Antler Velvet + Stomachs = A Rocky Mtn. Wild Update

Tahoma has officially finished growing his 5th set of antlers and is now shedding the velvet off of them! Moose bulls grow new antlers every year and the velvet helps them grow. Once they are done moose will rub their antlers on branches to help shed the velvet and reveal their new antlers underneath. Keepers will use Tahoma's velvet for enrichment. Especially for carnivores like, wolves, bears and cats!

Our two grizzly bear boys Emmett and Digger are feeling the season change! Especially their stomachs! Both bears are super hungry and have been observed squabbling over even the smallest morsel like a raspberry or peanut. Bears start to bulk-up this time of year in preperation for denning up over the winter. Keepers have increased E & D's diets and they are eating it all, even their veggies!

Meet Kayson!

Meet Kayson Cooper a Summer Camp Counselor 

here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! 

Name: Kayson Cooper

Age: 20 Years Old

Hometown: Riverton, WY

Favorite Zoo Animal: Elephants, Apes

Career Aspirations: I would like to be involved with conservation education, especially teaching children about wildlife and how they preserve it.

What’s your favorite part of Cheyenne

Mountain Zoo (CMZ)? The beautiful scenery and natural exhibits.

What inspired you to become a camp

counselor here at CMZ? I love animals and enjoy teaching others about them, so this is a dream job.

What age kids are you working with? This summer, I have worked with kids from four to 15 years old.

What activities do you have planned for them throughout camp? The campers will be meeting animals up close, going on behind the scenes tours and hearing personalized keeper talks.

What has been your biggest obstacle to overcome being a camp counselor? The biggest obstacle has been trying to explain information in a way that young kids understand and the older kids are still entertained.

What is the benefit of being a camp counselor at CMZ? I get to see new things every day and I learn so much from the kids and my fellow counselors. 

Do you have any Funny stories? I asked a group of four-and five-year-olds “What animals have scales?” They all immediately responded that giraffes have scales.