Tien Van Field trip to Woodland Park Zoo

Tien Van

Bio 212 , sec AA

Winter 2018

Woodland Zoo Park Assignment

·         I went to the field trip to Woodland Zoo Park on Friday,  Feb 9th. We went to the zoo at approximately 10 AM to 2:30 PM. I decided to go to the zoo because I had not had the opportunity to go to the zoo before. I would like to see different animals at the zoo, their habitats and how they would interact with each other.

Part I :   

A.  5 animals chosen to observe:

•      Brown bear

•      River otter

•      Gray wolf

•      Great Great Owl

•      Snowy Owl

1. Brown Bear:

1. The most interesting thing in the bear exhibit was that they were raised in the area with the source of water with fish in it. They were given some kind of bones to chew on.
2. I learned that brown bear cubs are born in winter dens, weighing only about a pound. And, brown bears do not truly hibernate; their heart and breathing just slow down  
3. I expect to see a prominent crest, developed canines, and develop nasal turbinates.
4. When I saw the bears, they were lying down, then moved and chewed on bones that were given to them.  

     5. Sloth bears eat fruits, eggs, and a lot of insects. They live alone and are active at night.    Female sloth bears can give birth to around one to 3 cubs at once. Sloth bears also like honey.

• Brown bears eat fruits and berries like sloth bears. Brown bears also eat animals around them. Female brown bears usually give birth to 2 cubs at once. Brown bear are heavier than sloth bears. They do not eat insects.

      6. The brown bear is usually called the grizzly bear in North America. 42-65 species of brown bear, in the Selkirk Ecosystem of northeast Washington. In North Cascades Ecosystem of North Central Washington, there are about 5–10 grizzlies.

7. Female brown bears are smaller and weight less than male brown bears. Male brown bears are heavier, maybe over 10000 pounds.

8.  A mother brown bear typically gives birth to 2 cubs at once. Brown bear cubs are born in winter dens, weighing only about a pound

9. Brown bears eat whatever plant and animals around seasonally. They eat plant roots, berries, and fish around them.

10.  If brown bears do not hibernate, where do they live during the winter season?  

River Otter

1. An interesting thing about river otters exhibit was that they needed deep clean water with lots of fish. River otter also at home on the shoreline. They rested on dens.
2. One characteristic of river otters is that their fur is waterproof. River otters eat fish, amphibians, turtles, crayfish, and insects. Moreover, they groom themselves to spread natural oil which helps their fur repel the water. Interlocking hairs also help them from the cold.
3. Skull of a river otter has developed crest and developed, long and sharp canines. River otters have a good sense of smell. Their incisors are pretty short.
4. When I saw the river otters, they were swimming. Some of them were resting on their dens.
5. - River otters: they need clean and slow-moving water with a lot of fish. Their fur is waterproof.  They are bigger than the Asian Small-Clawed Otter.

          - Asian Small-Clawed Otter: They are social species and have pairs mate for life. They prefer water’s edge, sandy and muddy banks. They have calls including whistles. Like river otter, their fur is waterproof.  

   6. River otters live in taigas, the boreal forests that lie between the PNW and far northern tundra.

7.  Baby otters are not born swimmers. When baby river otters are born, they don’t know how to swim. They learn to swim from their mothers.

8. River otters belong to the weasel family, Mustelidae.

9. River otters need a clean and slow-motion river with a lot of fish. River otter also at home on the shoreline; they travel up and down the shoreline to find food. They on rest on dens

10. What does river otter’s diet consist of?

Gray Wolf

1. An interesting thing about the gray wolf exhibit was that the wolves just lay on the round, no caves, just an open space with trees and grass.  
2. I learned that wolf pups are born in the underground den. A pack needs to travel 10 to 30 a day to hunt. They can hunt and kill something that is as big as a moose. A pack of wolves can have about 12 individuals.
3. I expect to see long, developed canines, and developed crest on a skull of a wolf. Wolves also have developed nasal turbinates and a good seeing sight.
4. When I saw the wolves, they were just chilling. They were just laying down and relax, not doing anything much.
5. - Gray wolf: they can kill and hunt something that is as big as a moose. They live in packs of usually 12 individuals. Wolf pups are born in the underground den.

           - Mysterious Maned Wolf: They have large, cupped and moveable ears. They have deep throat roar bark. Their urine has a strong order helps to mark their territory. They eat fruits and small animal. Unlike gray wolves, they have a reddish orange color.

     6. The gray wolf is listed and protected as endangered in Washington under state law. Wolves have increased in Washington since 2005, many of which have involved single animals. A pack of pups was confirmed in July 2008 in western Okanogan and northern Chelan counties. The second pack with pups was confirmed in Pend Oreille County in July 2009.  

     7. Gray wolves howl to find each other, to find mates, and to warn stranger from entering their territory.

   8. An adult wolf eats about 4 to 7 pounds of meat a day.

   9. Statistically, wolves only successfully get to kill and eat 1/16 moose that they chase.

   10. Where do the mother wolf and her pups get their food from?

Great Gray Owl

1. An interesting thing in the great gray owl exhibit was that there were a lot of trees to stay on and the gray owls have a pretty small space to live in.
2. I learned that great gray owls are silent hunters. Although they have a very good eyesight, they also have an acute hearing. Specialized feathers allow them to scoop down noiselessly behind preys.
3. I expect that eyes of the great grey owl are big. They have big eye sockets and sharp beak. They don’t teeth or crest.  Their skulls have cranium and auditory meatus. Snowy owls have ears from top of the skull to top of their eyes. Their ears are small, and one is higher than another.
4. When I saw the owls, they were just standing on a branch of trees and looking around. They were mostly standing.
5. We can find them in northern boreal forests. They prefer areas near bogs, forest edge, montane meadows, and other openings.
6. The purpose of the shape of their face is to help them see and hear better in the dark when they are hunting.
7. Great gray owls have the body length of 2 feet with the wingspan of about 60 inches.
8. Great gray owls plumage not only help them to stay warm, it also helps them hide better in the dark to catch prey.
9. What do great gray owls eat?

Snowy Owl

1. Snowy owl exhibit was pretty much like great gray owl’s. It was pretty small with a lot of trees.
2. Snowy owls hunt by day, catching mice. Adult male snowy owls are almost white. Young and female snowy owls have more dark sports.
3. I expect snow owls to have big eye sockets and sharp beak. They don’t teeth or crest.  Their skulls have cranium and auditory meatus. Snowy owls have ears from top of the skull to top of their eyes. Their ears are small, and one is higher than another, all of which great gray owls don’t have.
4. When I saw them, they were just standing on branches or just standing around. They did not do anything much.
5. Great gray owls have gray fur which helps them hide in the dark. They are active at night. They also have very keen eyesight. They are bigger than snowy owls. Snowy owls have lighter fur. They hunt by day. They also eat things like mice. They are smaller than great grey owls.
6. We can find them in Western Washington because some of them migrate south and end up there during the winter.
7. Snowy owls have a keen sense of seeing. However, when things are harder and to see and catch, they rely on their keen sense of hearing more.
8. When I see a very white snowy owl. It is probably an adult male snowy owl.
9. The Snowy Owl females build the nest, scraping out a shallow hollow on the bare ground and shaping it by pressing her body into the depression. The process takes a few days, and the owls may reuse the nest site for many years.Male snowy owls are in charge of defending the nest.
10. How do snowy owls catch their preys?

  Part 2. Compare and contrast

• Sloth bears eat fruits, eggs, and a lot of insects. They live alone and are active at night.    Female sloth bears can give birth to around one to 3 cubs at once. Sloth bears also like honey. The teeth of sloth bears have a special gap in the front that helps them suck insects. Sloth bear piggyback their cubs. They love honey, they will climb up to get them when they see them.

• Brown bears eat fruits and berries like sloth bears. Brown bears also eat animals around them. Female brown bears usually give birth to 2 cubs at once. Brown bear are heavier than sloth bears. They do not eat insects. They cubs weight only a pound when they are born. Brown bears do not hibernate like sloth bear. Brown bears do not like strangers enter their dens when they are resting.
• Ancestral traits are the traits of having canines, crest, and developed nasal turbinates. A derived trait is that teeth of sloth bears have a special gap in the front that helps them suck insects.

Part 3. Reflection

I learned that animals from the same species, depends on where they live can develop different
traits and look quite different from the animals of the same species, like the brown bears and
the sloth bears. It reminds me of the idea of natural selection, evolution, speciation. Because the
animals live in a different location and occupy different niches, they evolve derived traits that
help them better adapt to their environment.

After going on the field trip, I understand more about the complexity of animal’s life. Animals are even
more diverse than ever. It helps me understand more about the concept of evolution. It is amazing to see
how animals behave and adapt to their environments. The field trip also helps me understand more about
animals behavior.

      It is tragic and important to know that more and more animals are becoming endangered because 
of the loss of natural habitats and natural resources. Whether we humans are a part of the problems,
we need to come together to help preserve the diversity of animals around the world.