On Sunday, February 4th from 1:00 to 4:00, stop by the zoo to stretch your legs before settling in for the face off between the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts. Traditional tailgating food including chicken wings, sausages, steak tips, popcorn, and nachos will be available for purchase in the Bears Den Café. Past Super Bowl commercials starring members of the animal kingdom will be shown in the Wildlife Education Center, and our half-time show at 2:00 will feature a special performance by the
Toe Jam Puppet Band!

All activities, including the Toe Jam Puppet Band performance, are free with zoo admission.

Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 PM, get the inside scoop on life at the zoo from those that know it best in a Close Encounter of the Keeper Kind! Have you ever wondered what our otter’s favorite treat is, or how much weight a zookeeper needs to lift? And the big question— where does all the poop go? Don’t miss out; February is this winter's last chance for Close Encounters of the Keeper Kind!

If you're looking for something to do during the week, join us for a Stroller Stroll each Wednesday and Friday. Each stroll starts at 10:30 (weather permitting), includes two laps around zoo grounds (1/2 mile total), and ends with a complimentary hot chocolate or coffee in the Bears Den Café! Stroller Strolls will continue through February and March.

Stroller Strolls and Close Encounters of the Keeper Kind are free with zoo admission.

Despite the New England Patriots’ loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Emily remains loyal to her team. Eight by ten glossy prints of this photo are available for purchase in the Northwoods Gift Store, and zoo admission is not required to enter the gift store. All proceeds from the sale of this photograph will go directly towards elephant conservation.

The City of New Bedford’s Department of Public Infrastructure was recently awarded a grant to establish a tree farm for DPI use. Trees will be grown at the farm until they are large enough to be planted in areas of the city where the department has reconstructed streets and sidewalks. Not only will the trees improve the livability of our city, but they will also provide habitat and food for our four-legged and winged friends.

Great idea, right? It gets even better. The department is asking for your help in establishing the tree farm. If you join the National Arbor Day Foundation for just $10, you will receive 10 saplings as a benefit of membership. You can choose to donate all or part of your shipment to the city. To donate trees:

1. Please go to www.arborday.org
2. Become a member and select “10 mixed trees” or “10 autumn mix” as your sapling choice.
3. On the registration form, select “Send the trees to a different address” and enter the following address:

Jo-Ann Soares
Dept. of Public Infrastructure
1105 Shawmut Ave.
New Bedford, MA 02746

4. Please e-mail Jo-Ann at jo-ann.soares@ci.new-bedford.ma.us and notify her that your National Arbor Day Foundation trees are being donated to the city.

What a great opportunity to think globally and act locally!

At first glance, New England forests may appear deserted in winter after some residents migrate or hibernate for the season, but many species such as rabbit, deer, raccoon, fox, coyote, and many bird species remain in New England and active throughout the winter. Join Buttonwood Park Zoo’s Head Zookeeper Bill Sampson for a winter tracking walk at the Quanapaug Conservation Area in the 13,600 acre Copicut Woods Bioreserve on Saturday, February 17th from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.

This free program is presented by the Trustees of Reservations. Advance registration is required by calling 508-679-2115 extension 11 or by sending an e-mail to bioreserve@ttor.org.

Is your child registered for Zoo Crew? Zoo Crew is a summer program designed especially for children ages 8-12. Each session’s curriculum is aligned with the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Frameworks and has been developed to have a balance of outdoor and classroom learning, educational games and activities, crafts and fun! Learn about animals; explore different zoo careers, and much more. Each week- long program runs 9:00 – 3:00, Monday through Friday.

• July 30 – Aug. 3 The Animal Kingdom
• Aug. 6 – Aug. 10 You Belong in a Zoo
• Aug. 13 – Aug. 17 The Big Blue Ocean

Have you ever crouched in front of the Salt Marsh exhibit in our Aquatic Environment Building only to find that the rocks have eyes? Those eyes belong to a fascinating fish called the Oyster Toadfish, seen pictured here.

This small fish can be found in the Western Atlantic Ocean on rocky bottoms and reefs close to shore. Like many bottom dwelling fish, the Oyster Toadfish changes its color to match its surroundings, enabling it to stay well hidden among the rocks and sand as it waits to ambush its unsuspecting prey of crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. The Oyster Toadfish is a very vocal fish, producing sounds by rapidly contracting muscles around the stomach. An Oyster Toadfish will grunt when handled out of the water and males attract females to previously selected nesting areas by producing a low sound that resembles a foghorn. Once a male and female rendezvous at the nesting site, the female Oyster Toadfish leaves the male to fertilize, protect, and care for the eggs and young until they are ready to fend for themselves (usually for three to four weeks). When caught, Oyster Toadfish are feisty and have a tendency to snap their jaws and puff out spines that deliver a mildly painful sting.

The Oyster Toadfish’s small size, low sensitivity to pollution, and its amazing ability to live out of water for extended periods of time has made it an important fish for the scientific study of muscle contraction, diabetes, balance disorders, and motion sickness in humans. In fact, two Oyster Toadfish caught in Woods Hole, Massachusetts traveled three million miles on a space shuttle mission launched from Kennedy Space Center on October 29, 1998 while being used in a study of the effects of microgravity on balance. The fish, in their specially designed aquatic habitats, traveled on the same space shuttle mission as John Glenn and five other astronauts.

Buttonwood Park Zoo’s Salt Marsh exhibit is home to three Oyster Toadfish. When searching for these masters of camouflage, look closely along the rock wall and in the corners. Can you find just one? Or are you a fantastic fish finder?

Don’t forget to book your winter birthday parties at the zoo! Call the Bears Den Café at (508) 991- 4556 ext. 16 or visit the website for more details.

Even when turned off, things like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and televisions use energy. The average household with two television sets wastes 35 KWh/year simply by leaving them plugged into the wall while not in use, the same amount of energy that is needed to drive a car 25 miles. The combined wasted energy from a mere 25 million plugged in cell phone chargers (with approximately 2.14 billion cell phone users in 2005) could power the electricity of an estimated 66,000 homes for an entire year!

Try combining your cell phone, I-Pod, and digital camera chargers on one power strip, infrequently used appliances such as a toaster, coffee maker and blender on another, and entertainment center electronics on a third. Unplug power strips when not in use, and voilá! You are well on your way to decreasing your yearly energy consumption.

Every Monday, two shows 10:30 and 12:30
Toe Jam Puppet Band Creative Arts Playgroup
Cost: Zoo admission + $5/family
Come sing, dance and play the hour away with the famous Toe Jam Puppet Band!

Friday, February 2 10:00 – 1:00
Groundhog Day
Free with zoo admission
We all know that we’re in for 6 more weeks of winter if the groundhog sees his shadow. Join us at the zoo for some shady activities for preschoolers and parents.

Sunday, February 4 1:00 – 4:00
Zooper Bowl Sunday
Free with zoo admission
We’ve got bears, eagles and even a raven! Stop by the zoo before the big game and celebrate with us. Traditional tailgating food will be available for purchase. Our half-time show at 2:00 will feature The Toe Jam Puppet Band. Stop by the education center to enjoy commercials from past Super Bowls that feature members of the animal kingdom.

February 10 - 14
Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating
Cost: Zoo admission plus $2/cookie
Stop by the Bear’s Den Café to decorate a heart- shaped cookie for your sweetie! Join us anytime between 11:00 and 3:00 and create an edible work of art.

February 19 – 23, Monday thru Friday
Cabin Fever Week
Free with zoo admission
The theme for vacation week is “Winter Mysteries”. Join us each day at 11:00 for a new mystery and Kid’s Craft Time from noon to 2:00. Become a zoo member and come every day!