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The Tallahassee MuseumPosted on 9/9/2008 at 11:21 AM - Post CommentI had the wonderful opportunity to visit behind the scenes at the Tallahassee Museum today and meet some of their wild residents. I cannot begin to tell you how great this place is and how much fun I had. There was so much more to see than I expected and now I will have to plan a visit back because I didn't get to see it all! But what I did see....WOW! I fell in love repeatedly - how many times in one day can a person lose their heart???? Plenty!! Just look these beautiful, sweet, handsome and precious faces - I know you'll understand! ~ Back behind one of the exhibits is where they keep many of the Education Animals. ~ Reuben the Red-Tailed Hawk. I am sorry to say my picture does not capture the true beauty and elegance of this bird. He was stunning! ~ However, I was able to capture the personality of this beastie - Bucket the Black Vulture. ~ He is quite a character and after he finished chasing me around, trying to get my shoes, he settled down for a nice shot! He is so beautiful! ~ Some people I know think I'm crazy because I love the gators - especially the little ones! ~ This is Cowboy - isn't he just beautiful?? ~ Gators lose their color as they get older, so you can tell he is still a young'un! ~ I was able to touch him and was very surprised how soft he was! He is one of the Education Animals and although I'm sure he doesn't enjoy it, he does tolerate being handled. (But I think he'd rather lounge in his tub!) ~ There are Turkeys galore at the Museum and after meeting and getting to know some of these beauties....well....let's just say I'm wondering what we are going to have for Thanksgiving this year! ~ This is Pipsqueak....and doesn't he just have a to-die for face? I love it! ~ Next to steal my heart was Eddie the Great Horned Owl.
I don't know which is more adorable; the big round eyes or those lovely ears!!! What a cutie! ~ If there would have been a way for me to sneak one animal out to bring home with me - it would have been Ollie! ~~ Ollie is an old white Skunk. Talk about a face! Just too sweet for words! ~ Ollie is a cuddler....and I had to put my camera down and get a hug from him. I can't describe the feeling of having him snuggle up under my neck! It was just incredible! ~ This little female Turkey has a fancy German name that I couldn't spell.....but it sure sounded a lot like Tootsie! She's a cutie! ~ And the baby Turkeys - Benjamin and Opal. They will be education animals, too, so they need to get used to being around people and being handled. ~ Opal is just a beautiful young lady! ~ Behind this door, is the Guest Animal Exhibit! ~ Brody and Flora are a pair of Patas Monkeys. Brody is 5yrs old and Flora is 9 years old. They are hoping Brody will spark Flora's interest and there will be babies in the future. I think he's a handsome chap....don't you? ~
There are currently two Bald Eagles on display and they have the nicest set-up. ~ As soon as Marilyn (my guide for the day) got close enough, she started to talk to them....and I was so shocked to hear the one answer!! It was very cool! ~ Their names are Morgan and Freeman - which just cracked me up! Don't remember who was who....but what wonderful birds and what a wonderful enclosure. If an Eagle can't spend its life flying high and free, this truly is the next best thing! ~ And this next one is a National Celebrity. Some of you may have heard about it on the news last year. Man was out duck-hunting. Shot a duck, picked it up, took it home and put it in the fridge. Two days later, gets the duck out of the fridge, figuring it's time to clean and cook it....only the duck MOVES! It's still alive. The man decided, after all the duck had been through, it deserved to live, and he took it to a rehab center where it recovered and was eventually sent to live out it's life at the museum! He's the one sleeping! Now...that's what you call a lucky duck!!! ~ More Turkeys! This is Blondie! ~ Isn't she gorgeous? ~ And she is very loving! ~ All of the Turkeys were great! I just loved them! I did get a video clip and will post it soon - they make the most wonderful sounds! ~ And the men are so handsome! This is Chance and can he strut his stuff! Just gorgeous! ~
They have a wonderful home! The whole place is just beautiful! ~ If you look close....there is a deer in the middle of the above picture. They have a great enclosure, too! ~ They are such beautiful and gentle creatures! Flora is the baby. ~ And she is quite athletic - she loves grapes! ~ Buddy is the young man.... ~ ...and he is quite the licker! Such a sweetheart! ~ We went into the Fox and Skunk enclosure - but the skunks were asleep in their burrows and the Fox were up resting in the trees! ~ And last...no one is quite sure what kind of Hawk this is, but one thing is certain.....he is beautiful! ~ He just recently came to the Museum and will be used as an Education Animal. They work with his everyday trying to get him used to being handled. What a job!!! ~ That ends my visit - I hope you enjoyed it! Most of the animal residents of the Museum are animals that cannot be released into the wild. Some of them even came from Chris at FWMA! I firmly believe that all animals should live wild and free, but if they can't, being used to educate people at places like the Tallahassee Museum is truly the next best thing! What a great place....and I can't wait to go back! ~ ~~~~~~
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