Black Bear

Bailey and Willow are sisters born in 2007. They came to us from a wildlife park in Oklahoma.

The black bear is the smallest of the North American bears. Adult bears stand about 28 to 32 inches at the shoulders and measure about 60 inches from nose to tail.

The tail is about 4 inches long. Males are usually larger than females of the same age. An average adult male in summer weighs 180 to 350 pounds. In the fall when bears are building a thick layer of fat for the winter, they may be 20% to 30% heavier than in the summer. Bears will weigh considerably less when they emerge from their dens.

Bears are plantigrade, walking with the entire lower surface of the foot on the ground (like humans). Bears have 5 toes, each with curved, nonretractable claws, and they tend to walk in a shuffling, flat-footed manner. They also are extremely agile for their size and sometimes stand erect on their hind feet to see and smell better. Their short but powerful legs enable black bears to run up to 30 miles per hour for short distances. They can climb easily and swim well.

Black bears are omnivores and opportunistic, feeding largely on vegetation. Seventy to eighty percent of the black bear's diet consists of available roots, tubers, bulbs, berries (especially elderberries and snowberries), succulent leaves of hardwoods, grasses and nuts such as acorns. As much as 20% of their diet may consist of amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, fish, ants and other insects. Utah's black bears feed extensively on carpenter ants in downed timber and the larvae in anthills. Another 10% of the bear's diet may be carrion (flesh from dead animals). Bears, for example, will readily eat meat from winterkilled animals. Bears are active at night, feeding generally at dawn and dusk; although sometimes black bears will feed and travel by day.

They are playful and get along well together. If you can't find them, look up in the trees. Captive bears do not hibernate in the winter because food is plentiful. This pair enjoys a large swimming tank and a "playpen" tank where they roll their toys around.

Turkey Vulture

All three are rehabilitated birds injured in the wild: Gomez, Morticia and Cousin It.

Turkey vultures are carrion eaters. They will soar for long periods of time, looking for dead animals to consume. They sometimes will not need to flap their wings for long periods of time, depending on the conditions. They are the garbage men of the animal world. Sometimes, turkey vultures will wait until a carcass has been thoroughly decayed, which makes their task much easier. They have bald necks, which make them perfectly suited to eating the food they do.

The Turkey vulture is 26 to 32 inches long, and has a wingspan just under 6 feet. It is black in color on the back and the back of the wings, and the underside of the feathers are silvery colored. The head is red, and is devoid of feathers.

Pelican

Old Salty's still kicking, throw him his favorite treat and he ll catch it in air.

There are more than half a dozen species of pelicans, but all of them have the famous throat pouch for which the birds are best known. These large birds use their elastic pouches to catch fish though different species use it in different ways.

Many pelicans fish by swimming in cooperative groups. They may form a line or a "U" shape and drive fish into shallow water by beating their wings on the surface. When fish congregate in the shallows, the pelicans simply scoop them up. The brown pelican, on the other hand, dives on fish (usually a type of herring called menhaden) from above and snares them in its bill. Pelicans do not store fish in their pouch, but simply use it to catch them and then tip it back to drain out water and swallow the fish immediately. The American white pelican can hold some 3 gallons (11 1/2 liters) of water in its bill. Young pelicans feed by sticking their bills into their parents' throats to retrieve food.

Pelicans are found on many of the world's coastlines and also along lakes and rivers. They are social birds and typically travel in flocks, often strung out in a line. They also breed in groups called colonies, which typically gather on islands.

Aoudad

Also known as Mountain or Barbery Sheep our herd, one magnificent male and numerous females, grows every year.

The aoudad is a medium-sized mountain animal that is biologically intermediate between a goat and a sheep. It is strongly built, with a short mane on neck and shoulders and long flowing hair on throat, chest, forelegs and tail. The general color is sandy brown, with underparts paler. As in goats, the aoudad has a scent gland beneath the tail, but does not have glands between the hoofs, in the groin area or in front of the eyes. Its chromosome number is 58, which is the same as in the urials, but is different from the 60 that are universal in true goats. Aoudads will hybridize with domestic goats, but not with sheep. The horns (both sexes) are sheep-like, being smooth, thick, triangular in section, and curved to form a semi-circle over the neck (supracervical horns). Females are much smaller than males and lighter in color, with less hair and much smaller horns.

Aoudads usually live in small family groups with an adult male. Old males and pregnant females may be solitary. Breeds mainly from September to November, but there is some activity throughout the year. A single young (often two) is born 5-1/2 months later.

Barbados Sheep

This is a domesticated breed from Spain. Ours are three females.

In general appearance (at a distance) these sheep resemble small deer or antelope. They are very active and lively. They are alert at all times. Compared to the more recognized "mutton type", Barbados Blackbelly sheep are less "squatty" and are slower growing.

Their coat completely covers them with medium to thick-hair (no wool) that sheds in the spring. Barbados Blackbellys in the colder U.S. climates often develop protective wool undercoats during the fall and winter that also sheds in the spring.

Black points on the nose, forehead, and inside of the ears are black. Rams have a neckpiece of thick hair, which extends down the neck to the brisket, some may cover to the shoulder.

Their head are medium in size and well in conformation to the neck and body. There is a slight tendency to a roman nose, especially in the ram. Ears point forward from the side, they should not droop.

Both sexes of the Barbados Blackbelly are polled.

Body: Fairly deep with well-sprung ribs. There is a fair width of back and loin, but a very deficient hindquarter (similar to a goat's). The rump is quite steep from the hips to the pin bones and the tail is set very low.

Fallow Deer

Male, Right Horn Bigger, lives up to his name with every new set of horns each year. He and his girls enjoy a large play area but will no longer be allowed to breed to prevent over-population.

A medium sized, "rangy" deer. Adult males have large palmate antlers. Bucks develop "spike" antlers beginning in their first year and until 3-4 years old, grow and cast only antlers comprised of beams and simple points. At 3-4 years of age males may develop antlers with broad, palmate areas that measure 8-25 cm in width; total length of antlers is up to 39 cm.

Fallow deer stand 91-97 cm at the shoulder and appear thin. Males weigh 79-102 kg but may lose 9-23 kg during rut. Females weigh 36-41 kg.

Fallow deer do much of their feeding in open, grassy areas but require tree cover and undergrowth for shelter and winter food. Deciduous or mixed woodlands on gently rolling terrain are best, but conifer forests may be suitable in some places. The Edwards Plateau region, with its mosaic of oak mottes, juniper brushland, and grassy areas is well-suited for fallow deer.

Rhea

Rheas are slightly smaller than Emus and these 3 are all female. The "Gobbler" in this area is a male domestic who enjoys ruling this roost and occassionally is visited by our resident female Rio Grand Turkey who roams HPZ freely.

Rheas are large South American birds that roam the open pampas and sparse woodlands of Argentina and Brazil.

The greater rhea is the largest of all South American birds and is related to ostriches and emus. These flightless birds use their long, powerful legs to outrun trouble. Although their large wings are useless for flight, they are used for balance and for changing direction as the bird runs.

The male rhea incubates the eggs of all its mates for six weeks and cares for the newly hatched young. They aggressively guard their young during this period and will charge any animal even a female rhea that approaches too closely.

Greater rheas are opportunistic eaters. They enjoy plants, fruits, and seeds but also eat insects, lizards, birds, and other small game. Rheas have a taste for agricultural crops, which earns them the ire of many South American farmers. As more open grasslands are converted to farmland, this problem grows.

Turkey

The turkey was Benjamin Franklin's choice for the United States's national bird. The noble fowl was a favored food of Native Americans. When Europeans arrived, they made it one of only two domestic birds native to the Americas the Muscovy duck shares the distinction.

Wild turkeys typically forage on forest floors, but can also be found in grasslands and swamps. They feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and salamanders.

Only male turkeys display the ruffled feathers, fanlike tail, bare head, and bright beard commonly associated with these birds. They also gobble with a distinctive sound that can be heard a mile (a kilometer and a half) away.

Females lay 4 to 17 eggs, and feed their chicks after they hatch but only for a few days. Young turkeys quickly learn to fend for themselves as part of mother/child flocks that can include dozens of animals. Males take no role in the care of young turkeys.

Emu

Emus TooTall & Sydney, our breeding pair, lay an abundance of large, green eggs every year in Mid-Winter. In 2008, 4 of their chicks were raised by zookeepers and have reached adulthood.

Emu (Dromaius Novaehollandiae) are a fairly large specie of bird. They belong to the Ratite family which includes Ostrich, Rhea, Cassowary, and Kiwi. The name Ratite means keel less" which comes from the fact that this family of birds does not have the strip of cartilage that normally resides on top of the breast bone of most birds. This cartilage is where the breast muscle attaches to. Therefore Ratites have no breast meat'.

Emu are native to the continent of Australia. They live fairly nomadic lives, except those that are raised on farms to supply the various product markets.

Emu stand from 5 to 6 feet in height and can weigh up to 150 lbs when mature. Emus normally attain their full height within 12 months. Emus have been known to live in excess of 30 years.

Females often start laying eggs when they are 2-3 years old. When fully mature productive females may lay in excess of 60 eggs a year but the average is 25-30. The normally dark green eggs are laid every 3 days (on average) during the winter and early spring months. Eggs average about 500-700 grams (1.1 to 1.5 lbs), but it is not unheard of to have eggs less than 300 grams (.6 lbs) or larger than 1000 (2.2 lbs). When fertile, it takes about 2 months to hatch an emu egg.

Males do the majority of the hatching and rearing of the chicks, as the females tend to live very nomadic lives. Females often are the more aggressive of the species, which is why it is most common to see emus kept in pairs, although trios (1 male and 2 females) are not uncommon when the females have been raised together.

American Bison

Bagwell and Stormy, a young pair have not yet produced offspring but are forming a strong bond and will likely have a large family in time. The largest extant North American land mammal, American bison (Bison bison) are members of the mammalian order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae. Bison bulls can weigh as much as 2,000 lbs and have heavy horns and a large hump of muscle, which supports their enormous head and thick skull. They have a thick mass of fur on their heads and a heavy cape of fur even in the summer. This enhances their size and protects them when fighting.

Cows weigh about half as much as bulls. Their horns are narrower and are slightly curved. They have smaller humps and a smoother summer coat. Both sexes possess true horns, which are not shed. Mating occurs in June and July, with females giving birth to a single calf after a nine-and-one-half month gestation period. Calves are born from late March through May and are a bright rust red color for the first month or so. Cows are very protective of their young and can be even more dangerous than a bull when they have a calf at their side.

The current bison herd is maintained at approximately 650 animals. Excess animals are sold live at public auction, which is held the fourth Thursday of every October. Since 1907, more than 10,000 animals have been removed from the Refuge by sale or donation in order to preserve the high quality of Wichita grasslands. Most animals sold at auction are purchased by private bison breeders.

Longhorn

Female Longhorn/Coriente Hybred, Cora is friends with the Yak, and the pair can often be seen coddling each other.

Longhorns are fairly large-boned and rangy, short coupled. Average weight for cows ranges from 800 pounds up to 1200 pounds, steers at 4 to 5 years should weight 1000 to 1200 pounds when fat. Fairly smooth in conformation but narrow and "slabsided." Long legs with forelegs seemingly shorter than usual, due, doubtlessly, to heavy forequarters with somewhat arched shoulders merging to the hollow of the neck and loin, particularly in aged steers, slightly swaybacked with sloping hips and bony, fish-shaped prominence along the top of the rump just back of the line across the hip bones. Not a beefy animal. Eyes wide apart, appearing more so on account of length of face. Their heads are usually large, often with a wide and hairy crown between the bases of the horns.

Yak

Yakkity, a female Yak, is cantankerous and often chases her keeper, who has had to be rescued a time or two, around the pen. The yak (Bos grunniens) is a long-haired humped domestic bovine found in Tibet and throughout the Himalayan region of south central Asia. The word yak refers to the male of the species; a female is a dri or nak.

Wild yaks stand about two meters tall at the shoulder. Domestic yaks are about half that height. Both types have long shaggy hair to insulate them from the cold. Wild yaks can be either brown or black. Domesticated ones can also be white.

Domesticated yaks are kept primarily for their milk and meat. They are also used as beasts of burden, transporting goods across mountain passes for local farmers and traders as well as in support of climbing and trekking expeditions. Often the pack animals are actually crossbreeds of the yak and Bos taurus (common domestic cattle). These are known in Tibetan as dzo or dzopkyo.

Zeedonk

The first known zeedonk (also called similar names including zebras, zebronkey or zenkey) was the result of a mating between a male Chapman s zebra and a female black donke at Colchester Zoo in 1971. The aim was to produce disease-resistant workhorses for Africa. This experiment was modeled after one made by Boers during the South Afrtican War when zebroids were bred as work animals. In that earlier experiment, Shapman s zebras and ponies were crossed to evolve a new animal for transport work.

Mating two different species was only successful because the zebra and the donkey are very closely related; they are the same genus. The result of a cross between different species in the same genus are called hybrids and are always sterile due to an off number of chromosomes, so they can never have offspring of their own. Because of this, zeedonks are rare. The most commonly known hybrids are mules (crosses between donkeys and horses). Mules are bred to get the best characteristics of the horse and the donkey. Mating such as this is no longer a feature of modern zoos. Our philosophy is to keep the genes are pure as possible, without contamination from a different species.

Australian Black Swans

Born in Texas in March 2008, Cheep and Peep will be 3 years old before they have young. But they?ve formed a close bond already.

The Black swan is distributed in Australia (especially its eastern part and western shore) and Tasmania.

Australian Black Swans are approximately 120 cm in size, whereas the males are a little bit larger. The weight is from 5.6-6.2 kg. Wing span reaches from 150-200 cm. As its name already reveals the plumage coloration is predominantly black. The wings are black apart from the band at the end, which is white and rather vivid when flying. The bill is orange-red, the top is white, and legs are black. The females have slightly lighter plumage coloration. The young have greyish- brown feathers which change to black colour at the age of one year. These swans have got the longest neck among all of the swans.

The black swans are very adaptable birds. They are able to fly all over Australia with only a few stops by the water resources. Their diet mainly consists of water plants. The hatching time generally begins with the raining season

They are strictly monogamous just like other swans. The nest is approximately 40 cm high, elliptic shaped with a diameter of 2 meters. It is made of twigs, sticks, grass fixed with mud. The hen has usually from 5 to 12 light greenish eggs, 110x70 mm. Both parents take care of eggs for 40 days. After three months the young are able to fly. Life expectancy is about 10 years.

Arabian Camel

Bottle-raised at Hillcrest Park Zoo, Sheba was given more than one beau to choose between. She refused them all and remains our bratty baby.

Arabian camels, also known as dromedaries, have only one hump, but they employ it to great effect. The hump stores up to 80 pounds (36 kilograms) of fat, which a camel can break down into water and energy when sustenance is not available. These humps give camels their legendary ability to travel up to 100 desert miles (161 kilometers) without water. Camels rarely sweat, even in desert temperatures that reach 120F (49C), so when they do take in fluids they can conserve them for long periods of time. In winter, even desert plants may hold enough moisture to allow a camel to live without water for several weeks.

Arabian camels have been domesticated for approximately 3,500 years and have been long valued as pack animals. They can carry large loads for up to 25 miles (40 kilometers) a day. Some cultures judge a person's wealth based on the number of camels they own. Today, nearly all of the world's camels are domestic animals. They are found in northern Africa and southwestern Asia, and have been introduced to Australia.

When camels do refill, however, they soak up water like a sponge. A very thirsty animal can drink 30 gallons (135 liters) of water in only 13 minutes.

Wallaby

Boomerang and Scar, both males, are good friends.

Wallabies are members of the kangaroo clan found primarily in Australia and on nearby islands. There are many wallaby species, grouped roughly by habitat: shrub wallabies, brush wallabies, and rock wallabies. Hare wallabies are named for their size and their hare-like behavior.

Wallabies are typically small to medium-sized mammals, but the largest can reach 6 feet (1.8 meters) from head to tail. They have powerful hind legs they use to bound along at high speeds and jump great distances. When wallabies are threatened by predators, or when males battle each other, they may also use these legs to deliver powerful kicks.

Wallabies are herbivores, and the bulk of their diet is grasses and plants. Their elongated faces leave plenty of jaw room for the large, flat teeth necessary to chew their vegetarian meals.

Guanaco

Named Binaca, affectionately referred to as "Pretty Girl" creates quite a stir between the llama and alpacas at Hillcrest Park Zoo because they are all male.

Wild relatives of the llama, guanacos are humpless camels that inhabit the arid and semi-arid habitats of South America, as well as the Andean forests of Tierra del Fuego. They range from southern Chile to southern Peru, up to elevations of 14,500 feet. Their last remaining stronghold is the Patagonian steppe, a vast, windswept expanse of Argentina and southernmost Chile. To survive in harsh, dry climates, guanacos have a remarkable ability to conserve water and, like other camels, can obtain moisture from the plants they eat.

Most guanacos live in herds composed of family groups or bachelor males and females, but some males are solitary. They graze on grasses, leaves and buds, and, as the largest native herbivore in Patagonia, played a key role in structuring native vegetation communities. Their quivery, sensitive lips help them select tender food among thorny and woody vegetation, and their softly padded feet do not damage the soil and vegetation, as do the hard hooves of livestock.

Guanacos have been reduced by nearly 95 percent of their original number, which may have been as much as 50 million. Early explorers described long-distance migrations by huge herds, but now guanacos are mostly sedentary, confined by fences, livestock, and hunting. Nevertheless, WCS has discovered three wild sites where thousands of guanacos still make seasonal migrations. Protecting these migrations will simultaneously conserve the last large intact highland areas of South America.

Alpaca

Formerly show animals, these handsome boys have left the entertainment business to retire here.Owned by Windrush Alpacas, Clovis.

Alpacas produce one of the world's finest and most luxurious natural fibers. It is clipped from the animal without causing it injury. Soft as cashmere and warmer, lighter and stronger than wool, it comes in more colors than any other fiber producing animal (approximately 22 basic colors with many variations and blends).

The lifespan of the alpaca is about 20 years and gestation is 11.5 months. Alpacas eat grasses and chew a cud. Adult alpacas are about 36" tall at the withers and generally weigh between 100 and 200 pounds. They are gentle and easy to handle. Alpacas don't have incisors, horns, hooves or claws. Clean up is easy since alpacas deposit droppings in only a few places in the paddock. They require minimal fencing and can be pastured at 5 to 10 per acre.

Llama

Curious George joined our zoo in December 2007 from the Spring River Zoo in Roswell. He lives up to his name, following his keeper around while she works and watching over her shoulder or making friends with a wild bunny.

The llama is a South American relative of the camel, though the llama does not have a hump. These sturdy creatures are domestic animals used by the peoples of the Andes Mountains. (Their wild relatives are guanacos and vicus).

Llamas are willing pack animals but only to a point. An overloaded llama will simply refuse to move. These animals often lie down on the ground and they may spit, hiss, or even kick at their owners until their burden is lessened.

Llamas graze on grass and, like cows, regurgitate their food and chew it as cud. They chomp on such wads for some time before swallowing them for complete digestion. Llamas can survive by eating many different kinds of plants, and they need little water. These attributes make them durable and dependable even in sparse mountainous terrain.

Mule Deer

Cookie, Kido and Dancer were bottle-raised at HPZ. Also, all female for same reason as the Elk exhibit. We are now raising a young buck (male) who will be introduced to the girls when he reaches maturity.

A mule deer has a white tail with a black tip and very large ears.

A buck's antlers branch repeatedly. One of the most common and visible mammals at the Refuge. Uses a stiff-legged bound, called a "stot," when fleeing.

Native to the West, it is a grassland species that likes open areas and is not overly skittish.

Elk

Mom and daughter, are happy to live out their lives here without mates because they have each other for companionship. Bulls, male elks, are difficult to find due to state regulations.

Second only to moose in size, these members of the deer family (cervidae) have a bloodline befitting kings. Their lineage originated some two million years ago in Eurasia. These prehistoric elk migrated to North America around 10,000 years ago. Records suggest prehistoric elk displayed ivory tusks protruding from their upper jaw. Elk today, like their ancestor, have remnant tusks, which are much shorter and colorful. Ivories are evident in both male and female elk. These ivories are prized as natural jewels and adorn western jewelry.

A bull averages 600 pounds in the winter and 700 pounds in the summer. Calves weigh 30-35 pounds at birth and weigh 250 pounds by its first winter.

Elk eat about 20 pounds of grass per day. They eat about half as much during winter because of less available food supplies.

Elk are ruminants and have four stomachs. This means that they chew their cud.

Mexican Wolf

Frick & Frack are members of an endangered and protected species. They came to us from the government regulated, captive breeding program at Rio Grande Zoo in 2005. Happily at home in Clovis, these girls have a friendly male next door that they play games with but will never be bred here.

Mexican wolves are the smallest subspecies of North American gray wolves. They are also the most endangered. Commonly referred to as "El lobo," the Mexican wolf is gray with light brown fur on its back. Its long legs and sleek body enable it to run fast.

Mexican wolves mostly eat ungulates (large hoofed mammals) like white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk. They are also known to eat smaller mammals like javelinas (wild pigs), rabbits, ground squirrels and mice.

Mexican wolves prefer to live in mountain forests, grasslands and shrub lands, and are very social animals. They live in packs, which are complex social structures that include the breeding adult pair (the alpha male and female) and their offspring. A hierarchy of dominant and subordinate animals within the pack help it to work as a unit.

Timber Wolf

Tacoma, donated by a private party, is a hybrid of a wolf and a dog. Because of this it is difficult to find him an appropriate mate and even if that were possible, they would not be allowed to breed.And so, Tacoma enjoys the company of the two lovely females next door. They often race along the fence-line and compete in howling contests.

Second only to humans in adapting to climate extremes, gray wolves once ranged from coast to coast and from Alaska to Mexico in North America. They were absent from the East and the Southeast, which were occupied by red wolves (Canis rufus), and from the large deserts in the southwestern States.

Wolves use their distinctive howl to communicate. Biologists have identified a few of the reasons that wolves howl. First, they like to howl. They also howl to reinforce social bonds within the pack, to announce the beginning or end of a hunt, sound an alarm, locate members of the pack, or warn other wolves to stay out of their territory. Wolves howl more frequently in the evening and early morning, especially during winter breeding and pup-rearing.

Pups depend on their mother s milk for the first month, then are gradually weaned and fed regurgitated meat brought by pack members. By seven to eight months of age, when they are almost fully grown, pups begin traveling with the adults. After they are a year or two, wolves may leave and try to find a mate and form a pack. Lone, dispersing wolves have traveled as far as 600 miles in search of a new home.

Wolf packs live within territories, which they defend from other wolves. Their territories range in size from 50 square miles to more than 1,000 square miles, depending on the available prey and seasonal prey movements. Wolves travel over large areas to hunt, as far as 30 miles in a day. Although they usually trot along at five miles per hour wolves can run as fast as 40 miles per hour for short distances.

Javelina

A javelina is not a pig, a feral hog or a wild boar. Although similar in appearance to a pig, it is a collared peccary. Along evolutionary lines, a collared peccary is a distant relative of wild pigs and hippos.

Distinguishing characteristics include size. Javelinas are small and compact, weighing from 30 to 55 pounds, while adult feral hogs can reach 100 pounds or more. Javelinas are a grizzled brown and black with a white band of coarse hair, its "collar," around the neck. Feral hogs come in a variety of colors and combinations of colors. Less obvious differences include that the javelina has four-hoofed toes on its front feet, but only three-hoofed toes on the hind feet, where the outer dewclaw present on a pig is absent in javelinas. Javelinas also have shorter tails and their canine teeth or "tusks" grow vertically rather than away from the face.

Javelinas are commonly found in dense thickets of prickly pear, chaparral, scrub oak, or guajillo in the brush country south of San Antonio, and over wide areas of the Edwards Plateau and the Trans-Pecos. They can also be found throughout Mexico and Central America and well into South America. They travel in bands ranging from a few animals to as many as 45. They have a musk gland on their rump which gives them their characteristic smell. This gland is used to mark their "territory" and allows individuals to keep in contact with the herd.

Studies show that although javelinas are omnivorous, that prickly pear cactus provides up to half their diet while also fulfilling most of its water requirement. Javelinas supplement this diet with green forbs, vines, grasses, mesquite beans, sotol, lechugilla and other succulent vegetation.

Grey Fox

Cheech and ChuChu are very shy and stay away from us. They get very vocal when upset. Gray foxes are not observed as frequently as red foxes due to their reclusive nature and more nocturnal habits. Gray foxes tend to be active from the late evening hours until dawn. They will readily climb trees, jumping from branch to branch while hunting or for protection. Their diet includes: Rabbits, mice, voles, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, fruits, insects, birds and eggs, carrion, corn, amphibians and reptiles. The gray fox has a voice similar to the red fox, but barks or yaps less often than the red fox and its voice is louder.

Red Fox

Came to us from Melrose animal control as young kits but already very independent. Playful and vocal but skittish around others.

Red foxes are solitary hunters who feed on rodents, rabbits, birds, and other small game but their diet can be as flexible as their home habitat. Foxes will eat fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and even worms. If living among humans, foxes will opportunistically dine on garbage and pet food.

Like a cat's, the fox's thick tail aids its balance, but it has other uses as well. A fox uses its tail (or "brush") as a warm cover in cold weather and as a signal flag to communicate with other foxes.

Foxes also signal each other by making scent posts urinating on trees or rocks to announce their presence.

Sardinian Donkey

One male, Radar, and females Laverne and Shirley will be proud parents in Summer 2009.

The donkey is a herbivorous animal and the smallest member of the horse family.

There are three categories of donkeys. Miniatures are 36 inches and under. Standards are between 36 and 54 inches. Mammoths are over 54 inches. All measured to the shoulder.

Donkeys originated in the African Desert and are a descendant of the African Wild Ass. The African Wild Ass is one of the most endangered animals in the world.

The weight of donkeys ranges up to 570 pounds. They have gray to reddish brown hair, long ears and small feet, with sharp hooves.

Donkeys are very affectionate animals and enjoy the companionship of people. Donkeys need companions or they will become very depressed.

Donkeys can live for 25 to 35 years of age. However, donkeys in third world countries seldom live over 10 years.

Donkeys are used as guard animals for goats and sheep against the threat of coyote attack. They are also used to protect cows while calving. The coyote is the only natural threat to donkeys.

Donkeys can easily carry 30 percent of their body weight in live load and 20% in dead weight.

Miniature donkeys (36 inches and under) are native to the Mediterranean Islands of Sicily and Sardinia. They have been extensively bred in the United States and are almost extinct in the land of their origin. The breed is called the Miniature Mediterranean Donkey.

Black-Handed Spider Monkeys

Born at Hillcrest Park Zoo, Binky (male) and Jasmine, Mikka, and Eliza (females) have reached maturity. They are natural entertainers and loads of fun to watch, but DO NOT GET TOO CLOSE. Any one of them is three-times stronger than a grown man and their idea of fun will always cause human injury.

These monkeys live in the rainforests of southernmost Mexico and Central America. Their large social groups frequently break up into subgroups of different sizes and makeup. Spider monkeys eat mostly fruit along with seeds, leaves and flowers.

Ring-Tailed Lemurs

Cisco (male), McKenya and Anya (female) are the parents of this lively troupe. They are very easy-going. They love Fruit Loops and grapes.

Lemurs use their hands and feet to move nimbly through the trees, but cannot grip with their tails as some of their primate cousins do. Ring-tailed lemurs also spend a lot of time on the ground, which is unusual among lemur species. They forage for fruit, which makes up the greater part of their diet, but also eat leaves, flowers, tree bark, and sap.

Ring-tailed lemurs have powerful scent glands and use their unique odor as a communication tool and even as a kind of weapon. Lemurs mark their territory by scent, serving notice of their presence to all who can smell. During mating season, male lemurs battle for dominance by trying to out stink each other. They cover their long tails with smelly secretions and wave them in the air to determine which animal is more powerful.

Common Marmoset

Mom (Diller) & Dad (Wicket) raise twins or singles once a year. Young (Chewey & Sassy) will stay with the parents and help raise newest (Chatty) offspring.

Marmosets and tamarins are found primarily in the tropical rainforests of South America with a few remnant populations located in Central America. The common marmoset is distributed throughout the Atlantic Coastal Forest of northeastern Brazil.

Translocated populations of the common marmoset also flourish in the ranges of other Brazilian marmoset and tamarin species, such as around Rio de Janiero, well beyond their native coastal forests.

The home range of a marmoset group can vary from 5,000 to 65,000 square meters (1.2-16 acres). On any one day a marmoset group will travel about 500 to 1000 meters.

The common marmoset is entirely arboreal (tree dwelling) and prefers secondary or disturbed forests and edge habitat.

This species may also be found in coastal and upland scrub forest, gallery forests and even gardens and parks of South American cities, such as Natal and Joao Pessoa.

Wherever they are found, their home range will typically include a variety of habitat types.

The common marmoset relies on a diet of tree exudates (gums and saps), small animal prey, and fruits.

American Alligator

In his first 5-years here, Wally grew from 1' to 5' in the Reptile House. This pond, opened in May 2009, was built for him and here he could reach up to 14 feet in length. Two younger American Alligators join him, and they share their habitat with an assortment of Turtles and Fish.

American alligators reside nearly exclusively in the freshwater rivers, lakes, swamps, and marshes of the southeastern United States, primarily Florida and Louisiana.

Heavy and ungainly out of water, these reptiles are supremely well-adapted swimmers. Males average 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.6 meters) in length and can weigh 1,000 pounds (453 kg). Females grow to a maximum of about 9.8 feet (3 meters.)

Adult alligators are apex predators critical to the biodiversity of their habitat. They feed mainly on fish, turtles, snakes, and small mammals. However, they are opportunists, and a hungry gator will eat just about anything, including carrion, pets and, in rare instances, humans.

Sulcata Tortoise

Sully is a male of about 20 years and not yet full-grown. Sulcata Tortoise are strictly vegetarian.

The African Sulcata Tortoise (Geochelone sulcata), or African Spurred Tortoise, is surpassed in size only by the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands and Seychelles. Not only do these tortoises grow very large, they grow very rapidly up to two and a half feet long and 80-110 pounds or more. Distinct features of these huge creatures include sandy-ivory or golden yellow-brown skin and two or more very large and prominent tubercles (or spurs) on the rear legs.

The carapace (top shell) is tan to yellow in color in the center of each scute (the external plate or scale of the shell). Each scute is outlined by brown growth rings. The plastron (bottom shell) is light tan to yellow in color with no markings. The skin of African Sulcata Tortoises is very thick and the legs are covered in dull, spine-like projections. The prominent spurs on the rear legs serve no observable function.

Spotted Hyena

Spotted hyenas are the largest of three hyena species. Brown and striped hyenas are the other two. Spotted hyenas have good hearing and sharp eyesight at night. They are fast and can run for long distances without tiring. Spotted hyenas are quite vocal and make a wide variety of sounds, including the "laughing" that has long been associated with their name. They are very affectionate toward each other until breeding time. Then, the female RULES. Their jaws of iron can crush anything. To them, bones are NOTHING. These Hyenas came to Clovis from south Texas in October of 2008. Sere and Geti, named in a community-wide contest for their place of origin, Serengeti, Africa are still young but will, hopefully produce many offspring with time.

Peacock

Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird s total body length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird's back and touches the ground on either side. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.

The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.

Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants, and small creatures. There are two familiar peacock species. The blue peacock lives in India and Sri Lanka, while the green peacock is found in Java and Myanmar (Burma). A more distinct and little-known species, the Congo peacock, inhabits African rain forests.

Peafowl such as the blue peacock have been admired by humans and kept as pets for thousands of years. Selective breeding has created some unusual color combinations, but wild birds are themselves bursting with vibrant hues. They can be testy and do not mix well with other domestic birds.

Raccoon : On Exhibit

Marvin came to us very young and was bottle raised. Over the years he has developed a very raccoon-y personality. He would love your fingers for lunch.

Because their hind legs are longer than the front legs, raccoons have a hunched appearance when they walk or run. Each of their front feet has five dexterous toes, allowing raccoons to grasp and manipulate food and other items.

Raccoons prefer forest areas near a stream or water source, but have adapted to various environments throughout Washington. Raccoon populations can get quite large in urban areas, owing to hunting and trapping restrictions, few predators, and human-supplied food.

Adult raccoons weigh 15 to 40 pounds, their weight being a result of genetics, age, available food, and habitat location. Males have weighed in at over 60 pounds. A raccoon in the wild will probably weigh less than the urbanized raccoon that has learned to live on handouts, pet food, and garbage-can leftovers.

As long as raccoons are kept out of human homes, not cornered, and not treated as pets, they are not dangerous.

White Peacock

Albino Peacocks are sometimes bred. The tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird's total body length and boast "eye" markings that are lacking the bright colors of the easier recognizable Blue/Green Peacock. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird's back and touches the ground on either side. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.

The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.

Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants, and small creatures.

Although they have been bred and kept as pets for thousands of years, they can be testy and do not mix well with other domestic birds.

The Zoo's Story

The zoo was established in the early 1930's at Fourth and Mitchell streets, near downtown Clovis with one bear ad one coyote. A few years later a circus visiting town went bankrupt and the zoo was forced to care for their animals, thus adding to the zoo population. In 1936, the city purchased 155 acres of land (Kentucky Heights addition) in order to relocate the zoo. The naming of the site was held at a local event (Pioneer Days) and from 115 entries, Mr. O.J. Cloppert won a $25 prize for naming the zoo. The development of the zoo was largely attributed to cooperation of Clovis citizens with the construction being done with donated materials. City employees working odd times along with prison labor built cages for the animals.

In 1980, a perimeter fence was constructed to discourage vandalism. Old cages were removed and the zoo as it is today was born. Many of the exhibits were constructed with help from the citizens of Clovis. The zoo receives most of its financing from the city of Clovis but has enjoyed donations from citizens and many of the area's civic organizations. One of the supporters is the clovis Animal Rehabilitative and Educations Services (C.A.R.E.S of Curry County).

The enclosed area is approximately 22 1/2 acres.