"Where Olmsted County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 5:36:49, May 15th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Though I hated to see you reference Glenn Beck by name [Three Times ... [Read More]
- 11:42:07, May 10th 2013 - yenken - I feel very sorry for those who have commented do far, as when you stand fa ... [Read More]
- 12:10:25, Apr 26th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Mr. "Cabtrom's" garbage-out[burst]--in response to Ms. Reisner's w ... [Read More]
- 9:51:50, Apr 24th 2013 - jeff pischke - To Jerry Grehl, the number to the fillmore county sheriffs office is 7 ... [Read More]
- 9:27:24, Apr 22nd 2013 - Cabtrom - Blah blah blah, garbage in garbage out! ... [Read More]
- 7:00:49, Apr 11th 2013 - Donald Pierce - Col. Stan Gudmundson hit most of the important nails squarly on the h ... [Read More]
- 12:44:54, Apr 4th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - My compliments to Ms. Hammer for giving us well-crafted "Rachel Rea ... [Read More]
- 5:09:06, Apr 3rd 2013 - truthiness - I see this is dated April 1. That explains it! ... [Read More]
- 12:04:33, Apr 3rd 2013 - Frank W. Hawthorne - Say WHAT?!? Stan's American-Pie [In SKY] is Falling--Not Again? ... [Read More]
- 12:40:21, Mar 29th 2013 - Jacob - It's a shame that so few people care about making their voices heard. If we ... [Read More]
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How will you keep your kids busy this summer vacation?
Wildcats wow the crowd at Oxbow
Mon, Nov 19th, 2012
Comments
A cougar gets used to his new home at Oxbow Park. Photo by Wendy Wilson
A trio of wildcats are pad-ding inside their new outdoor pen within Oxbow Park’s Zollman Zoo in Byron.
The new exhibit housing the feisty felines opened to the public Nov. 7 and features a natural setting with ponds and the remains of a 200-year-old tree found within the park.
The wildcats include a 7-year-old cougar, 8-year-old bobcat and year-old lynx. The animals are native to Minnesota.
Volunteers and park staff broke ground on the project April 23. The exhibit was completed at the end of October. Architect Byron Stadsvold designed the structure.
“A lot of people came out,” park naturalist Karlin Ziegler said of the grand opening. “It’s a beautiful exhibit.”
The exhibit was funded through donations, including about $100,000 raised by the non-profit organization Friends of Oxbow.
The new surroundings were a welcome addition to the park. “The cougar’s pen was outdated,” Ziegler said. “She could use more space.”
While the number of cougars in Minnesota remains relatively small, more than a dozen documented sightings during the last five years are evidence they have a presence here. They are likely transitory visitors from the Dakotas, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Cougars are a protected species and may not be hunted by humans.
Full-grown cougars can weigh 150 to 200 pounds. The life expectancy of a cougar living in the wild is about 10 years.
The Zollman Zoo wildcats were born in captivity and brought into the park from wildlife breeders, according to Ziegler.
The animals seemed pleased with their more natural surroundings.
“They have relaxed a lot more and they’re exploring their exhibits,” Ziegler said. “They’re lounging, like cats do. They seem to be enjoying it.”
The animals are being ex-posed to a new way of life after being raised in captivity.
“It’s the first time any of them have been on grass,” Ziegler said.
The animals are separated from each other with fencing. The enclosure is covered with netting.
“They have space to hide, but it’s also real nice and open for them,” Ziegler said.
Each animal has a pond for playing, bathing and drinking.
The park also provides care for several other animals, including injured raptors such as eagles, hawks and owls. Other resident animals include gray wolves, fox, coyotes, ponies, bear, porcupines and other species native to Minnesota.
The zoo does not charge a fee to visitors, but accepts donations that are used to maintain the exhibits, provide veterinary care and purchase animals.
Zoo Dazzle
The park will host “Zoo Dazzle” Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 from 4 to 8 p.m., featuring the zoo lit with holiday lights. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served and crafts will be available.
More information about Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo may be found on their website at http://www.co.olmsted.mn.us/pw/parks/oxbowpark/zollmanzoo or by calling 507-775-2451. The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is located at 5731 County Road 105 Northwest in Byron.
Said Ziegler, “Winter is a great time to come out and see the animals.”
The new exhibit housing the feisty felines opened to the public Nov. 7 and features a natural setting with ponds and the remains of a 200-year-old tree found within the park.
The wildcats include a 7-year-old cougar, 8-year-old bobcat and year-old lynx. The animals are native to Minnesota.
Volunteers and park staff broke ground on the project April 23. The exhibit was completed at the end of October. Architect Byron Stadsvold designed the structure.
“A lot of people came out,” park naturalist Karlin Ziegler said of the grand opening. “It’s a beautiful exhibit.”
The exhibit was funded through donations, including about $100,000 raised by the non-profit organization Friends of Oxbow.
The new surroundings were a welcome addition to the park. “The cougar’s pen was outdated,” Ziegler said. “She could use more space.”
While the number of cougars in Minnesota remains relatively small, more than a dozen documented sightings during the last five years are evidence they have a presence here. They are likely transitory visitors from the Dakotas, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Cougars are a protected species and may not be hunted by humans.
Full-grown cougars can weigh 150 to 200 pounds. The life expectancy of a cougar living in the wild is about 10 years.
The Zollman Zoo wildcats were born in captivity and brought into the park from wildlife breeders, according to Ziegler.
The animals seemed pleased with their more natural surroundings.
“They have relaxed a lot more and they’re exploring their exhibits,” Ziegler said. “They’re lounging, like cats do. They seem to be enjoying it.”
The animals are being ex-posed to a new way of life after being raised in captivity.
“It’s the first time any of them have been on grass,” Ziegler said.
The animals are separated from each other with fencing. The enclosure is covered with netting.
“They have space to hide, but it’s also real nice and open for them,” Ziegler said.
Each animal has a pond for playing, bathing and drinking.
The park also provides care for several other animals, including injured raptors such as eagles, hawks and owls. Other resident animals include gray wolves, fox, coyotes, ponies, bear, porcupines and other species native to Minnesota.
The zoo does not charge a fee to visitors, but accepts donations that are used to maintain the exhibits, provide veterinary care and purchase animals.
Zoo Dazzle
The park will host “Zoo Dazzle” Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 from 4 to 8 p.m., featuring the zoo lit with holiday lights. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served and crafts will be available.
More information about Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo may be found on their website at http://www.co.olmsted.mn.us/pw/parks/oxbowpark/zollmanzoo or by calling 507-775-2451. The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is located at 5731 County Road 105 Northwest in Byron.
Said Ziegler, “Winter is a great time to come out and see the animals.”
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