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!

Rocky Mountain Wild Questions Answered

Four Years and Counting

Name: Allison Allum

Age: 17 years-old

Hometown: Monument, CO

Favorite Zoo Animal: Tahoma, the moose

Career Aspirations: I hope to become a veterinarian.

What’s your favorite part of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ)? Enrichment! I love that all of the animals get to do fun and educational activities.

How long have you been a Junior Zoo Keeper? I have been a Jr. Zoo Keeper for four years.

What inspired you to become a Junior Zoo Keeper here at CMZ? I want to work with exotic animals someday. It’s also nice to tell my friends that I work at a zoo.

What animals are you working with? I get to work with the grizzlies, mountain lions, wolves, the porcupine, the moose, lynx, tigers, leopards, and snow leopards. 

What are some of the activities that you’ve gotten to help with? I’ve gotten to help with cleaning, preparing animal diets, feeding, training, and enrichment making.

Why should other individuals apply to be a Junior Zoo Keeper? Being a Jr. Zoo Keeper is a fabulous opportunity.

Do you have any Funny/Good Stories? During the summer there was a sign placed at the moose exhibit talking about Tahoma’s antlers. A guest misread the sign and started talking to a large group of people, explaining that this animal was a Tahoma and they are closely related to moose. Obviously, she was a little confused.J