New Snow Leopard Map

This GPS collar uplink map shows the most recent locations of the cats currently collared in the South Gobi research area and provides critical information to researchers on how and where the Snow Leopard move. The round dots are from previous up-links while the squares connected with the lines are the most recent movements from each cat.

Read more from Megan Sanders, Animal Behavior Programs Manager and Snow Leopard Conservationist.

Black Footed Ferret Re-introduction

Photo Credit: Joel Sartore

Check out THIS CLIP on Discovery Planet about black footed ferret re-introduction in Canada. The clip begins at 6 minutes and 42 seconds into the video.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is proud to be part of this national black footed ferret recovery program!

Boo at the Zoo 2009

Thank you to all who participated in Boo at the Zoo 2009 – from spooky treat station partners to sponsors to trick-or-treaters!

Join us the last two full weekends in October for Boo at the Zoo 2010!

Enjoy this slideshow of spooky fun!

Help people while helping bears!

On Saturday October 24th Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will offer a $2 discount for each person who brings in a donation of prescription eyeglasses. For example a family of four could get $8 off admission if they were to bring in 4 pairs of glasses.

All proceeds benefit the Quarters for Conservation's Andean Bear Conservation Project. Additionally, glasses donated to the Zoo will be sent to Ecuador and given to the Ecuadorian Medical Institute. The donation drive will be going through April 18th however; October 24 is the one day the $2 discount is valid.

At 2:30 pm, Osito, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s very own Spectacled Bear, will be receiving a big goodie box in celebration! Join us at his exhibit to see the demonstration!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s “Tweet a Treat” Contest

Win 4 FREE Boo at the Zoo tickets via Twitter!

Want to give orangutan friendly candy this Halloween? Learn more about the palm oil crisis and how you can help! Enter our “Tweet a Treat” Contest to get started! Visit our website to learn more about orangutan friendly candy and to see a list of choices.

HOW TO ENTER:

Step 1: If you are not yet a Twitter user, please visit Twitter.com and sign up for a free account.

Step 2: Follow @CheyenneMtnZoo on Twitter.

Step 3: To enter the contest you must tweet this message including the name of your favorite palm oil free candy on Twitter:

@CheyenneMtnZoo my favorite palm oil free candy is _______.

Winner will be chosen randomly from entries. Entry deadline is October 22, 2009, 5 pm.

Family Fun at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Catch Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Disney Family Fun Magazine this month!



And make sure to check out all the family fun to be had at this year's Boo at the Zoo beginning October 16!

What happened to Grizzly Grill?

Our Grizzly Grill restaurant is closed to the public for a major makeover! During construction guests are welcome to visit the Lodge at Moose Lake, a “mini-grill”, featuring a buffet specially prepared by Chef Beau and his Wild Things Catering team.

To be unveiled March of 2010, the new “Grizzly Grill” will encompass over 5,000 square feet and offer guests a variety of gourmet food options. Visit our blog for future construction updates!

Check out these photos of the Grizzly Grill demolition:

New Snow Leopard Maps

These GPS collar uplink maps (click to enlarge) show the locations of the 5 cats that are currently collared in the South Gobi research area and provide critical information to researchers on how and where the Snow Leopard move. The round dots are from previous up-links while the squares connected with the lines are the most recent movements from each cat.

Read more from Megan Sanders, Animal Behavior Programs Manager and Snow Leopard Conservationist.

Have you met Chef Beau?

Meet Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s executive chef, Beau Green! Creating all the menus for Wild Things Catering, Beau and his team can take your holiday party from blasé to gourmet!

By the way, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a great place to host your holiday party, wedding or special event. All catering and event services are provided by Wildthings Catering. Visit our website for catering menus and information about reserving one of our special venues for your event!

Here’s a secret recipe from Beau’s vault to get your tasted buds watering!

Herbed Griddle Cakes with Pear and Blue Cheese Topping
1 cup self rising flour
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons fine chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons finely chopped sage

Pear and Blue Cheese Topping
2/3 cup Blue Castello or other creamy blue cheese
1/3 cup cream cheese
2 teaspoons brandy
1 large ripe green skinned pear
1/4 cup toasted walnuts finely chopped
1/2 lemon
1/2 bunch chives cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces

Sift the flour into a bowl and make a hollow hole in the center. Gradually add the combined eggs and milk mixing the flour in slowly. When the flour is incorporated, add the parsley and sage and season well. Whisk until a smooth batter forms.

Heat a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat and spray with cooking oil spray. Drop heaping teaspoons of batter into the pan and flatten to 2 inch rounds. Cook until bubbles appear in the surface of the griddle cake, then turn and brown the other side. Remove and cool on rack.

To make the topping, beat the cheeses and brandy together until smooth. Season with pepper. Cut the pear in half and peel and core one half. Dice it into 1/4 inch pieces, leaving the other half untouched. Stir the diced pear and walnuts into the cheese mixture. Core the other half of the pear but do not peel it. Thinly slice the pear lengthwise. Cut each slice into 3/4 inch triangles with green skin on one side. Squeeze some lemon juice over the cut surfaces to prevent discoloration. Spread 1 teaspoon of topping on each griddle cake. Top with three pear triangles and garnish with chives. Makes 36

Black-footed ferret kits go to the wild

Tomorrow morning Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will send six endangered black-footed ferret kits born this breeding season on the first leg of their one-way trip to the wild. After the kits spend a few weeks in large outdoor pens learning how to hunt prairie dogs in a Federal facility in Carr, Colorado, it will be determined where they will be sent for their permanent home in the wild.

The black-footed ferret was once considered to be the most endangered mammal in North America. The Zoo’s ferret kits are the result of an aggressive captive-breeding and reintroduction program that is gaining great progress toward recovering our native ferret population. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only five zoos in the world to breed this intriguing species and has been breeding black-footed ferrets since 1990.

Contest Winner

Thank you to all who submitted photos to the Three Deer photo contest!
Drum Role please…



The winning photo! Congratulations!
The winner receives four Sky Ride passes!