Black cats, pumpkins, ghosts, skulls, and skeletons symbolize the Halloween season. We asked Northwest Trek’s animal care team, Head Veterinarian Dr. Kadie Anderson and Veterinary Technician Tracy Cramer, to give us an “inside” look at a few of the wildlife park’s animals and their not-so-spooky skeletons. The animal care team regularly takes radiographs (X-rays) of the animals to assess their health and care for them.
Sullivan the Cougar
Check out Sullivan the cougar cub’s X-rays from when he received care for a limp. This image shows the growth plates in his front legs. Since Sullivan is still growing, the growth plates at the ends of his bones allow the bones to keep getting longer until he is a mature cougar.
Q: Do cougars stalk and attack humans?
A: Cougars are stalking predators, but cougar attacks on humans are rare.
Teklus the Barn Owl
In this image, you can see the delicate feathers of Teklus the barn owl. You can also see how long a barn owl’s legs are – helpful in reaching into long grass while hunting. Meet Teklus at night during Northwest Trek’s annual nighttime Hoot ‘n’ Howl event Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25. The special barn owl keeper chat will be each night at 7:30 p.m.
Q: Do owls hoot to ward off evil?
A: No, owls hoot to communicate with other owls.
Jack the Red Fox
This incredible image of our red fox Jack’s skull shows teeth great for consuming prey such as insects, small mammals, and sometimes even berries or other plant matter. And those pointed ears are perfect for hearing a mouse squeak from nearly a hundred feet away!
Q: Are red foxes always red?
A: Red foxes can be various colors such as black or silver.
Canagan the Gray Wolf
During Canagan the wolf’s routine exam, Northwest Trek’s veterinarian cleaned his teeth. Radiographs like this one help the healthcare team see the roots of Canagan’s teeth, and they can reference them to see if anything has changed in his mouth.
Q: Are wolves dangerous to humans?
A: No, there have only been a few cases in North America where wolves have attacked humans in the last 100 years.
Thistle the Porcupine
Look closely above the outline of this skeleton. Can you see all the quills on our porcupine, Thistle? And did you see how long those incisor teeth are? The teeth help chew and gnaw on vegetation and the inner bark of trees.
Q: Can porcupines shoot their quills at you?
A: Porcupines do not shoot their quills; they must come in contact with something to detach from their body. Porcupines will first try to climb a tree to escape danger, but if you get too close to touch them, they can quickly swing their tail towards a threat to use their quills to their advantage.
Matcha the Garter Snake
This whole-body image of Matcha, our garter snake, shows all the winding bones in its body. Garter snakes are an excellent natural pest control for your yard, as they often eat rodents and insects.
Q: What is the difference between a garter and a garden snake?
A: There is no difference! Garter snakes are often called garden snakes because they can be found in your garden, but these snakes prefer areas near water.
Chip the beaver
This image shows our beaver Chip’s strong, thick tail with large vertebrae and muscles. Beavers use their tails while swimming and as a form of communication when they slap their tails on the surface of the water to warn other beavers of danger.
Q: Why do beavers build dams?
A: Beavers build dams to create pools of water and then make a lodge inside to protect their home from predators.
Hayward the golden eagle
These powerful talons belong to our golden eagle, Hayward. The estimated grip strength for a golden eagle is around 400 pounds per square inch, strong enough to crush its prey in its grasp quickly and hold on to them in flight. Their grip is about 10 times stronger than the average human’s!
Q: How can you tell the difference between a juvenile bald eagle and a golden eagle?
A: Juvenile bald eagles have a dark brown head and body like a golden eagle, but their plumage has more patches of white, especially on their belly and under their wings. Golden eagles also have feathers on their legs, whereas bald eagles do not.
Trillium the trumpeter swan
This long neck belongs to trumpeter swan, Trillium! Trillium’s long neck allows her to forage and feed on land and water. Swan necks have 24-25 vertebrae, while human necks only have seven.
Q: How big are trumpeter swans?
A: Trumpeter swans are both the largest waterfowl native to the United States, with an average wingspan of 6 feet, and the heaviest bird, with some weighing over 30 pounds.
Wonton the western toad
This X-ray is of our Western toad, Wonton. It is an incredible opportunity to see all the tiny bones inside, as Western toads are roughly only 2 to 5 inches in size.
Q: Why are Western toads considered a concern for endangered species?
A: Western toads often return to the same place to breed year after year, which makes them vulnerable to habitat changes. As the places they once safely used change or dry up, so does their population and success in breeding.