october 1 – november 1
TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 2020 VOLUME 23, ISSUE 4
P U B L I S H E D F O R F R I E N D S O F R O G E R W I L L I A M S PA R K Z O O
October 1 – November 1
DISCOVER A WORLD OF
October 1 – November 1
Providence, RI has long been known as one of the top food
cities in the US. Now some of that culinary magic has come
to the Zoo! I am pleased to announce that our Zoo’s new
partner, SSA is now providing an all new food experience
for our guests. The Zoo will has reinvented our eateries into
Tuskers and Nourish 401. A third location, Slice will hopefully
be opening in 2021. People dining in the park will be treated
to meals with fresh ingredients prepared just for them. In
feedback provided by guests like you, we heard that we had
to step up our game when it came to our food offerings. I’m
sure you will be pleased with the changes. Make sure to try
them out and let us know what you think!
Our animals also require the best food possible to stay happy
and healthy. They eat restaurant quality produce as well as
the highest quality diets available. Up until now, all animal
diets were prepared in a small room behind the Sophie
Danforth administration building. Now, thanks to a very
generous grant from The Champlin Foundation, the Zoo has a
new animal commissary located behind the education center
where all the food that our animals eat will be stored and
prepared for consumption.
Providing a high-quality experience for our guests, ensuring
that our animals have top-notch facilities, and producing
exceptional events like our Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular are
not inexpensive endeavors. As the Zoo continues to recover
from the devastating financial effects of the Covid-19 virus
I once again urge you to give to the emergency fund and
support us in any way possible. Your contribution will ensure
that your Zoo will remain New England’s premier institution
for education, conservation, and animal care.
I look forward to seeing you at the Zoo!
click to donate!
welcome!By Jeremy Goodman, DVM
Executive Director, RWP Zoo and RI Zoological Society
1Tickets are online sales ONLY
Click here to purchase
CELEBRATE OCTOBER AT ROGER WILLIAMS
PARK ZOO
October in New England is a time to enjoy the
autumn leaves, cooler temperatures and of
course Halloween. Many are asking how we
can enjoy a beautiful October and be safe
and healthy as we enjoy some of our
traditional Fall events.
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read on to find out!
YES, YES, YES – Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is BACK!!! A slightly different version
due to COVID 19 restrictions, Citizens presents a drive-through Jack-O-Lantern
Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo Thursday, October 1 – Sunday, November 1,
2020. Celebrate Special Places while staying safe inside your car enjoying thousands
of intricately carved pumpkins as you immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the
Halloween season.
The trail will wind from the Zoo’s parking lot, into the admissions plaza and even
through a portion of the Zoo itself! Patrons will view pumpkins from trees, on the side
of the trail, and just about everywhere the eye can see.
This is the tenth season Citizens is sponsoring Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, one of New
England’s most signature events. Thanks to Citizens adults and children can participate
in this explosion of sights, sounds, colors, and music that make October such a special
time in Rhode Island.
The Zoo is also grateful for the continuing support from Cardi’s Furniture and
Mattresses. Cardi’s supports the Zoo year-round and increases the Zoo’s Jack-O-
Lantern Spectacular visibility through their promotion.
The trail will be open every night 6:30 – 11:00 pm. Gates will close at 10:30 pm. Tickets
are online sales ONLY and sold for each half hour. Absolutely no tickets will be sold at
the gate. Tickets, on sale now at rwpzoo.org/jols, are $50 per vehicle; Zoo members
$45 per vehicle. Reciprocal membership discounts, and AAA discounts are not offered
in 2020.
thank you to our sponsors
October 1 – November 1
IMPORTANT VEHICLE INFORMATION
Driving through Roger Williams Park Zoo is much different than strolling on the Wetlands Trail. We ask that all our guests adhere to the following:
• Large commercial or oversized vehicles, motorcycles, open side vehicles, and recreational devices (bicycles, scooters, skateboards, etc.) are not permitted.
• No busses or RVs.
• Minivans and pickup trucks are permissible.
• Roofs must be on Jeeps and convertibles.
• NO HONKING. Maximum speed 3 mph.
• NO PASSING
• Guests may not exit their vehicle during the duration of the tour.
• Tailgates, doors, and hatchbacks must be closed.
• Smoking and alcohol are not permitted within the zoo.
• No pets in vehicles.
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For more than two decades, Citizens has had the distinct
pleasure of supporting the Roger Williams Park Zoo, one of our
region’s foremost centers for conservation and environmental
education. Since our founding in 1828, our customers and the
communities we serve have been the cornerstone of our work,
and the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, which welcomes more
than a 100,000 visitors annually from across New England and
beyond, celebrates that mission.
This year, we looked with eager anticipation to marking our 10th
anniversary of sponsorship of the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular;
a one-of-a-kind event inviting people of all ages to behold
the breathtaking creativity of local artists and community
organizations – and enjoy some good ‘ol spooky family fun!
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact our community,
we all experienced unprecedented challenges as workplaces,
organizations and individuals were forced to rethink, reset and
recalibrate in every way possible. At Citizens, we’ve learned
that it is in times like these; times of hardship and adversity, that
we witness the true resilience of the human spirit, and watching
the Jack-O-Lantern be reinvented in a new and exciting way has
been nothing short of inspirational.
We applaud the tireless efforts of the staff of the Roger Williams
Park Zoo and organizers of the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular who
never gave up on bringing this event, one of the most highly
anticipated of the fall season throughout all of New England, to
the public in a safe, healthy, engaging and enchanting way. We
encourage Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular visitors to take part in the
virtual photo booth – a fun, simple and exciting new way we can
digitally experience the event together while making memories
with family and friends. We may not be gathering in real life right
now, but that’s no reason we can’t connect. Choose from one of
the customized virtual backgrounds, snap and share.
We’re looking forward to seeing your photos!
(citizensmemories.com/jols)
As you leisurely cruise through the trail in the comfort of your
own vehicle during this first-ever drive-through Jack-O-Lantern
Spectacular, be sure to
take in the more than
5,000 artfully carved
glowing pumpkins
that exemplify this
year’s theme, “Special
Places.” More than just
stunning pumpkins,
the Jack-O-Lantern
Spectacular is a feast for
the senses; an explosion
of sights, sounds, colors
and music that shows
why October such an
extraordinary time in
Rhode Island, nowhere
more so than here at
the Zoo.
As we continue our long-
standing commitment
to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular and the communities we
serve, we are confident you’ll enjoy every moment of this
unparalleled event that raises funds for the zoo’s animal welfare
and conservation initiatives. Have fun, make memories and
share your images from the virtual photo booth. See you on the
pumpkin trail!
thank you citizens!
Roger Williams Park Zoo is known for its annual Spooky Zoo held the last weekend in October. Due to COVID-19 restrictions Spooky
Zoo is different in 2020. Instead of a daytime event – kids can enjoy SPOOKTACULAR on October 31 and November 1, 6:30 - 9:30 pm
as they drive through Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. Every child will receive trick or treat bags provided by our friends at Tarbox, as they
sit in the comfort of their vehicle. Along the trail, as kids witness the extraordinary pumpkins – they will spy RI Comic Con costumed
characters safely giving out sealed candy thanks to Citizens. What would Halloween be without some sweet treats? SPOOKTACULAR is
included in the price of the drive-through Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular ticket.
Children 12 and under who visit the Zoo in costume during the day on October 31 and/or November 1 will receive admission for half
price. There will be no Spooky Zoo activities nor any candy available. Be assured that Roger Williams Park Zoo is committed to providing
family fun everyone safely and in compliance with all State of Rhode Island COVID-19 regulations. See you on the pumpkin trail!
SPOOKTACULAROctober 31 and November 1
6:30 - 9:30 pm
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More and more, people are seeing coyotes around their
neighborhood, and in their yard. The animals we see in rural
towns, suburbs, or even in the center of Providence, are
eastern coyotes, descendants of the western coyote with a
small amount of wolf and dog DNA woven in during a period
of interbreeding many years ago. Eastern coyotes have been
established residents of coastal New England since the 1970’s.
Before European settlers came to America and cleared the
forests, wolves were a top predator in eastern North America.
Over the last century, the forests have come back and along
with the trees have come deer, turkey, beaver, fisher, and the
eastern coyote.
The questions often asked are: How has the eastern coyote
been able to spread so rapidly? How can they live successfully
so close to humans? What is the effect of these new predators
on the ecology of New England?
Dr. Numi Mitchell, of The Conservation Agency, has studied
Rhode Island coyotes for over 15 years, mostly in Newport,
Middletown, and Portsmouth. Now a grant from the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service and the Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management is allowing her to expand her
research statewide. Additionally, working on the project with
Dr. Mitchell are the Rhode Island Natural History Survey and
Roger Williams Park Zoo. Roger Williams Park Zoo is a partner
on an important research project investigating these questions
by using GPS technology to track coyotes in urban, suburban,
and rural spaces around Rhode Island.
Dr. Mitchell uses reports from the public to help identify coyote
“hot spots,” places with especially heavy coyote traffic. She
then sets up specially designed soft-hold traps at these hot
spots. When she catches a coyote, she and a veterinarian
collect data on the coyote’s age, size, sex, and health and
attach a collar with a GPS tracker and other radio beacons.
They then release the coyote back to the wild. The process
enables Dr. Mitchell to follow the coyote’s activities observing
where he/she sleeps, hunts, and dens; and how he/she
interacts with humans and coyotes from neighboring packs.
Two coyotes were collared in Roger Williams Park in the
spring. One was an “alpha” male—a pack leader—who was
given the name “Nicker,” and the other was an alpha female
who was named “Whinny.” Unfortunately, Nicker’s career in
research was cut short when he was hit and killed by a car, an
all too common occurrence, but Whinny went on to give birth
to a litter of pups at a most unusual location.
Whinny’s tracking data shows that the athletic fields at
Johnson & Wales University are part of her pack’s territory.
Meet the Zoo’s Wild Neighbors
By David Gregg and Jo Yellis
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While it normally would make no sense for a coyote to
excavate a den so close to human activity, that’s exactly what
this alpha female did. It may be related to COVID. In the early
days of the pandemic, the fields were closed, and human
activity subsided, creating the perfect conditions for coyotes to
give birth and raise a family.
Since the pups arrived and made their presence known, their
safety became a concern. Left alone coyotes are naturally
shy and stay away from people. However, when humans give
food to coyotes, especially pups, it teaches them to connect
food with humans. That is unsafe for both the humans and
the coyotes. If the coyote becomes too bold, people then call
to have them removed. In response, the Zoo, along with the
study partners and their public outreach arm, CoyoteSmarts,
are putting up signs around the area to discourage contact and
feeding. It is expected that the animals will disperse before
athletic activity resumes in the fall.
As coyotes are becoming more common in our area, conflicts
with human residents and domestic animals are increasing.
By learning more about coyote habits, this research will point
out ways that humans can co-exist with coyotes, ways that are
safe for both humans and coyotes. Safe co-existence is vital
because the coyotes are not going away; tricks of their biology
and territoriality make it virtually impossible to hunt them
out of Rhode Island. And besides, coyotes perform valuable
ecological services: as they forage, coyotes help control the
populations of deer that are overgrazing our forests and of
rodents and with them the ticks that carry Lyme disease.
Eastern coyotes are beautiful animals that have proven to
be highly adaptable. Their habitat includes a variety of
natural and human surroundings: forests and fields,
scrublands and wetlands, parks and golf courses, suburban
backyards and even built up urban areas like those around
Roger Williams Park.
So, if you happen to see a coyote, enjoy the sight of this
beautiful, adaptable wild animal. But please don’t feed
them. Help us keep our wildlife wild and our pets and
communities safe.
For more information about the coyote
study, please visit the Narragansett
Bay Coyote Study website at www.
theconservationagency.org/coyote
or the coyote research page at www.
coyotesmarts.org.
*********************************************
David Gregg is executive director of the RI
Natural History Survey. Jo Yellis is project
coordinator for CoyoteSmarts, a public
information initiative of the Potter League for
Animals, Norman Bird Sanctuary, Aquidneck
Land Trust, Aquidneck Island Planning
Commission, Eastern RI Conservation
District, RI Natural History Survey, and
The Conservation Agency, home to the
Narragansett Bay Coyote Study.
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In July, Roger William Park Zoo’s director of conservation
programs Lou Perrotti was joined by agents from U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service and University of Rhode Island biologists in
releasing a pair of New England cottontails at Charlestown’s
Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.
The New England cottontail, a species of rabbit native to
parts of New England and New York, is closely related to
the non-native Eastern cottontail, the most common rabbit
species in North America. Both habitat loss and competition
with its Eastern cousin have decimated New England cottontail
populations over the last 50 years.
Researchers from the International Union for Conservation
of Nature estimate there are less than 17,000 New England
cottontails left in the wild, spread throughout southern
Maine, southern New Hampshire, parts of Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York east of the Hudson
River. The remaining cottontails in the wild occupy less than
one fifth of their historic range.
“It’s our only native cottontail rabbit,” said Perrotti. “The goal
for the project is to breed rabbits in captivity and reintroduce
them throughout New England to create new populations and
augment existing populations.” Alongside the reintroduction
efforts, he added, is a habitat restoration component in which
several other partner institutions participate.
According to Perrotti, the National Wildlife Refuge serves as
a perfect location in which to introduce captive-bred New
England cottontails into their natural habitat. The park’s 350-
acre release site is the ideal spot to ease the rabbits into their
transition to life in the wild.
“It’s a perfect early successional habitat, which they prefer,”
said Perrotti, referencing the park’s voraciously growing
grasses, shrubs and thickets which provide excellent food
and shelter for native wildlife. “The Refuge is also the last site
where we observed wild New England cottontails in Rhode
Island, back in 2006.”
Since 2010, New England Cottontail captive breeding
institutions have made promising progress toward boosting
cottontail numbers, releasing over 300 captive-bred
specimens into the wild. Partners also work to protect and
restore habitat throughout the range of this species. Roger
Williams Park Zoo continues to play an integral role in restoring
New England cottontail populations through breeding and
reintroduction programs.
The Zoo’s New England cottontail program, like many others,
was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in early
2020. After successful years in 2018 and 2019 - seeing over
150 specimens released into locations around New England
- the rapid spread of the virus brought the 2020 breeding
Saving the New England
Cottontail
EditorialRoger Williams Park Zoo Department of Marketing and Public Relations
Corrie IgnagniAndrea E. McHughSam Vaccaro
Liz Rollins MauranJeffrey MelloJohn J. PalumboSteven M. ParenteDr. Karen E. Silva
Trustees Ex-OfficioJeremy Goodman, DVM Executive Director Rhode Island Zoological Society/Roger Williams Park Zoo
Wendy Nillson Superintendent of Parks Providence Parks Department
OfficersMaribeth Q. Williamson, ChairHoward Merten, Vice Chair Sandra L. Coletta, Treasurer Margaret Ferguson, Secretary
Board of TrusteesKristen AdamoNancy Allen Douglas CanigliaBarbara CottamTeresa A. Crean, AICPSarah DenbyDana L. GoldbergMarta Gomez-ChiarriPatrick T. LeBeau, CFP®Kimberley M. Little
Roger Williams Park Zoo is supported and managed by the Rhode Island Zoological Society and is owned by the City of Providence
2020 RHODE ISLAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chairman EmeritusSophie F. Danforth*
Trustees EmeritusMargaret E. Curran, Esq.Thomas P. DimeoJocelin HamblettJames S. Harper III, VMD*Bradford B. KoppArthur D. LittleNancy G. R. MogerRichard NadeauJane S. NelsonCate M. RobertsPhilip A. Segal, Jr.Robert F. Stoico
*deceased
WILD is an online publication of the Rhode Island Zoological Society, Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island 02907-3659
For membership information call (401) 785-3510 x375 or visit rwpzoo.org.
DesignerSara Beatrice Tandem Designworks
Photo CreditsRoger Williams Park Zoo
Please follow us online and share your photos and stories!
Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information visit www.aza.org
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ANNUAL MEDIA SPONSORS!
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season to a grinding halt. According to Perrotti, there were too
many uncertainties to continue the captive breeding programs.
“At the Zoo, we had to split the staff up, we didn’t know what
interstate travel would look like or whether we could do releases
across state lines,” Perrotti said, noting that many state and federal
biologists were left in a similar state of flux.
“We were unable to go out in groups and do field work so that
hampered what we could do, how
we could do it, and when we could
do it. Unfortunately, we decided it
would be best to just take the rest of
2020 off. Luckily the Zoo managed to
sneak a couple of broods in before
the pandemic struck, which is how
we ended up with the pair of rabbits
that were released in July.”
Perrotti is hopeful that the breeding program will resume
stronger than ever in 2021, helping to create strong New England
Cottontail populations across the region.
“I would like to see self-sustaining populations established
across the range to the point where we don’t have to augment or
create new populations,” he said. “That’s the ultimate goal, of any
recovery program.”
“It’s our only native cottontail
rabbit,”
Pinecone Owls (From WhiMsyLove)
Supplies you will need:• pinecones• felt (or construction paper)• googly eyes • scissors• hot glue gun• stapler (or tacky glue)
Instructions: 1. Have a parent or guardian
help you to cut out felt or construction paper for the owl’s eyes, beak, and wings. You can mix the colors any way you want.
2. Once you have your pieces cut out, carefully use a stapler or glue to arrange the pieces into a face for your owl.
3. Have a parent or guardian help you to hot glue the felt or construction paper pieces onto the pinecone body of your owl.
4. Decorate your owl any way you want to. Every animal is one-of-a-kind, and yours should be just as fun and unique as you are!
Try this:Make some woodland friends to keep your new owl company! A hedgehog or two could be a good start—
Get creative!
CornerKids’
1 2 3 4 5
Wild Trivia Answers: 1: B • 2: A • 3: D • 4: B; Guess Zoo Answers: 1. Cheetah 2. Goat 3. Harbor Seal 4. River Otter 5. White Cheeked Gibbon 6. Red Panda
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‘Tis the season for black cats, bats, and spiders! As the leaves begin to change colors and the air is crisp and cool, Autumn and Halloween are right around the corner. Can you get into the spirit of Jack-O-Lantern
season and answer these WILD trivia questions?
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4
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Black cats have DNA in their genes that causes their fur’s iconic dark coloring. Some scientists believe that the same genes that cause their black fur may also:
a. Make their eyes glow in the dark b. Make them more resistant to diseasesc. Make their whiskers extra long d. Make them more likely to have a bushy tail
Vampire bats are the only mammals that are hemophages (animals that survive on a diet of blood). These bats mostly feed on the blood of animals like pigs and goats, and can be found in:
a. South & Central Americab. Asiac. Africa & the Middle Eastd. Australia
Owls are skillful hunters and masters of sneaking up on their unsuspecting prey. Which of the following adaptations help owls to hunt effectively?
a. They have extra bones in their spine, allowing them to turn their heads almost 360° around
b. Their specially adapted feathers allow them to fly almost silentlyc. They have specialized hearing and ear shapes allowing them to listen
carefully for preyd. All of the above
While many people are afraid of spiders, they are a very important part of the ecosystem, snacking on pesky insects and stopping the spread of disease. How many insects does the average spider eat in a year?
a. Less than 200b. Over 2,000c. Over 8,000d. 42 Answers located on bottom of page.
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Guess ZoO? Can you identify these Zoo animals snacking on pumpkins?Answers located on bottom of page.