Meet the Stars of Zootah!

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagles do not get their white head feathers until fully mature-around 5 years of age. The Bald Eagle is our national bird.

Animal Title:  Bald Eagle 

Scientific name:  Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Fun Fact: I am the national symbol of the U.S.

Animal info: These iconic birds are considered fish eagles and are found throughout North America in wetland areas. They don’t get their white plumage until about 5 years of age. 

Location: North America 

Lifespan: 20 years 

Diet: Carnivore and fish pictographs 

Endangerment Level: Least concern

Reindeer

A Red-Tailed Hawk screech is often the sound used for any large bird in movies

Animal Title:  Reindeer 

Scientific name:  Rangifer tarandus

Fun Fact: Males and females grow antlers

Animal info: Reindeer migrate in herds of thousands of individuals in arctic, subarctic, and boreal habitats.

Location: Northern Europe/Asia

Lifespan:  10 years old

Diet: Grass, hay, leaves, alfalfa

Endangerment Level: Least concern

Green Iguana

Iguanas use their long spiked tails for defense. Iguana’s are the largest lizard in America.

Animal Title: Green Iguana

Scientific name:  Iguana iguana

Fun Fact: I can survive a fall of 40-50 feet

Animal info: These large, arboreal lizards are found near water sources where they feed on a variety of leaves and can swim away from potential predators.

Location:  North and South America

Lifespan:  20 years

Diet:  Veggies

Endangerment Level:  Least Concern

Blue and Gold Macaw/ Blue Throated Macaw

Macaws can fly up to 35 miles an hour

Animal Title:  Blue-throated Macaw

Scientific name:  Ara glaucogularis

Fun Fact: 

Animal info:  Blue-throated macaws are critically endangered parrots found only in the vareza of the amazon region. Their small distribution and specific habitat requirements make them in danger of becoming extinct. 

Location: South America (bolivia)

Lifespan: 80 years 

Diet: herbivore pictograph 

Endangerment Level: Critically endangered 

White Cheeked Turaco

Most commonly raised species of Turaco in captivity. They cannot fly very well, but can run very quickly through the tree canopy

Animal Title:  White-cheeked Turaco

Scientific name:  Tauraco leucotis

Fun Fact:  Turacos are the only birds to possess true red and green pigments

Animal info: White-cheeked turacos are found in highlands regions of eastern Africa. These heavier birds bound through the tree tops and fly on occasion in short bursts. 

Location: Africa 

Lifespan: 20 years 

Diet: herbivore pictograph 

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Lemur

The females dominate in lemur groups

Animal Title:  Ring-tailed Lemur 

Scientific name: Lemur catta

Fun Fact: I use my tail in stink fights 

Animal info: These lemurs are endemic to Madagascar’s dry forests. They travel mainly terrestrially and defend their territories from neighboring groups. 

Red-Tailed Hawk

A Red-Tailed Hawk screech is often the sound used for any large bird in movies

Animal Title: Red-tailed Hawk 

Scientific name:  Buteo jamaicensis

Fun Fact: My shrill cry is used for all raptors in movies

Animal info: Red-tailed hawks are common urban dwellers across North America. They sometimes hunt in pairs to capture small mammals.

Location: North America 

Lifespan: 15-20 years 

Diet: carnivore pictograph 

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Ne-Ne Geese

The Ne-Ne goose is the state bird of Hawaii

Elk

Elk’s will make a loud noise called a bellow. Every year an Elk grows a new pair of antlers

Age:  8 years
Birthday: June 27^th
Sex:  Male
Favorite Food:  Alfalfa
Favorite Activity:  “wallowing” in my signature scent
Life Span: 8-12 Years

Habitat/Range: Elk are native to North America. They migrate to higher elevation in the spring following the retreat of snow. In the fall, they come down from the mountains to the foothills where they feed on shrubs and tree bark. You can see elk herds around Cache Valley in the winter at Hardware Ranch.  

Behavior: Many ungulates (such as elk, deer, bison, cows) are ruminant animals. These animals have an extra stomach to help them process all the vegetation they consume. They ferment food in this specialized stomach prior to digestion. Elk spend much of their time grazing on grasses but also consume forbs, tree branches, and bark. 

Breeding: The elk mating season occurs in August, and bulls go through an intensive mating process called the Rut. During this time, bulls gather cows and calves in groups called harems and defend these harems from other bulls. They wallow in mud to coat themselves in urine, which acts as a “perfume” to attract females. They bugle and rub their antlers on trees and shrubs to attract mates and intimidate other males. Sometimes, bulls will “go to war” with other males for a harem. These usually are not deadly fights but occasionally result in a bull death. Cows normally give birth to one calf, which are spotted and scentless to protect them from predators. 

Conservation: Listing: Least concern. Elk are not an endangered species but their range has drastically reduced. Habitat loss and illegal hunting has caused their populations to decline. 

Zebra Finch

Finches are one of the smallest commonly kept pet bird. They are very social and should be kept in pairs or groups.

Animal Title:  Zebra Finch 

Scientific name:  Taeniopygia guttata

Fun Fact: They build separate roosting and breeding nests 

Animal info: Zebra finches are common, Australian finches and are names for their unique, striped pattern. They breed in large colonies of up to 50 nests.   

Location: Australia 

Lifespan: 2-5 years 

Diet: herbivore pictograph 

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Red Fox

A fox will constantly hunt for food, even if they are not hungry

Animal Title:  Red Fox  

Scientific name:  Vulpes vulpes

Fun Fact: highly invasive in Australia 

Animal info: The red fox  is one of the most widely distributed carnivores and found across the entire northern hemisphere.

Location: Northern hemisphere 

Lifespan: 15-20 years 

Diet: carnivore pictograph 

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Concure

Some conures can learn words and mimic speech

Canada Lynx

A lynx has natural snowshoes for feet. The majority of their diet comes from snowshoe hairs.

Age:  11 years
Birthday: February 3rd
Sex: Male
Favorite Food:  Rabbit
Favorite Activity: Playing with feathers!

Habitat/Range: The Canada Lynx are found in boreal forests in North America. Their range extends from northern regions of the contiguous US, Alaska, and Canada. 

Behavior: Canada Lynx are excellent hunters. Their feet act as natural “snowshoes” and allow them to pad silently through the night. They feed mainly on Snowshoe hares, and their populations are tied together in a cyclic relationship. When Snowshoe hares are abundant, lynx populations thrive. Eventually, hare populations decrease due to overhunting by the lynx. The lynx aren’t able to find food as easily and their population size decreases. This allows the Snowshoe hare population to recover which, in turn, allows the lynx population to recover. Lynx are solitary creatures other than the bond between mother and offspring and the very short time mates come together to breed. 

Breeding: Canada Lynx breed between March and April. They give birth 2-3 months later to a litter of one to eight kittens. The kittens are weaned 12 weeks later. 

Conservation: Listing: Least concern. Canada Lynx are regularly trapped for the international fur trade. However, they are protected in the southern parts of their range due to increased threat from habitat loss. 

Porcupine

Porcupines can have up to 30,000 quills on their body.

Animal Title: North American Porcupine 

Scientific name:  Erethizon dorsatum

Fun Fact: I am the 3rd largest rodent 

Animal info: Porcupines are mainly solitary, nocturnal creatures and spend most of their time in trees. Their quills protect them from predators. 

Location: North America (US and Canada) 

Lifespan: 5 years 

Diet: Branches, tree bark, berries, and other vegetation 

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Diamond Dove

Diamond Doves like to live nearby water. They come from Australia. 

Animal Title: Diamond Dove

Scientific name: Geopelia cuneata

Fun Fact: Males have larger eye rings  

Animal info:  Diamond doves are tiny doves found in semi-arid regions of Australia. They are often seen in pairs or groups on the ground foraging on seeds. 

Location: Australia

Lifespan: 10 years

Diet: green/ herbivore pictograph

Endangerment Level: Least concern

Coyote

Coyotes parent their young together as a pair.

Animal Title: Coyote 

Scientific name:  Canis latrans

Fun Fact: I have 11 different vocalizations 

Animal info: Coyotes form monogamous pairs and travel in family packs, sometimes teaming up with other packs to take down large prey. 

Location: North America

Lifespan: 10-14 years 

Diet: carnivore pictograph 

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Pelican

The Pelican family is 30 million years old. Pelicans use the pouch on their gull to capture food, not to store food.

Animal Title:  American White Pelican 

Scientific name:  Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Fun Fact: I grow a seasonal “bump” on my bill

Animal info: American white pelicans migrate from their breeding grounds in northern regions of the US/Canada to southern US/Mexico in the winter. They feed mainly on fish and are found near lakes and ponds in the spring/summer and in coastal regions in the winter. 

Location: North/South America 

Lifespan: 25 years 

Diet: Fish pictograph 

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Royal Ball Python

Royal Ball Pythons used to be worn by people  (alive) as an accessory to show signs of royalty.

Sandhill Crane

They can travel more than 200 miles a day during migration. Sandhill cranes mostly eat plant material.

Animal Title:  Sandhill Crane 

Scientific name:  Grus canadensis

Fun Fact: Baby sandhills are called colts

Animal info: These cranes are native to Utah and can be found in open fields or wetlands in the spring/summer. In the winter, they travel south and form flocks of thousands of individuals. 

Location: North America 

Lifespan: 20 years old 

Diet: plants/inverts

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Capuchin Monkey

A capuchin’s tail is the same length as its body.

Animal Title:  Tufted Capuchin 

Scientific name:  Cebus apella

Fun Fact: My tail is as long as my body

Animal info:  Capuchins are found in both tropical and dry forests in groups of up to 20 individuals containing one dominant male.

Location: South America 

Lifespan: 15-25 years 

Diet: meat, grass, and insects pictograph

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Uromastyx

These lizards will actually inflate themselves once in a tight spot to wedge themselves inside.

African Grey Crowned Crane

These cranes usually roost in trees, unlike other cranes. It’s the national bird of Uganda.

Animal Title:  African Grey Crowned Crane

Scientific name:  Balearica regulorum

Fun Fact: I am the national bird of Uganda

Animal info: These Sub-Saharan cranes adapt to their dry environment by timing their breeding with the rainy seasons when more resources are available.

Location: Africa (Congo, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa)

Lifespan: 22 years

Diet: plants/inverts

Endangerment Level: Endangered

Muntjac Deer

Muntjac males have small tusk like canines

Animal Title:  Reeves’s Muntjac 

Scientific name:  Muntiacus reevesi

Fun Fact: I am called the barking deer 

Animal info: This small deer is found in rainforests, grasslands, and mountainous regions across its range and are able to breed any time of the year. 

Location: Southeast Asia, tropical forest

Lifespan: 16 to 19 years 

Diet:  grass pictograph

Endangerment Level: Least concern

Great Horned Owl

Females are 20 percent bigger than males. Great Horned Owls are one of the heaviest owls.

Animal Title:  Great Horned Owl 

Scientific name:  Bubo virginianus

Fun Fact: I can take down mammals larger than me

Animal info: These owls are common across North America and are found in a variety of habitats. They are stealthy, nocturnal hunters and can exert 28lbs of pressure when gripping prey in their talons. 

Location: North and South America 

Lifespan: 13 years 

Diet: carnivore 

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Sulcata Tortoise

The Sulcata Tortoise is the 3rd largest species of tortoise in the world.

Black Swan

Black Swans are Herbivores. They are very good fliers.

Animal Title:  Black Swan

Scientific name: Cygnus atratus  

Fun Fact: I will abandon my nests if it’s too dry

Animal info: Black Swans breed in southern Australia and have highly erratic migration patterns that depend on climate fluctuations. They are monogamous breeds and both partners take turns incubating the eggs. 

Location: Australia 

Lifespan: 15 years 

Diet: herbivore 

Endangerment Level: Least concern 

Rabbits

Hotot rabbits are sometimes called “eyes of the fancy”.

Tarantula

Tarantulas are actually really calm and rarely bite people. They have retractable claws on each leg, like cats.

Russian Tortoise

A tortoise’s spine, ribs, and collar bone are all fused inside its shell.

Animal Title: Russian Tortoise

Scientific name: Testudo horsfieldii

Fun Fact: They were the first creatures to be sent to the moon

Animal info:  Like all tortoises, they don’t require much water and get most of what they need from their food. They usually empty their bowels while soaking, which is a natural instinct to hide their scent from predators.

Location: Central Asia

Lifespan: 50 years

Diet:herbivore pictograph

Endangerment Level: Vulnerable

Musk Turtle

When scared or defending themselves, they emit a foul “musky” smell from a gland, hence the name Musk Turtle. Musk turtle hatchlings are the smallest North American turtle.

American Box Turtle

Box turtles have a “hinge” in the middle of their shell that the use to close up the front of their shell, like a box.

Animal Title: Box Turtle- American, Asian

Scientific name: Terrapene

Fun Fact: Western box turtles are native to Utah

xAnimal info:Several species of box turtle are found throughout North America. They are actually terrapins which are semi-aquatic (in-between turtles and tortoises). They have a specialized hinge which allows them to “box off” their head.

Location: North America/Asia

Lifespan: 40 years

Diet: Insect/herbivore pictograph

Endangerment Level: Vulnerable

Bearded Dragon

They can run up to 9 miles per hour. Bearded Dragons wave their arms at each other to show recognition of others.

Snapping Turtle

Snapping turtles are actually nocturnal . They cannot retract into their shell, which is why the have the ability to “snap” and defend themselves.

Animal Title: Common Snapping Turtle

Scientific name:  Chelydra serpentina

Fun Fact:  They kill other turtles by biting off their heads

Animal info: Snapping turtles use their powerful, beak-like jaws to eat a variety of small mammals, insects, fish, and plants. They remain active under the ice during the winter.

Location: Eastern north america

Lifespan: 30 years

Diet: omnivore- grass, meat, and insect pictograph

Endangerment Level: least concern

Gopher Snake

These snakes are harmless (not poisonous) but are often confused for rattle snakes and killed. They are Native to North America.

Senegal Parrot

Animal Title:  Senegal Parrot 

Scientific name:  Poicephalus senegalus

Fun Fact: I am considered a pest in Africa 

Animal info:  These colorful parrots migrate in flocks through Western Africa and feed on fruits, seeds, and blossoms. They rely heavily on oil palms for feeding as well as nesting in tree hollows. 

Location: Western Africa 

Lifespan: 25-30 years 

Diet: herbivore pictograph 

Endangerment Level: Least concern