Dress Rehearsal (for a Skunk, Owl, Badger and More)

Starting in the spring and right through today, wildlife specialists have been preparing our animals to meet guests in a special daily show that begins Saturday. The wildlife staff has been helping our raptors exercise and strengthen the muscles they use to fly, and simulating the surroundings of the Desert Dwellers show.

Hundreds of hours are dedicated to helping animals to get used to being around people. None of the animals here could survive in the wild, and that is why they are here, but they still are wild animals. And, sometimes they don't feel like meeting people. We found that out during a dress rehearsal for the show yesterday. Daisy the skunk was feeling shy, and preferred to stay behind the scenes, but George the barn owl gave a stunning example of his flying abilities.

In the show, you get to meet lots of live animals close up and learn all about them. Among those who stop by are: Bonnie and Clyde, badgers that demonstrate their unrelenting digging abilities; Pinecone the porcupine, Gus the red-tailed hawk, Shasta the Swainson’s hawk, a gopher snake, king snake, and other reptiles.

The show is what the Museum is all about – having fun while learning about the area's animals. It happens 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily through August.