Magazine of the

NC Zoo Societywww.nczoo.com

ThisissueofAlive isabouttimeandtheNorthCarolinaZoo.Theleadstoryfacesthefuture,unveiling

detailsaboutamajorrenovationandexpansionprojectthatisunderwayatthePolarBearexhibit.This$7.8millionupgradewillensurethattheZoocancon-tinuetoexhibitPolarBearsformanyyearstocome.

TherenovatedexhibitwillopenupspacefortheNorthCarolinaZootohouseasmanyassixPolarBears.OtherchangeswillprovidetheaccessoriestheZooneedstoaccommodateapregnantfemaleandhercubs.ThedenningspacewillpositiontheZootobreedPolarBearswhencalledontodosobytheAssociationofZoosandAquariums.

Incontrast,thisAlive’sFieldNotesarti-clelooksintotheNorthCarolinaZoo’spast.ThisarticlereviewsadecadeofresearchandconservationthatZoostaffhasconductedonlocalwildlifepopula-tions.MuchoftheworkhascenteredonthenativewildlifethatrangesfreelyacrosstheZoo’sproperty.Theremainderoftheworkhastakenstaffintothemoun-tainsofNorthCarolinatostudy,andulti-matelyprotect,thestate’sHellbenderpopulations.

ThemagazinealsocallsonitsreaderstohelptheNorthCarolinaZoothisDecemberbymakingadonationtotheNCZooSociety’s2011annualfund.TheZooSocietyestablishedthisfundtohelpoffsetsomeofthebudgetcutsthathittheZoobecauseofthestate’sstruggling

economy.GiftsmadetotheNCZooSociety’sannualfundwillbeusedtopro-tecttheheathandthewellbeingoftheZoo’sanimalsandtherecreationalqualityofaZoovisit.Wehopethatallourread-erswillmakeagift—nomatterhowsmall—toshowtheirappreciationfortheZoo’scontributionstofamiliesandstu-dentsfromacrossthestate.

Finally,page14oftheAlive�magazinedebutsaproposedrevisionoftheZooSociety’sexistinglogo.Takealookatitandletusknowhowyoufeelabouttheupdate.Sendyourcommentsbyemailtojparker@nczoo.comordropusasnail-mailversionofyouropinionsbysendingalettertotheNCZooSociety;4403ZooParkway;Asheboro,NC27205;attention:LogoNote.

Finally,thestaffsattheNorthCarolinaZooandattheNCZooSocietywishallourreadersandeveryonearoundtheworldajoyousholidayseasonandapeacefulandhappynewyear.

—The�Editor

NC ZOO SOCIETY BOARDEARLJOHNSON,JR.

ChairRaleigh

MARKK.METZVice�ChairCharlotte

ALBERTL.BUTLERIIITreasurer

Winston-Salem

THERENCEO.PICKETTSecretary

Greensboro

WILLIAM“BILL”CLARKIVTarboro

NICOLEA.CRAWFORDGreensboro

BILLCURRENSCharlotte

MICHAELJ.FISHERWinston-Salem

LYNNEYATESGRAHAMAdvance

MINORT.HINSON

Charlotte

JIMKLINGLERRaleigh

MOLLYMILLIS-HEDGECOCKHighPoint

MARYNORRISPREYEROGLESBYChapelHill

NANCYPROIADurham

SCOTTE.REEDWinston-Salem

DAVIDK.ROBBCharlotte

LIZD.TAFT,Ph.D.Greenville

LAURAH.VIRKLERHillsborough

SYDNORM.WHITE,JR.Raleigh

MELANIEWILSONRaleigh

MARTHAYARBOROUGHHighPoint

EDITORIAL BOARDJayneOwenParker,Ph.D., Senior Editor

DePotter,Design�&�LayoutJohnD.GrovesRodHackney

Dr.DavidJonesMichaelLoomis,DVMHayleyMcWilliams

KenReiningerCherylTurnerDianeVilla

RussWilliamsGloriaMoore,Proofreader

Printed�by�Hickory�Printing�Solutions

WINTER 2012 Issue No.67

The North Carolina Zoo is open every day of the year, except onChristmas Day. Summer hours begin on April 1 and extend from 9a.m. to 5 p.m. Winter hours begin November 1 and extend from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. Standard admission prices are $12 for adults, $10 forseniors and $8 for children. Zoo Society members and registeredNorth Carolina school groups are admitted free. The Zoo offers freeparking, free tram and shuttle service, picnic areas, visitor rest areas,food service and gift shops.

For information, call 1-800-488-0444.

The Zoo is a program of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The NC Zoo Society is the non-profit organizationthat supports the North Carolina Zoological Park and its programs. Society offices are open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For informa-tion, please call 336-879-7250 or logon to the Society’s Web page at nczoo.com.

Please recycle your ALIVE magazine. To locate the closest magazine recycling area in your city, call “SolidWaste Management” or “Recycling” under the City orCounty listings of your phone book.

Now and Then

THIS ISSUE...

DON L. COHEN, DLCPHOTO.COM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ON THE COVER:

Willie with a favorite toyValerie Abbott

11

2 News on the Polar Bear FrontCatchinguponPolarBearrenovations ...........................................................

................................................................. Ken�Reininger,�Contributing�Editor

7 Seasonal Gift Ideas Willie’sWalksandGiftMemberships

8 Field Note: Wildlife Studies at the ZooResearchwildlifeattheZooandinthemountains .........................................

.............................................................. John�D.�Groves,�Contributing�Editor

11 Something Magical Happens......whenpeoplecometotheZoo

12 Zoo To Do Thank YousManythanksforarecord-breakingyear

14 Give Us Your FeedbackSaywhat?

15 Dinosaurs Are Coming!ArrivingthisSpring

16 Kids’ Page: Nature’s MasterpieceABearthatcantakeontheArctic............ Jayne�Owen�Parker,�Ph.D.,�Editor

BC Willie’s WalksFollowWillieuptoMilwaukee

COLUMNS14 Wild Legacy14 Thank Yous

BC

2 | ALIVE

AnnouncingMajorAdvancementsBythetimeyoureadthisarticle,theNorthCarolinaZoowillhavebrokengroundona$7.8millionrenovationandexpan-sionofitsPolarBearexhibit.ThisinvestmentwillensurethatourZoocontinuestomaintainitsexhibitsandreviseitshusbandrytechniquestokeeppacewithadvancesthatthezoocommunitymakesinunderstandingthephysicalandthepsychologicalneedsofPolarBears.

BecausevisitorsalwayspushPolarBearstothetopofanyzoopopularitypoll,ourstaffknowsthevalueofensuringthatourexhibitprovidesfortheanimals’needs.So,whenCanadianofficialsissuednewstandardsforpolarbearexhibits,staffputtheirheadstogethertodeterminetheextentoftheupgradesourexhibitneededandtheamountofmoneywewouldhavetoraisetopayforthesechanges.Aspartofthisplanning,theZoostaffalsostrengtheneditsresolvetoenrichthechangingexhibit’seducationalmessageswithsoundinformationaboutprotectingwildPolarBears.

ThisresolvereflectsthegrowingneedtoprotectwildPolarBearsbecausethey,andtheArctic’sotherwildlifeandnativepeople,liveonthefrontlinesofglobalclimatechange.AgreatArcticmelt,underwayformorethanadecade,hasunderminedtheregion’spermafrostandicefloes,puttingitswildlife,culturaltraditionsandeconomyatrisk.TohelpwildPolarBears,theZoo’seducationeffortswillhavetoexplainthesechangesandofferpracticaladviceandinspirationthatpeoplecandrawontosatisfytheirenergyneedswithoutharmingtheEarth’satmosphereordisruptingtheclimate.

So,theZooadoptedtwomajorgoalsatthestartofits

exhibitplanning.First,thenewexhibitwouldmeettheknownstandardsforPolarBearcare.Therenovationsmustmeetthephysicalandbehavioralneedsofthesemagnificentcreatures,includingtheirneedstoreproduceandrearcubs.Secondly,theexhibitwouldusethepoweranddramaofPolarBearstoinspirevisitorstocareabouttheArcticandthewildbearsandotherwildlifethatlivethere.

AShortWalkThroughHistoryTheZooopeneditscurrentPolarBearexhibitintheearly1990s.Atthetime,theexhibit’snaturalisticcarvedrocks;large,deeppool;andunderwaterviewingareapresentedvisi-torsandkeeperswithanupdated,attractiveandfunctionalalternativetothegrotto-typebearexhibitsfoundinmosttra-ditionalzoos.

Further,whentheZoobuiltthisexhibit,thezoocommu-nityhadimposedamoratoriumonPolarBearbreeding.Atthetime,thenation’sPolarBearexhibitswerefull,andzoosdidnotwantthecaptivepopulationtooutgrowtheavailableexhibitspaces.PolarBearscanlivealongtime—20or30years—soonceanexhibitisfilled,ittendstostayoccupiedforalongtime.

So,wedesignedour1990’sexhibittomeetthestandardsoftheera.Theexhibitwaslargeenoughtoholdtwoorthreebears—areasonablenumbersinceadultPolarBearsaresoli-taryinthewild.And,wedidnotincludedenningfacilitiesbecausewehadnoplanstobreedourbears.

TheZoo’sfirstbearswerethreesiblings.Becausetheywouldgrowuptogether,weexpectedthemtostaycompati-

News on the Polar Bear Front

bleevenassolitaryadults.Intime,twoofthesebearsdied,andthethirdleftforanotherzoowhentheNCZootookintwobearsthattheU.S.Fish&WildlifeServicehadconfis-catedfromatravelingcircus.Therescuedbearshadlivedtogetheralltheirlivesandwereascompatibleassiblings.

Asthesebearsaged,thezoocommunity,alongwiththerestofthecivilizedworld,watchedwarmingtemperaturesbegintonibbleawaytheicyedgesofthePolarBear’srealm.Astheirpopulationwaned,theworldresponded.InMay,2008,theUnitedStateslistedPolarBearsasathreatenedspecies,affordingthemfederalprotection.

Meanwhile,thePolarBearslivinginNorthAmerica’szooskeptgettingolder.But,bythetimethezoocommunityneededtorelaunchitsPolarBearbreedingprogram,mostofthebearsweretoooldtoreproduce.Asisoftenthecasewithzooanimals,turningoffreproductioniseasierthanrestartingit.

Inresponsetothesesympatheticissues,thezoocommu-nityupdateditspoliciesonPolarBears.ItcalledonzoostoimproveandenlargetheirPolarBearexhibits,bothtohousemorebearsandtoaccommodatebreedingfemales.And,zooprofessionalstookupthemantleofhelpingwildbearsbyeducatingthepubicaboutglobalclimatechange.

PlanningaNew andImprovedPolarBearExhibitUnlikemostzoos,theNorthCarolinaZooisfortunateenoughtoemployitsownsetofhighly-talentedexhibitdesignersandconstructionstaff.Mostzooshavetohiredesignfirmstopulltogetherandbuildexhibits—apracticethatoftenleadstocookie-cutterproductsthatlackthecom-plexityandefficiencyofexhibitsbuiltwithinputfromexperiencedzooprofessionals.

BecausetheZoohastopdesignersandbuildersonstaff,weengagedthemintheearliestphasesofourplanning,drawingontheirexpertiseevenbeforewespokewitharchitects.Bysettingupaplanningteamthatincludedanimalcare,exhibitsdesign,horticulture,educationandmaintenancedepartmentsfromthestart,wewereabletodocumenttheirconcernsandlayoutaroadmapthatthearchitectscouldusetonavi-gatethroughthedepartments’competinginterests.

InourearlyplanningfortheRockyCoastexpansion,aswithallZooexhibits,ourstafffleshedoutcleargoalsandexpec-tationsfortheexhibitandbeganconsider-ingthecomponentsthatcouldbebuiltinhouse.Bythetimewefirstmetwiththearchitects,ourteamhadaclearvisionofwhatwewantedtheproposedexhibittoaccomplish.

Theexhibitsdesignandhorticulture

staffssetthestandardsfortheexhibit’sappearance,andtheeducationstaffdefinedthemessagesandtheexperiencesthatstaffwantedtheexhibittocommunicatetovisitors.Duringtheearlyplanningmeetings,stafffromthesedepartmentsinundatedtheteamwithvividimagesofArcticwilderness—theseaandlandscapesournewexhibitwouldcometorepre-sent.Staffalsosuggestedmaterialswemightusetocreatetheserepresentations.Staffdiscussedviewinganglesandcompiledlistsofanticipatedvisitorneeds,too.Webrain-stormedwaystouseart,signageandotherstimulitoenrichthevisitorexperienceandmaketheexhibitcomealive.

Thehorticulturedivisionbeganconsideringtheplantsthatwoulddefinethenewlandscapeandhabitat.TheZooreliesonthehorticulturedivisiontofindtrees,shrubsandotherplantsthatcanthriveinAsheboro’ssoilsandclimatewhilelookingasiftheysproutedfromaforeignhabitat—inthiscase,theArctictundra.WhilemimickinganArcticland-scape,theselectedplantswillhavetobehardy,non-toxic,therightsizetofitavailableplantersandbeversatileenoughtoprovideshade,shelterandrestingspacesfortheanimals.Oh,yes,theplantsmightalsoneedtohideunaesthetic,butnecessary,architecturalstructures.

Meanwhile,theeducationstaffbeganleadingtheteam’seffortstoidentifythemostimportantenvironmentalmes-sagesfortheexhibitandthebestmethodstouseinconvey-ingthesemessages.Workingcloselywithourexhibitsdesignstaff,Zooeducatorsbeganconsideringthegraphicpanels,artifactsandinteractivedevicesthatwouldengageandteachvisitors.Manyofthesefeatureswouldbedesignedtobeproducedandinstalledbyourownstaff.

TheZoo’sexperiencedmaintenancestaffsettoworkcon-

Winter 2012 | 3

Architect’s rendering of view from moat

4 | ALIVE

sideringthekindsofoff-exhibitcagingthatwouldbeneededforthenewfacility,workingoutthedetailsforweldedsteelpanelsanddoors,andevenhydraulicdevicestoopenandclosethedoors.Ourstaffhassomuchexperiencewiththiskindofspecializedconstructionthattheycanmanufacturespecializedcagingthatcankeepanimalsandkeeperssafewhileabsorbingthewearandtearthatanimals,suchasPolarBears,candishout.Theseskillsarerare.Engineeringschoolsdonotofferclassesonhowtomeasure,orbuildto,thestressesthatPolarBears,gorillasorelephantscanrenderonastructure.

Finally,theanimalcarestaffacceptedresponsibilityfordefiningandmeetingthefuturePolarBears’physicalandbehavioralneeds.Staffrequiresanintimateknowledgeofa

species’naturalhistorybeforedecisionscanbemadeaboutthesize,complexityandlayoutofaproposedanimalexhibit.Oncetheseparametersaredefined,evenmoredetailsmustbeconsideredtodefinehowbigandhowstrongmaterialsmustbetoconstructsafecontainmentbarriers.Eachspecieshasitsownsetofsubstrateneedsandfurniturerequirements,too.Theanimalcarestaffhadtoconsideralltheaccessoriesthatmightbeneeded—pools,climbingstructures,shadeandshelteredareas,diggingplaces—tomeetthePolarBears’behaviorialneeds.

Theanimalcarestaffwasalsoresponsibleforapprovingthefloorplan,doorlocations,lightingandplumbingneeds,andheatingandcoolingparametersforthenewexhibit.Earlyon,staffbeganlistingtheelementsthatwouldbeneededtokeepthePolarBearscomfortablewhilesimultane-ouslyprovidingkeeperswithefficientwaystomovethebearsformedicalproceduresorwhentheirnightquartersorexhibitspacesneededcleaning.

NavigatingtheDesignProcessOverthelastmanymonths,staffmarchedtheRockyCoastredesignthroughthesamedesignsequencethatcharacterizes

alllargeconstructionprojects.Thisprocesspassedthroughthreedistinctsteps:theconcept,orschematicphase;thedesignphase;and,theconstructiondrawingphase.Asthedesignprocesslurchedfromonestagetothenext,thearchi-tectsrespondedbyproducingmoreandmoredetailedandconstraineddrawingsoftheproposedfacility.

Theearliestdrawings(conceptphase)dealtonlywiththebigpicture,notthedetailsofthefinalplans.Simple,geo-metricshapes—ofroughlythecorrectrelativesizes—stoodinasplaceholdersforimportantdesignelementsthatwouldemergelater.Listsofbasicinfrastructureneedsaccompaniedthedrawings,addressingwheretopositionwater,sewer,electrical,lightingandheating/coolingunits.

Atthislevel,wealsosketchedinaccessroutesforservice,repairandemergencyvehiclesandspecifiedtheamenitiesstaffwouldneedforwork.Weunder-stoodallofthesedetailsbeforewehiredanoutsidearchitect.Ourworkprovidedadetailed,verbaldescriptionoftheissuesandtheele-mentsafinisheddesignwouldhavetoaddress.Whenourdevelopmentteamcompletedthisphaseofthedesignprocess,wesetupourfirstmeetingwiththearchitects.

Asthedesignprocessmovedforward,thearchitectsstartedtosketchoutbuildingsandtheirdetails:walls,doors,windows,floors,roofs,watersources,drains,electricaloutlets,lighting,heatingandcoolingsystems,pumps,filtersandthelike.Thearchitectsalsohadtodrawinanimal-friendlyfeatureslikeartificalrockwork,walls,poolsandstreams,landscapeplans,animalcagingdetailsandwaterfiltrationsystems.

Duringthisphase,theZooteamfocusedonunderstandinghowthevariouscomponentswouldworktogether.Someengineersjoinedourworkingteam,now,buttheirdesigninputwasnotyetdetailedenoughtoprecludethestafffromfine-tuningtheplanswithoutignitingacascadeofchangestootherdesignelements.

Thesepreliminarydrawingshelpedteammembersvisual-izehowtheexhibitwouldwork.Thedrawingsmadeiteasierforustofindmistakesoromissions.Atthisstage,thedesignprocessinchedforwardbytrialanderror.Thearchitectslis-tenedtoproblemsandrespondedbyredrawingthedesign.Teammemberscombedoverthenewdrawingstoensurethattheproposedsolutionsdidnotcreateadifferentsetofprob-lems.Asthedrawingsflewbackandforth,thedesignbecamemoreintegratedandmoredifficulttomodify.ArchitectsforthePolarBearexpansionrackedupnearly100pagesofearlydrawingsduringthisstageofplanning.

Duringthisphase,ourdesignteammetwiththePolarBearprojectarchitectsfourtimesjusttoreviewandrevisethedevelopmentphasedrawings.Beforethesemeetings,ourin-houseteammetandconsolidateditsquestionsandconcerns.Ateverymeeting,thearchitectspresentedtheirsolutionsfor

Zoo artists’ model of exhibit viewing cave

Winter 2012 |

oldproblemsandhelpedusbrainstormsolutionstoanynewissues.

Duringthelastphaseofdevelopment,theconstructiondrawingphase,thearchitectsproducedblueprintsforbuild-ingthenewfacility.Theseplansalmostalwaysbecomesetinstone.Discoveringaproblemnowmeantfiguringouthowtolivewithitorhowtopayforfixingit.And,anychangesetoffaflurryofnewdrawingsandmeetingstoreviewtherevisionsandmodifythem.

Astheprocessescreptforward,thearchitectsadjustedtheircostestimatesforconstruction.Eachstepforwardpro-ducedanew,morerealisticestimate.Generally,theesti-

matesclimbedsteadilywitheachnewdrawing.Witheachriseinprice,theteambeganscalingbackthedesignele-mentstokeeptheprojectwithinbudget.

YouCan’tAlwaysGetWhatYouWantEverylargeteamhasmemberswithcompetinginterests,andeveryprojecthastocontendwithlimitsoftimeandmoney.Asthedesignprocessmovedforward,theseclashesmeantthatcompromiseswouldhavetoruletheday.

Thecompromisesstruckabalancebetweenallsortsofthings:thespacewecoulddevotetotheanimalsversusthespacewecouldusetocreatethelookofanaturalhabitat...

CurrentExhibit

5

theamountofartificalrockwecouldbuildtohideunsightlystructuresversusthetimewehadtofinishtheprojectonschedule...thetemperaturesrequiredfortheexhibitversustheequipmentavailabletodothejob.

Toreachthefairestcompromises,wewentbacktoourinitialdocumentsandweighedeachargumentinlightoftheprioritiesandgoalswesetatthebeginning,beforethearchi-tectstempteduswiththeircleverbellsandwhistles.Bystickingtoouroriginalgoals,wecouldremainobjectiveindecidingwhichelementstokeepandwhichtoscuttle.

Fortunately,theNorthCarolinaZoohasanexceptionallytalented,experiencedanddiverseteamofexpertstorelyonduringthesemeetings.Fewzoosinthecountry,ortheworld,canmatchtheexpertisethatwecanlineuparoundourdesigntable.Whileourindividualpassionssometimessparkhigh-voltagediscussions,intheendwealwaysmanagetocreatesomeofthefinestzooexhibitsintheworld.

Ofcourse,thearchitectswehirefaceenormouschallengesindealingwiththisstaff.Theyarriveascreative,talented

expertsandbegintheirworkbybuttingheadswithawallofstrong-willedzooexpertsthatrarelyagreewitheachother,muchlesswitharchitects.But,intheend,thestrugglesandtheargumentsjustmakeforabetterproduct.

AcquiringFuturePolarBearsAsmostSocietymembersknow,theNorthCarolinaZoosentbothofitsPolarBearstootherAZAaccreditedzoosforthedurationofthisconstructionproject.Themoveswillpro-tectthemfromthestressesthattheconstructionnoiseswouldcauseandgivethemroomyexhibitsandpoolstouseuntiltheirexhibitiscompleted.

Bothofthesebearsaregettingupinyears.Aquilaisalmost20andWilhelmis27yearsold.Wehopetoseethembothlivelongenoughtocomebacktotheirnew,improvedexhibit.But,eventually,wewillhavetofindotherPolarBearstoreplacethem.

Unfortunately,PolarBearbirthsarerareinAZAaccred-itedZoos.Onlyfivesuccessfulbirthshaveoccurredduringthelastfiveyears,soacquiringnewbearsisverydifficult.

TheentireAZApopulationofzoobearscontainsonly13malesand21femalesofbreedingage.Theother34polarbearsinAZAzoosaretoooldtobreed.

Whilethereisaslimpossibilitythatwecouldacquiresomecubsbornincaptivity,thechancesaresmallandthecompetitionforanysuchcubswouldbefierce.Alternatively,theZoocouldtakeinsomeorphansfromCanada.

BecauseglobalclimatechangeisalreadytakingitstollonPolarBearslivingintheWesternHudsonBay,thenumberoforphanedcubsisexpectedtoriseoverthenextfewyears.Astheicesheetsmeltearlierandrefreezelatereachyear,mothershavefewermonthstohuntforthemselvesandtheircubs.Theshortenedhuntingseasonscausefemales’bodyweightstofall,whichcausesthefemalestobearfewercubsandputsbothcubsandmothersatrisktostarvation.

PolarBearbiologistsandCanadianwildlifeofficialsexpecttoencountermoreandmoreorphanedcubsinthenextfewyears.Currently,theMarineMammalProtectionActprohibitstheimportationofPolarBearsbecausetheyarelistedasathreatenedspeciesundertheU.S.EndangeredSpeciesAct.However,aworkinggroupoffederalagencies,polarbearbiologists,researchersandAZAmembersisworkingtomodifytheseregulationstoalloworphanstocomeintoUnitedStates’facilitiesthatmeettheexhibitstan-dardsdevelopedbytheProvinceofManitoba.OurPolarBearexpansionprojecthasbeencarefullycraftedtomeettheManitobaStandardsandmaketheNorthCarolinaZooeligi-bletoreceivesomeofthoseorphans.

Ofcourse,wewishthatnocubswouldbeorphanedbychangingclimate,butifsomecubsneedhelpfromus,wewillbereadytotakethemin.And,whenwedo,wehopetheexperienceswehaveplannedforthenewexhibitwillinspireZoovisitorstotakeactionintheirpersonallivestohelpreducethethreatsfacingpolarbearsinthewild.

KEN REININGER, GENERAL CURATOR OF ANIMALS

The upgrade and expansion to the Polar Bearexhibit would not be possible without the support of the NC Zoo Society’s members andthe exceptional generosity of the donors listed below.

DoNorS

$300,000–$500,000Bob and Bonnie MeekerRandolph Friends of the Zoo

$150,000–$299,000Estate of Muriel J. & William H. Fox F.M. Kirby FoundationMolly Millis-HedgecockTalmadge and Ian SilversidesThe Timken Foundation of Canton

$50,000–$149,999The Cannon FoundationEstate of Millicent S. and Lawrence MarsdenEstate of Jesse MillisEmily Millis-Hiatt Foundation FundCombined Giving from the NC Zoo Society membership

$20,000–$49,999Dell FoundationEstate of Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. EamichJohn W. and Anna H. Hanes FoundationJ. Richard and Sybel F. Hayworth FoundationMary Norris Preyer Oglesby and Patrick OglesbyPennies for Polar Bears (North Carolina school children)Mr. and Mrs. Scott E. ReedWachovia Foundation

6

Zoo Memberships Make Great Gifts for Employees, Too!Share the Zoo where you work and replace traditional fruit basketsand canned nuts with a gift that lasts all year.

To give either or both items,complete the order form below and return it to:

NC Zoo Society; 4403 Zoo Parkway; Asheboro, NC 27205.

For more details or to order on-line, click onwww.nczoo.com, or call the Membership Department at336-879-7250. Gift Memberships will be mailed on December 7, Willie’s Walks on December 9,unless you request an alternate mailing date. Holiday Membership prices areslightly higher than regular memberships to cover the costs associated with theplush. Standard shipping costs are included.

G I F T S ORD E R F O RMSend gift package to: � Recipient � Me

Please indicate gift for: � Christmas � Hanukkah

Other ____________________________________________________

M essage you want included __________________________________

________________________________________________________

Buyer’s Name ____________________________________________

Address__________________________________________________

City/State/Zip______________________________________________

Phone (H)________________________ (W) ____________________

Email ____________________________________________________

Willie’s WalksName of recipient __________________________________________

Check size: � Small Willie, $14.99 � Large Willie, $24.99(Prices include Shipping)

Gift Membership InfoName of Membership Recipient ______________________________

Membership level you wish to buy ____________________________

For Family or higher memberships only, what is the name of the

second adult in the household? ______________________________

Number of children under 18 _____ OR grandchildren under 18 _____

Recipient Address__________________________________________

City/State/Zip______________________________________________

Phone (H)______________________ (W) ______________________

Email ____________________________________________________

TOTAL $ ________________Payment type: � Cash � Check (Please make check payable to NC Zoo Society)� Credit Card (Please check one):

� MC � VISA � Discover � AMEX

Account# _________________________________ CVN# __________

Exp. Date ________ Signature ________________________________

Not Too Early to Plan for the Holidays

Give Willie’s Walks — A cute, cuddly, enchantinggift for a youngster to travel with, photograph and sharewith his or her friends and relatives. Every Willie’s Walks purchase will help the North Carolina

Zoo protect Polar Bears through its Acres for the AtmosphereProgram. Acres for the Atmosphere teaches about globalclimate changes and buys and plants trees to help reduceCarbon Dioxide levels in the atmosphere and keep the Arctic fit for Polar Bears.

Give an NC Zoo Society MembershipGive a friend or a whole family a year of fun at the Zoo.

A plush gorilla will arrive with this year’s Holiday gift pack-age. Like all Zoo Society memberships, gift membershipsdeliver 364 days of free admission to the North Carolina Zooand free or discounted admission to more than 150 zoos andaquariums across North America. Members also receive ayear’s subscription to the Alive magazine and much more.

Your last chance to buy gift memberships at this year’s prices!Gift memberships come in many different sizes to meet theneeds of Individuals ($47), Families or Grandparents ($66).For just a few dollars more, these membership levels can beboosted to a “Plus” level, which entitles a member to bringa guest in free during each visit. (Individual-Plus member-ships are $52, Family-Plus or Grandparent-Plus are $76).Higher level memberships bring in more guests free:Zookeepers ($185) add two guests, while Curators ($310) getthree and receive a decorative license plate. Lifetime FamilyMemberships are available, too, for $1,510.

Winter 2012 | 7

For the past 19 years, Zoo staff has undertakena series of long-term wildlife studies. Many of thesestudies have focused on native animals that rangefreely on the Zoo grounds. Information gathered fromthis work helps the Zoo plan ways to use its propertysustainably. A few other studies have focused on theZoo’s collection animals by evaluating different aspectsof their management. Zoo staff has also conductedresearch outside of the Zoo, both in North Carolinaand in other parts of the world.

This article reviews the studies that staff has undertaken inNorth Carolina. Our goal is to update our members on thefindings of these studies, many of which have been dis-cussed in earlier Alive articles.

Eastern Box TurtlesOnce common throughout much of eastern North America,the Eastern Box Turtle has begun to suffer significant popu-lation declines. Because biologists could not pinpoint thecauses for these losses, calls have gone out for long-termresearch to expand our understanding of the species’ naturalhistory and what might be affecting its population stability.Ten years ago, Zoo staff initiated a long-term Box Turtle

study on-site and discovered, early on, that the Zoo propertysupported a large, stable population of free-ranging turtles—one of the strongest known wild populations of these ani-mals. The population reveals itself in the large number ofBox Turtles seen crossing Zoo roads and in the demograph-ics of these turtles. Their population contains a healthy agedistribution, everything from young hatchlings to old adults.

In 2002, we implementeda study to estimate the

local population’ssize and to tease

out informa-tion on the

group’s natural history. We structured the study to let uscompare our findings with the findings of studies conductedon turtles living in other parts of the species’ range. We alsowanted to establish a baseline that we could use to signalany changes to our population’s stability.Our study confirmed the health and the abundance of our

local population and identified the landscapes that attract themost turtle activity. Our findings also revealed space require-ments for individual turtles and exposed some details onother aspects of the species’ life history. Staff carried out the study by collecting turtles that were

seen inside the Zoo and taking them to research stationsoperated by keepers at the Streamside and the SonoraDesert exhibits. Keepers marked each new arrival by carvinga unique, and harmless, pattern of notches on the marginalplates of its shell. The patterns made it possible to identifyindividual turtles and keep accurate records on where theywere seen and what they were doing when someonenabbed them and brought them back to a research station.By connecting the dots between each capture, staff couldplot the likely course of the turtles’ activities. During the 10-year study, we identified 470 individuals, and recapturedabout 33 percent of them between one and four times. We have already published several articles on this study in

earlier issues of Alive, and we are compiling our data to sub-mit for publication in the scientific literature. We hope thatthe findings will help other zoo planners and researchersmonitor their local Box Turtle populations. This work also provided Zoo staff with a venue for net-

working with other professionals involved in Box Turtle con-servation. Through this venue, the Zoo helped organize andsponsor three major symposiums—one held at the NCZoo—where researchers, rehabilitation technicians and envi-ronmentalists shared information and coordinated strategiesfor understanding and protecting this species. The venue also helped establish a fund, named in mem-

ory of Lucille Stickel (a Box Turtle researcher from Maryland,who was well known for conducting one of the longest-run-ning surveys on Box Turtles), that awards research grants.The fund has already awarded grants to support researchon Box Turtle genetics and nesting behaviors. The Zoo has also taken this research strategy around the

state, helping organize and train staff from 33 state parksand environmental originations to conduct Box Turtle sur-veys on their properties. A few of these organizations haveundertaken telemetry studies on their sites as well.

FIELD

Wildlife Studies at the Zoo

8 | ALIVE

JD WILLSON

Radio Telemetry StudiesZoo staff has incorporated radio telemetry into several fieldprojects and into a study of our captive alligators. In thefield, telemetry has helped us study the home ranges andactivities of local Copperheads, Timber Rattlesnakes andBox Turtles.The studies documented the snakes’ land-use habits and

monitored interactions between the snakes and our visitors,as well as our staff’s response to these interactions. Streamside and Sonora Desert keepers have used

telemetry to track several Copperheads and TimberRattlesnakes that veterinary staff implanted with tiny radiotransmitters and antennas. Once a week, keepers find thesnakes and plot their locations by using receivers that pickup the beeps emitted by the snakes’ transmitters. Eachtransmitter is tuned to a unique frequency, allowing keepersto identify the individual snake emitting a particular signal. This work documented the snakes land requirements and

revealed how, and when, the snakes use these properties.The signals also told us when the snakes were in, near orfar away from visitor areas. We learned that Copperheadsare abundant in the developed parts of the Zoo, whileTimber Rattlesnakes prefer to avoid people. They mostly

linger in undeveloped areas of the Zoo. On the rare occa-sions when Timber Rattlesnakes sashay into developedareas, the snakes seem merely to be migrating betweenundeveloped plots of land. Our Box Turtle telemetry studies allowed us to estimate

the amount of land used by the study turtles and revealedhow land use size fluctuates with the seasons, with habitattypes and with a turtle’s sex. Eventually, we hope the stud-ies will lead us to some nesting sites and to a better under-standing of nesting behaviors.The Zoo’s first radio telemetry study involved collection

alligators. We fed them encapsulated radio transmitters thatsettled inside their digestive systems to broadcast data ontheir core temperatures. Keepers read and recorded the alli-gators’ temperatures three times a day over three years. The equipment let staff test whether the alligators needed

access to a heated pool during the winter. We began explor-

ing this question by collecting core temperature data whilethe alligators had access to a heated pool. After establishinga baseline, we proceeded by lowering the pool’s tempera-ture in successive winters. By the third year, our data con-firmed that the alligators were maintaining healthy coretemperatures without heat from the pool. This finding meantthat we did not need to heat the pool, a finding that reducedthe exhibit’s energy demands and costs. From a theoretical perspective, this study broadened our

understanding of alligators’ capacity to maintain their coretemperatures during the winter. The study also provided uswith additional data on the behaviors the alligators displayedin winter. Our findings can help other biologists study thetemperature requirements and thermoregulation behaviorsof free-ranging alligators.

Cape Fear ShinersFor 10 years, Streamside keepers have researched theCape Fear Shiner, a small, endangered minnow that isendemic to the Cape Fear River Basin. Because little isknown about this species, the United States Fish & WildlifeService has found it difficult to set up management plans toprotect it from extinction. To help, the Zoo manages thelargest captive population of this species and is researchingits natural history to help flesh out a management plan for it. Our work, to date, has identified the foods these shiners

eat and has discovered how their nutritional needs and foodchoices change as they mature from hatchlings to adults.We have also challenged the prevailing notion that wild indi-viduals live about three years and begin breeding at aboutten months of age. Our work indicates that reproductivematurity correlates with the fishes’ size as well as its age,and found individuals that lived nine years in captivity. Thesefindings suggest that wild individuals may live longer thanonce believed, and that we may have begun to identifysome factors that initiate breeding.We hope that these findings and the results of other

planned studies will help produce programs that can protectthis fish from extinction.

Hellbender Surveysin North CarolinaIn partnership with Lori Williams, Mountain Wildlife DiversityBiologist with the North Carolina Wildlife ResourcesCommission, Zoo staff has undertaken a series of surveyson Eastern Hellbenders living in western NorthCarolina. This large aquatic salamander is declining in partsof its native range, which wanders through areas of theAppalachian and Ozark mountains. Our surveys are the firstsystematic Hellbender inventories undertaken in the state.

CONTINUES>>

Winter 2012 | 9

10 | ALIVE

FIELD NOTES >>

Our work is to survey populations to determine their sta-bility and to try to identify the cause of any declines. We arealso testing the salamanders for emerging diseases that areaffecting other amphibians round the world. Our studiessuggest that North Carolina’s Hellbender populations arehealthier than Hellbender populations in other states. Wehope that our disease surveillance work will document themedical health of North Carolina’s populations and measurethem against the severe health problems that have beenreported in the salamanders in the Ozark Mountains. Ourfindings will establish a baseline for monitoring the stabilityof future Hellbender populations.These surveys also allow us to collaborate with other

researchers and offer students technical guidance onchoosing research topics. For example, Hellbender tail tipstaken during our surveys are being mined by researchers atPurdue University (Indiana) and Lee University (Tennessee)as they study the genetic variations of the EasternHellbender throughout its range. We have helped initiate agraduate-level study on larval Hellbender habitats and pop-ulation ecology and a high-school extracurricular study totest a new hellbender trap design.We have also considered trying to breed captive

Hellbenders—a species yet to reproduce in captivity. A suc-cessful breeding program could boost Hellbender conserva-tion by making captive-raised Hellbenders available forconservation research.

Other Native Wildlife StudiesAdditional wildlife studies are expanding our understandingof the ecology of the Zoo grounds. To learn about localwildlife, we have set out camera traps to capture photos ofthe mammalian predators moving around the site. The photos will help us determine if these predator populationsare stable.We are particularly interested in the health of the site’s

Bobcat population, which seems to have declined over thepast 20 years. The cameras have documented the presenceof Coyotes on the Zoo grounds—a finding that we mustmonitor carefully because of the impact these predatorscould have on some of our antelopes and other collectionanimals. The traps have also captured a striped skunk—a species

that we think may increase in numbers in the future. Theirpopulation numbers fell dramatically about 25 years agowhen a distemper epidemic nearly extinguished the local

population. The NC Zoo Society owns 272 acres adjacent to the Zoo

grounds. Recently, the Zoo staff cooperated with some ElonUniversity staff and students to survey the land’s wildlifepopulation.We conducted the surveys by setting out pit fall traps

along a fence line that guides terrestrial animals, unharmed,into the traps, and also by setting out boards that shelterand attract amphibians, reptiles and small mammals. We

also placed radio transmitters on several Box Turtles andused telemetry to determine how they used that land. Wewill compare this data with the data that we collected during the Zoo’s Box Turtle telemetry study. We will use our findings to provide the Zoo and the Zoo

Society with information on how best to develop this land tocomplement the Zoo’s sustainability efforts.

More local studies will certainly be implemented in thefuture to help us improve our understanding of the diversegroups of animals and plants that live on our grounds. Many of these studies have been, and will continue to be,

supported from dues and donations that members make tothe NC Zoo Society. Stay tuned to learn more about futurestudies as they unfold at the Zoo, around the state and inother parts of the world.

JOHN D. GROVES, CURATOR OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES

VALERIE ABBOTT

Your gift will help the Zoo:

� Acquire, feed and enrich the lives of its 1,100 animals;� Provide them with state-of-the-art veterinary care;� Keep its gardens growing;� Protect wildlife around the world;� Connect students with animals, nature and learning;� Tend to the needs of 750,000 annual visitors; and � Maintain and sustain its land.Become part of the reason that the North Carolina Zoo continues to enchant and delight North Carolina’s children,families, friends and neighbors.

...every time a child comes face to face with a Polar Bear swimming in itsexhibit or nose to nose with one of the North Carolina Zoo’s Gorillas or Chimpanzees.

Every time a child connects with a Zoo animal, the experience ignites joy, wonder andcuriosity. These moments cannot be matched outside of a zoo, and these moments canfuel a passion for wildlife and learning that can last a lifetime.

Help us make sure that Polar Bears and Elephants are always here to spreadtheir enchantment and draw us back to nature. You can help keep this magic alive bydonating to the Zoo Society’s Annual Fund.

Name _________________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________

City____________________________________________ State_____ Zip __________________

Phone ________________________ E-mail __________________________________________

Please make checks payable to the NC Zoo Society, or charge to:

� MasterCard � AMEX � Visa � Discover

Account # __________________________________________________ Security Code________

Exp. Date____________ Signature__________________________________________________

Mail to: NC Zoo Society, 4403 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro,NC 27205 2046

VALERIE ABBOTT

$5,000 – EmeraldHickory PrintingSheetzThe Courier Tribune

$2,500 – RubyAsheboro Elastics CorporationBB&TNeoNova Network Services, Inc.

$1,500 – DiamondAsheboro Paper & PackagingAsheboro RecyclingCarolina Bank of AsheboroClapp’s Convalescent NursingHome, Inc.

Community OneEnergizerRichard & Susan GarkalnsInk ‘n Stitches, LLCKlaussner Home FurnishingsMr. & Mrs. Scott LeaMcDowell Lumber CompanyMolly Millis-Hedgecock & EmilyMillis-Hiatt

Randolph HospitalRandolph Medical AssociatesRandolph Specialty GroupTechnimark, LLCThe Timken Company

$1,000 – SapphireAsheboro MagazineMr. & Mrs. Howard BurkartCalixCarolina PharmacyCenturyLINKChili’s of AsheboroFirst BankInsurance Associates of theTriad

It’s Leather, Inc. James River EquipmentJ.D. Wilkins Company, LLCMalt-O-MealPamela E. PotterProgress EnergyPugh Funeral HomeRandolph Bank & TrustShaw Enterprises, LLCSir Pizza of AsheboroTriad Corrugated MetalPaul Thomas Tire & AutomotiveU.S. Trust Bank of AmericaPrivate Wealth Management

Dr. & Mrs. James Wilson

$500 – TopazAcme-McCrary and SaponaFoundation, Inc.

Clark Bell, LawyerBurge Flower Shop, Inc. Carillon Assisted Living ofAsheboro

Chandler ConcreteCross Road RetirementCommunity

Deep River RehabilitationElastic Therapy, Inc. Heart of North Carolina VisitorsBureau

Bill & Ann HooverGreg & Ginny HunterMidState Toyota of AsheboroWalker & Joanne MoffittMoser, Schmidly & RooseOliver Rubber CompanyPrevo Drug, Inc. Mr. J.M. Ramsay, Jr. Randolph Electric MembershipCorporation

RE/MAX Central RealtyRiazzi Rhyne & SwaimInvestment Group

Ridge Funeral Home &Cremation Services

StarPetState Farm Insurance, LisaBlackwell

Wachovia Bank, A Wells FargoCompany

Live AuctionAsheboro HondaAsheboro NissanAvery Pottery & TileworksBen Owen PotteryEddie BernardBiltmore EstatesChad Brown PotteryZachary ComptonDean & Martin PotteryDoe Ridge PotteryDover PotteryMike DurhamMike FerreePaul FreheBill & Ann HooverHumble Mill PotteryJoel Hunnicuttideas2imagesDaniel JohnstonChris Luther PotteryJoseph Sand PotteryDr. Scott MurkinNC Tarheel WoodcarversAssociation

NC Zoo Animal DivisionNC Zoo SocietyNine Toes PotteryPrimitive Knife ArtworksRay Pottery Schneider Stone, Inc. Seagrove Stoneware Takuro & Hitomi ShibataLenton SlackJim SpiresSTARworks NC Glass Lab –Nickolaus Fruin

David StuempfleHiroshi Sueyoshi

What a Night it Was!Our deepest thanks to our sponsors, donors and guests for making this year’s Zoo To Do — Moonlight Masquerade—a magnificent success. This year’s gala raised $157,000, surpassingits fundraising goal by $21,000, and pushing the Zoo that much closer toits goal of adding a new Ocelot exhibit to the North American region.

Neither the fun nor the fundraising would have been possible withoutthe generosity of our sponsors—especially Signature Sponsor RandolphTelephone Corp—our live and silent auction donors, the businesses andartists that donated their products and talents to the evening, and theRandolph Friends of the Zoo who worked diligently to make this Zoo ToDo the best one ever. Thank you—thank you all.

Our SponsorsSignature SponsorRandolph Telephone Membership Corp.

12 | ALIVE

Silent AuctionFood, Fun &

EntertainmentAnna’s Jams and JelliesAsheboro Country ClubNancy BellBlue Ribbon Pony FarmCabot CreameryCooperative

Café EuropaCafé PradaCakes by CindyCasanova’s Coffee &Fudge

Celebration StationChick-fil-ACycle CenterTommy DavisDeep RiverRehabilitation –Angela Lucas

Margaret GilesGodivaGraffiti’s BistroGreen Hill Center for NCArt

High Point BowlingJosephine’s Bistro & BarAngie KahnDr. David MalinNC Zoo EducationDivision

Penland Custom FramesPinewood Country ClubPrimitive Knife Artworks& Jewelry

Quaintance-WeaverRestaurants & Hotels

Randolph-AsheboroYMCA

Mr. & Mrs. Scott ReedR.H. BarringerDistributing Co.

Sagebrush Steakhouse &Saloon

Santosha YogaSheetzSport’s AtticPaige Stanley-MillerTaste of Thai OrientalRestaurants

The Bistro at AdamFarms

The Exchange Banquet &Meeting Hall

Thistle Meadow WineryToys & Co. Trophy Shop Gifts &Engraving

1212 SalonUptown Charlie’sCharles WestWet n’ Wild EmeraldPointe

Adventures, Art & Décor

Valerie AbbottAcres for theAtmosphere/Trees NC

Amish Trading PostArt from the HeartAshley FetnerPhotography

Banner Place NurseryBlue RhinoCarousel PhotographyVito CicconeMartha CrottyFrank CullerDecorative WoodCarvings

Lynn DonovanPhotography

Steve & Rhonda EblinGrand Manor FurnitureCandace HammondHardin’s FurnitureSusan HarrellMonica HawkeHigh Point FurnitureLaura Kelly Klaussner HomeFurnishings

Lonesome Joe’s WoodKim Luther DesignsTerrance MeadowsPam MyersNCR PhotographyNew Leaf StudioNext Step PhotographyWorkshops

Next Step PhotographyWorkshops – VinnyColucci

Next Step PhotographyWorkshops – MelissaSouthern

NC Zoo Design DivisionNC Zoo HorticultureDivision

Parsons Wood ArtistryDe PotterKen & Diane PowellSam RamseyJohn RevellRandolph TelephoneMembership Corp.

Rheem ManufactoringCompany

Schadt Woodcarving andDesign

Southern States ofAsheboro

Mike ShinnState of the ArtDavid ThomasKaren Tiede StudiosMartha Yarborough

PotteryAnita’s Pottery &Dogwood Gallery

Art Alliance – CharlieGray

Art in ClayBaby Dragon EnterprisesBad Moon MudBC ClayBuffalo Creek PotteryBulldog PotteryCagle Road PotteryCat Fish CreationsChrisco’s PotteryDish ‘n PotteryDown to Earth PotteryEarth, Water & FireFresh Touch PotteryDavid EdwardsFat Beagle PotteryFour Paw PotteryBeverly FoxFreeman PotteryFrom the Ground UpGingerbread HousePottery

Michele Hastings & Jeff Brown Pottery

Valerie HillHis Hands PotteryPatty JenningsMichael Kline PotteryKovack PotteryLantern Hill PotteryLatham’s PotteryPo-Wen Liu

Luck’s WareLufkin PotteryDebb McDanielBrett McDougalMcNeill’s PotteryNew Salem PotteryBill NewtonJoyce NewtonNichols PotteryOld Gap Pottery Susan O’Leary PotteryO’Quinn PotteryPiney Woods PotteryLeanne PizioPotter by Frank NeefPotts PotteryMarcy Reid-SmithSeagrove Stoneware –Alexa Modderno

Susan RidenhourRockhouse Pottery Dawn TagawaTeague’s FrogtownPottery

The Great White OakGallery

Thomas PotteryTriple C PotteryTurn & Burn PotteryUwharrie CrystallineConrad WeiserWestmoore PotteryWhy Not PotteryAdam WileyGail Young-Dula

Special ThanksDave AikenAsheboro Paper &Packaging

AVS CateringBeane SignsCoca-Cola ConsolidatedHobby LobbyJimmy Leonard IIILowes FoodsLowes HomeImprovement Center ofAsheboro

Montgomery CommunityCollege

PIP PrintingReddy Ice, Inc. R.H. BarringerDistributing Company

Silver Eagle, LLCState of the ArtThe Plant ShoppeBecky TarltonUnited Country-RogersAuctioneers, Inc.

Villa PhotographyMark Vuncannon – AllenTate Realty

OOPS!These three pieces missed the deadlineto be printed in the fall issue of Alive.We present them now to give propercredit to the generous artists who created these pieces and donated themto help the North Carolina Zoo.

CHAD BROWN*

*COURIER-TRIBUNE PHOTOS

JOSEPH SAND*

13

BOB MEIER/Doe Ridge Pottery

14 | ALIVE

Go Mix WAGO & WZGOGo Mix WZRN & WZRUAcme-McCrary & SaponaFoundation

Mable & A. P. Anderson, Jr.Mr. Chuck ArnoldAsheboro Elastics CorporationAssociation of Zoos &Aquariums

Mr. & Mrs. Arthur BluethenthalThe Borden Fund, Inc.Burlington Animal HospitalRon & Cathy ButlerCarolina BankCarolina Farmers MutualInsurance Company

Carson Family FoundationE. Jeanine ChadwellChili’s AsheboroDennis Clements & MarthaAnn Keels

Conservation InternationalFoundation

Frederic DalldorfDavis Furniture Industries, Inc.East Coast Trailer & EquipmentCo., Inc.

Edward JonesEnergizerHerb & Julia FloydFood LionMichael & Cordella FoxEstate of Muriel J. & WilliamH. Fox

Karyl GabrielGeorge FoundationDr. Michael Ghim & Mrs. ErinGhim

Mrs. Voit GilmoreWilliam & Vonna GravesGreater NC Area CFCMrs. Rose GuthrieHäfele America CompanyEllis & Linda HardisonHealthSource Chiropractic &Progressive Rehab

Whitney & William HeardHigh Point Bank & TrustCompany

Institute of Museum andLibrary Services

J. D. Wilkins Co., LLCMs. Winnie Kennedy & Mr.Kenneth Fondren

Kerr Drug, Inc.Amy & Brandon KingKulynych Family FoundationLowes Food Stores, Inc.Martin Marietta AggregatesBob & Bonnie MeekerNatalie & David MillerNeal & Dana MochelMt. Olive Pickle Company, Inc.NC Touchstone Energy cooperatives

North Carolina TroopersAssociation

Nova Eye CareMs. Martha H. NoyesRobert & Vera OutlandPender Nursery, Inc.Piedmont Natural GasCompany

Protegrity Wealth ManagementRandolph Electric MembershipCorporation

RBC BankThe Estate of Mr. & Mrs. JohnReavis

REI, Inc.Mr. & Mrs. James M. RuffinSCYNEXIS, Inc.Talmadge and Ian SilversidesSouthland ElectricalState Employees CombinedCampaign

SunGard Public SectorTherapeutic AlternativesThe Timken CompanyToms Creek Nursery &Landscaping

Triad Corrugated Metal, Inc.Leonard & Joyce B. TuftsUSTA North CarolinaVeterinary Specialty Hospital ofthe Carolinas

Westmoreland PartnersWorld Wide Fund for NatureMrs. Frances Young

go out to the very generous donors who provided gifts of $1,000 or moreto the Society, June 18 through September 16, 2011.

Are You 70½ or Older?Ifso,2011’staxlawsallowyoutorollfunds(upto$100,000duringyourlifetime)outofyourindividualretirementaccount(IRA)intoacharitabledonation,withoutanyundesirabletaximpacts.(Thisprotectionwillstopattheendof2011.)

IfyouhavealreadyincludedtheNorthCarolinaZoologicalSociety,Inc.,asanamedbeneficiaryofyourIRA,youcanreleaseallorpartofthatdonationin2011,andenjoyseeingyourphilanthropyputtowork.

Importantly,thisgiftcanbeusedtocompletetheannual,requiredminimumdistributionfromyourIRA.(ContactyourIRAcustodiantocompletethisgift.)Aspousewhois70½oroldercanalsorolloverasmuchas$100,000fromhisorherIRA.

PleasecontactRussWilliamsat3368797252orrwilliams@nczoo.comwithanyquestions.

In 2012, The North Carolina Zoo Society, Inc., will turn 44 years old.Over the years, we have progressed from a tiny entity whipping upsupport for building a North Carolina Zoo to a major fundraiser forthe exhibits and the programs that have made this Zoo one of thebest in the world. To celebrate these changes, and to confirm ourhope for an even brighter future, the Society recently decided ourlogo needed an update to include a North American animal and torepresent the Society’s global involvement.

However, before making any permanent changes, we want to askyou, our members, what you think of the update. Use the instructionsin the “This Issue” article on the inside cover to tell us how you feelabout the proposed design.

Winter 2012 |

2012 APRIL 1–OCTOBER 31They’re Coming!...a herd of dinosaurs as big, as noisy and as animated as any rational adult or dino-struckyoungster could hope for.

For the next two years, T-Rex and some of hisfavorite dinner companions will occupy more thanan acre of woodland near the North CarolinaZoo’s Forest Aviary. This gallery of Mesozoic mega-stars will sparkle with dinosaurs as large as a 19-

foot-tall Brachiosaurus and as endearing as an 11-foot-long mother Stegosaurus and her restless calf.

Based on the most up-to-date research on dinosaurbehaviors, postures and habits, the animated speci-mens will offer authentic snapshots of some of life’sbiggest, baddest and boldest experiments. In a cap-tured Cretaceous moment, for example, a T-Rexsways over her nest and her brood with head andtail aligned as perfect counterweights. From furtherback in time, an Apatosaurus (formerly ye olde“Brontosaurus”) displays her version of Jurassicmother love by hovering near her calf and survey-ing the landscape for any sign of predators.

All told, the collection covers more than 160 millionyears of natural history—stretching from the latePermian (250 million years ago) up to that biggeological moment when something or some-things (giant meteor strike, massive volcaniceruptions, dramatic shifts in climate, changingsea levels, what else?!) brought down the last ofthe dinosaurs. The most ancient species repre-sented is the Dimetredon from about 250 millionyears ago. The most recent species in the groupare the Euoplocephalus, an armor-plated batter-ing ram, and Triceratops, that fringe-headed

favorite of dinosaur lovers.

At the end of 2012, this first collectionwill vanish, to be replaced by yet anew set of dinosaurs and dinosaurtales. Visitors will be asked to pay anadmission fee of $3 to visit the galleryof dinosaurs.

15

PAGE

Nature’s MasterpieceA Bear that Can Take on the Arctic

16 | ALIVE

Polar Bears live at the top of the world andneed to stay at the top of their game tosurvive the rigors of Arctic life. But, stayingwarm is only one of the difficulties PolarBears must overcome to survive.

Polar Bears also have to survive in desertconditions. Too dry and cold to hold much water,Arctic air rarely snows or rains. Usually, fewerthan 10 inches of rain or snow falls during anentire year. Since most of this precipitation isfrozen, Polar Bears always face freshwatershortages. (Arctic animals do not drink by meltingsnow or ice in their mouths because unfreezing thewater saps away too much body heat. Melting the icewould put the bears at risk to freezing.)

Polar Bears also have to cope with famines that canlast for months. When it is cold, Polar Bears step out onthe ice to hunt their prey, Ringed and Bearded seals. But,in summer, where the ice melts, Polar Bears have to giveup hunting—and food—until temperatures drop enough torebuild an icy platform over the churning sea. To survivethe Arctic year, Polar Bears have to grab enough foodduring the hunting season to sustain them during monthsof famine.

Polar Bears can closetheir tiny ears and laythem close to theirheads—making thebears more stream-lined when they swim.

Polar Bears’ white fur camouflages them in snow and ice,but it also keeps them warmer than dark fur ever could.That’s because white fur is full of hot air! All hair shafts contain little openings—like tiny round

pockets. Pack some pigments in these pockets, and the hairtakes on the color of the pigments. But, leave the spacesempty, and air creeps in to fill them up. Once inside, the airwarms up and acts like a blanket to hold in body heat. When light hits these tiny air pockets, it bounces around

in such a way as to make the hair look white, even though it is transparent.

Fur covers every inch of a PolarBear’s body—except for its nose.Fur even sprouts from between aPolar Bear’s toes, growing longenough to cover its toe pads andgive them better traction on ice.

Winter 2012 | 17

Polar Bears have built-in sunglassesand swim goggles to protect their eyes.The bears can pull a transparent eye-lid (called a “nictitating membrane”)across each of their eyes to protectthem from glare and from floating ice.

Polar Bears’ claws are shorter andmore curved than other bears’ claws.The added curl gives these claws anedge when it comes to digging intoice or latching onto a slippery seal.

Polar Bears deal with famine by packing onthe pounds during their hunting seasons.Healthy Polar Bears eat only seal blubber, andcan turn it into four or more inches of PolarBear blubber during a good eating stretch.

Polar Bears also deal with food shortages by slipping in and out of hibernation whenever food gets scarce.Unlike other bears, which hibernate only in fall and winter, Polar Bears can hibernate during any season. While hibernating, Polar Bears live exclusively off

their stored blubber. When it breaks down, it suppliesthe bear with energy and releases fresh water—a realbonus in the Arctic’s frozen desert.

Sometimes, Polar Bears sleep while they hibernate,but other times Polar Bears stay awake and wanderaround. Bears that stay awake are kind of groggy andsluggish and are said to be in “walking hibernation.”

Nature shaped Polar Bears to swim by elon-gating their necks and tapering their faces tocut through the water. Male Polar Bears are so streamlined that

their heads are narrower than their necks.That means that scientists cannot followmales by fitting them with radio collars. Anycollar big enough to go around a male’sneck will slip right over its head.

Polar Bears nose after their prey. Theycan smell a seal from 20 miles away.

NON-PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGEPA ID

HICKORY, NCPERMIT #104

The NC Zoo Society is yourbridge to more than a Zoo visit.We make you a partner in theZoo’s global efforts to support• Animal well-being• Conservation • Education• Field Work• Research

And we welcome you into afamily that cares about nature.

The NC Zoo Society urges you to do business with businesses that support your Zoo.

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

4403 Zoo ParkwayAsheboro, NC 27205www.nczoo.com

The Zoo’s beloved PolarBear, Wilhelm, left for theMilwaukee Zoo on September21. He will be hanging out,swimming in a nice pool andwowing zoo visitors there until the

NC Zoo completes the upgrades toits existing Polar Bear exhibit.

To keep track of Willie, and to do your part tosave wild Polar Bears, consider buying one ofour Willie’s Walks bears and signing in toWillie’s Facebook Page. Zoo keepers will postregular updates on Willie while he vacationsin Wisconsin. And, by friending Willie, you canshare your ideas on saving energy and onhelping wild Polar Bears.

Follow Willie’s Walks!www.nczoo.comNCZooSociety

VALERIE ABBOTT