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Hours and Information
Buttonwood Park Zoo is open every day (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (gates close at 4:30 pm).
Admission Fees:
Adult: $6
Senior: $4.50
Teen: $4.50
Child 3-12 yrs: $3.00
Child under 3: Free
Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more with advance registration. Call (508) 991-6178 for more information.
Free parking.
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Greetings from Buttonwood Park Zoo!
March at the zoo is a special time. Winter lingers with occasional ice and snow bringing out the best in our playful and well insulated animals, but Spring is just around the corner! Visit during this limbo time to see the gradual changes in our animals as they too look forward to a bit warmer weather.
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 March Mania at The North Woods Gift Store
During the month of March, Buttonwood Park Zoo members will receive 20% off merchandise at the North Woods Gift Store! This offer excludes membership sales, train ride tickets and sale merchandise. Store hours are 10-5 Monday-Sunday, and zoo admission is not necessary to visit the gift store.
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 Once in a Red Moon
Due to the earth's rotation and other environmental factors, the opportunity to view a total lunar eclipse is usually rare. However, the next total lunar eclipse is unique in that the phenomenon will be visible from portions of all seven continents, including the eastern United States. On the evening of Saturday, March 3rd, 2007, the total eclipse will already be underway when the moon rises in Massachusetts. NASA suggests finding a spot with a clear view of the eastern horizon and settling in at sunset. As the sun sets at your back, an extraordinarily red moon will rise before you.
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 A Sign that Spring is on the Way!
Not all visitors to Buttonwood Park Zoo have two legs, two arms, and hair. Some have two legs, two arms, and feathers! On February 11th, a wild American Woodcock was spotted at the zoo. Woodcocks, also known as Timberdoodles, spend the winter from Southern Connecticut and Missouri to the Gulf Coast and Florida before returning to their more northern summer breeding range. Spotting one in Massachusetts at this time of year is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner! American Woodcocks are rarely seen on the ground due to their superb camouflage, but are more often spotted during the males' amazing "sky dance" courtship display during which males twitter as they spiral high into the sky before eventually zigzagging back to the ground. To learn more about the unique American Woodcock, visit the sites below.
While currently not listed as threatened or endangered, the American Woodcock is listed by the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan as a "Species of High Concern" due to decreasing numbers and threats to both breeding and non-breeding grounds. The Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife has recently teamed up with the Ruffed Grouse Society, Wildlife Management Institute and Cowls Land and Lumber Company of North Amherst to join the Woodcock Habitat Initiative in an effort to focus habitat management efforts to benefit American Woodcocks and other declining wildlife populations. Visit MassWildlife for more information on the project.
On your next visit to Buttonwood Park Zoo, see how many winged visitors YOU can spot, and be sure to tell us what you find!
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 Animal Spotlight on the Coyote
The coyote is often misunderstood and misrepresented, but this survivor that so resembles man's best friend has many traits and characteristics to be admired. Their scientific name, Canis latrans means "barking dog"; their common name of coyote a variation of the Aztec word "coyotyl". Coyotes are members of the Canid, or dog, family, and somewhat resemble medium-sized collies or small German Shepherds. They are sometimes confused with their relatives, the Gray Wolf and Red Wolf.
At one time, coyotes were found only in the southwest corner of the United States. Due to their uncanny ability to adapt to and thrive in the presence of humans, the range of the coyote has now expanded to include all 48 contingent states, Alaska, and parts of Mexico and Central America. Coyotes first appeared in Massachusetts in the 1950's and can now be found in all towns except the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Characteristics that have enabled the coyote to thrive in the face of human expansion and development include their ability to survive in almost all available habitats such as prairie, forest, desert, mountain, and tropical ecosystems and their willingness to eat virtually anything including mice, rabbits, ground squirrels, insects, reptiles, fruits, grasses, vegetables, berries, and even road kill and trash.
Coyotes are generally solitary hunters, but live in small packs that include an alpha male and female that will breed and have pups. Male and female pairs mate for life, teaching their pups to hunt by providing them with live mice. Families will live in dens that are tunneled into the side of a hill or under a tree, occasionally created from an expanded natural hole or abandoned badger den. Dens are cleaned regularly by removing all scat, bones, and debris.
It is much more common to hear a coyote than to see one. At night, coyotes both howl (a high quavering cry) and emit a series of short, high-pitched yips. Howls are typically used to communicate with other coyotes in the area. Coyotes will also communicate by scent marking territorial boundaries.
Coyotes are typically fearful of people, but can become accustomed to humans if there is easy access to food and they sense little danger. MassWildlife has created a handy list of ways you can avoid problems with these beautiful animals in Living with Coyotes.
Buttonwood Park Zoo is currently home to two male coyotes. Time your visit to the zoo just right, and you might hear them howling in response to the howl of ambulance, fire, or police sirens. Both absolutely adore playing with Kongs ; the very same kind that probably keeps your dog or dogs occupied for hours. In fact, bring a brand new and unused large, black Kong to the zoo, tell us it's for our coyotes, and we'll make sure they get it! You might even see them playing with it in one of your future visits to the zoo.
Learn more about Coyotes
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 March Eco-Tip
Making a difference in global climate change and saving money on your home energy bills has never been easier. If you haven't already, consider taking a few seconds to replace the light bulbs in your home with Energy Star rated Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL). CFL bulbs use 2/3 less energy than a standard light bulb, last up to 10 years longer, save $30 or more in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulb, and produce less heat than standard incandescent bulbs, making them safer to operate. According to the official Energy Star website, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR rated bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.
A nifty new website, www.18seconds.org, allows you to see the number of CFL bulbs that have been purchased in your country, state, or even town, and the impact that those purchases have had. At the time of this newsletter's creation, 149,269 CFL bulbs had been purchased in Massachusetts, saving users a total of $5,547,970. An astounding 12,588,817 pounds of coal were saved, and the emission of 53,880,138 pounds of CO2 prevented.
Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs can now be found everywhere light bulbs are sold, and many varieties exist to meet your lighting needs. CFL bulbs do contain small amounts of mercury, as do all flourescent bulbs, so be sure to recycle or dispose of them properly.
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 Women in Science
Did you know that March is National Women's History Month? The National Women's History Project was founded in 1980 to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women in all walks of life. The NWHP operates on the belief that "the knowledge of women's history provides a more expansive vision of what a woman can do. This perspective can encourage girls and women to think larger and bolder and can give boys and men a fuller understanding of the female experience. "
Throughout history, women have played an important role in the advancement of science. Rachel Carson, Marie Curie, Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall, Julia Butterfly Hill, Eugenie C. Clark, and Florence Nightengale are just a few of the many women that have made important contributions to the scientific community through their work.
The presence of women in zoos has increased greatly in recent years. In an article featuring a female lead keeper at Zoo New England, the Boston Globe reported that a workplace survey conducted in 2000 by the American Association of Zoo Keepers revealed that 75 percent of zookeepers across the country now are female. Women with advanced science degrees working as directors, curators, nutritionists, researchers, and veterinarians are also now commonplace at zoos. And according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, seventy percent of graduates of veterinarian schools each year are women.
The percentage of female zookeepers is even higher here at Buttonwood Park Zoo. Of the eleven members of the animal care staff, ten (91%) are female, including the zoo's veterinary technician.
In the picture to the right, a zookeeper in the Aquatics Environment Building performs water quality tests. |
 Forcing Forsythias
Here's a neat project for the home or classroom that reminds us that spring really is just around the corner.
This time of year is the right time to force forsythias. Forcing is a process where branches from spring-blooming shrubs and trees are encouraged to bloom early by bringing them into a heated area and supplying water. Forsythia (or golden bells) is an ideal candidate because a little early pruning won't permanently damage the plant.
To force forsythia:
1. On a day when the temperature is above freezing, cut several branches (2-3 feet long) from a forsythia shrub. 2. Bring the branches indoors and recut the bottom of the branches under water. Some sources recommend splitting the bottom of the branches to increase water uptake. 3. Place the branches in a vase with water. 4. Place the vase in the sun or a warm spot. 5. Replace the water every few days.
In 2 or 3 weeks you should have flowering forsythia.
Please be a responsible spring seeker. Don't cut forsythia from public parks or someone else's property. If you don't have a source of forsythia, some local florists carry the branches in spring for forcing.
Photo taken by Dan Smith.
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 Junior Duck Stamp Deadline March 15th
If you've visited the zoo recently, you may have seen the amazing artwork displayed in our Wildlife Education Center. The painting pictured here is one of many and was created by Daniel Quirk of Springfield Central High School and was judged 2006 Best of Show. These works of waterfowl art were created for the Junior Duck Stamp Program by Massachusetts students in grades K-12. The Junior Duck Stamp Program was launched in 1991 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to increase young people's awareness of the importance of preserving wetland habitats and the delights of wildlife watching. Any student in grades K-12 can enter, but must hurry as the deadline of March 15th is quickly approaching! Visit MassWildlife for information on the Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Program and guidelines for submission. Artwork should not be submitted to Buttonwood Park Zoo. | |
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