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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has!"
Margaret Meade
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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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And Buttonwood Park Zoo is full of fun for you and your family. Join us for fall on the farm, great volunteering opportunities, new programs for Girl and Boy Scouts, and who could forget--Boo at the Zoo!
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 Harvest at the Farm
Saturday, October 6 1:00-4:00
Celebrate fall at the farm in the zoo! Get a farmer's eye view from the seat of a tractor and look for a needle in a haystack. Join us for harvest-related activities for the whole family!
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 Boo at the Zoo
Join us for slightly spooky family fun during the evening at the zoo. Get in a ghostly mood with a spooky wagon ride, haunted house, hay-bale maze, and much more-if you dare!
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Be a Part of Boo!
The critters at the zoo are busy getting ready for Boo. And we hear them asking "Where are you????"
Are you looking for a spook-tacular opportunity to give back this fall? The Buttonwood Park Zoological Society is seeking a team of dedicated and fun-loving volunteers to help decorate, teach crafts, perform, and even hand out candy at our annual Halloween event "Boo at the Zoo!"
To get involved with the ghoulish goings-on, contact: Erine Anderson by emailing eanderson@bpzoo.org or calling (508)991-4556 ext.19.
**All volunteers for the event must be over 16 years old and register at least one week prior to service**
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Check Out Our New Website!
That's right! http://www.bpzoo.org has been given a wonderful new look. Visit the site for information on programs offered at the zoo, upcoming events, special opportunities, animal information, and more.
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 New Programs for Boy and Girl Scouts
Buttonwood Park Zoo is now offering programs specially designed for Girl and Boy Scouts to complete full try-its, badges, and achievements! Programs available include:
Girl Scouts
Brownies Eco-Explorers, Earth & Sky, Animals
Juniors Plants and Animals, Earth Connection, Wildlife
Girls 11-17 All about Birds, Wildlife
Boy Scouts
Tigers, Bears, and Wolves Animal Adventure
Webelos Forester, Naturalist
Boy Scouts Reptile and Amphibian Study
Insect Study
Call (508) 991-4556 ext. 18 or e-mail jkarow@bpzoo.org for details!
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 Animal Poetry Contest
Do you know a promising poet in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade? Are you a 4th, 5th, or 6th grade English teacher? Buttonwood Park Zoo is excited to announce the first Buttonwood Park Zoo Poetry Contest. Poems must be about an animal at Buttonwood Park Zoo and be at least 4 lines long, but the rest is up to your fourth, fifth, or sixth grader!
First, second, and third prizes will be awarded to participants in each grade level (a total of nine prizes) and include:
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1st prize: $200 savings bond
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2nd prize: $100 savings bond
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3rd prize: $50 savings bond
Winners will present their poems and receive prizes at the Annual Meeting of the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society on Tuesday, December 4, 2007. Winning poems will also be posted on the Zoo's website.
The deadline for submissions is November 16th, 2007 so don't delay!
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 Webkinz Pet of the Month
Meet the first Webkinz Pet of the Month, the frog, at The North Woods Gift Store. Adopt the frog anytime during the month of October and get some super surprises at www.webkinz.com!!
Be the First to Get a Kookey!
 Starting October 15 th, The North Woods Gift Store will also be featuring KooKeys, a new virtual product offered by 10VOX Entertainment. Come on in and meet the KooKeys! |
Intern at the Zoo
Do you know a college student interested in gaining valuable experience in an animal or non-profit related field? The Buttonwood Park Zoological Society is currently seeking qualified applicants to fill three internship positions:
§ The Conservation Education Intern will assist the zoo's education department in creating and presenting programs and materials.
§ The Communications Intern position will be based in non-profit communications as they specifically relate to public relations and marketing.
§ Animal Care Interns will work alongside experienced zoo keepers as they maintain the health and well-being of our animal collection. Daily tasks revolve around animal husbandry duties, but can also include research and record keeping.
All Internship positions require a weekly time commitment of 12-30 hours between 8:00am and 5:00pm. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Erine Anderson at eanderson@bpzoo.org.
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Are you between the ages of 12 & 16? Do you want to make a difference?
The Buttonwood Park Zoo is joining forces with the Jane Goodall Institute to bring Roots & Shoots to our community! Roots & Shoots is an international program that connects youth and helps them create positive change in their local community. Founded on Dr. Jane Goodall's belief that "Every individual matters; every individual has a role to play; every individual makes a difference", Roots & Shoots members across the globe are working to make positive change for animals, the environment, and the human community.
We are seeking 10 inspired youth between the ages of 12 & 16 to be the change they want to see in the world. Our Roots & Shoots group will meet twice a month on Saturday mornings to select, plan, and implement projects that will make a positive change both on and off zoo grounds. Our projects will be chosen and designed by our members, so ultimately... it's up to you! What do you want to do? Are you interested in Asian Elephant conservation? Do you want to help the homeless? Or are you more concerned about global warming?
To learn more about this FREE program or to request an application, contact Erine Anderson by calling (508) 991-4556 ext.19 or emailing eanderson@bpzoo.org.
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Creature Feature: Raven
The largest of the songbirds, the Common Raven is one of the most  widespread species in the world. Found across much of north and western North America and Eurasia, southward into Central America and northern Africa, the raven can survive in Arctic, temperate, and desert environments. They are often confused with their crow cousins, but can be distinguished by their more wedge-shaped tail, robust bill, a tendency to soar and glide, their frequent, harsh, croaking calls, and their significantly larger size. Crows are also more commonly found in highly developed areas, while ravens prefer wild, forested habitat though they do venture into urban areas in search of food. They are mainly scavengers, eating a wide array of animal foods including insects, small mammals, bird, reptiles and carrion but will also consume grains, acorns and fruits.
With among the largest brains of any bird species, ravens are intelligent, vocal, and playful birds. They frequently demonstrate intelligence in learning innovative solutions to newly encountered problems. Fifteen to thirty-three categories of vocalizations have been recorded in ravens, including alarm calls, comfort sounds, chase calls, and the mimicking of other sounds. They are acrobatic fliers and are frequently seen rolling and somersaulting through the air.
 Buttonwood Park Zoo is home to one female raven. Remington is a captive-born three year-old with incredible personality. Within 24 hours of being introduced to her exhibit, Remington was mimicking the barking of a dog across the street and the sounds of traffic on Brownell Avenue. She is notorious for interfering with the training of her bobcat neighbors by mimicking the sound of the trainer's clicker and reinforcing behaviors that are not necessarily desired. Remington was also recently discovered to be saving for an unknown purchase; $0.25 in assorted change was found in a small pile in her exhibit. The change was collected and removed, as coins are a very dangerous choking hazard to all of our animals at the zoo. Zoo keepers provide Remington with a great deal of enrichment, including toys made for large parrots and puzzle feeders. Remington is always looking for new toys--visit PETCO for ideas, bring one to the front desk, tell us it's for Remington and we'll make sure she gets it! You might even see her investigating it in a future visit to the zoo. Remington can be found in the scavenger exhibit with her turkey vulture exhibit mates.
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Eco-Tip: Don't Rake and Throw, Mow and Grow!
 Fall means the arrival of cool weather, pumpkins, and for many, blisters from hours and hours of raking leaves. It is estimated that an acre of forest will drop two tons of leaves in one season! Who wants to rake that many leaves? Consider a time and environment saving technique that we use at Buttonwood Park Zoo-instead of raking and bagging leaves week after week; try simply mowing over the leaves in your yard this fall. A mulching mower is great, but a standard mower can be used by closing off the discharge chute so the leaves don't escape. When you mow over the leaves they are ground into tiny pieces and settle to the soil surface where they protect the grass, the soil, prevent weeds from growing, and in time decompose to naturally fertilize your lawn with nutrients. Do keep in mind that with a standard mower you may need to mow over the leaves two or three times to grind them small enough, but you will still spend less time mowing than you would raking!
Besides preventing days of sore muscles and saving hours of your time, mowing and mulching fall leaves has great environmental benefits.
« Mowing and mulching eliminates smoke and air pollution from the burning of yard waste.
« Landfill waste and the costs of waste removal are reduced.
« Leaves as a natural fertilizer saves you money, time and reduces runoff.
More information and more reasons to mow and grow!
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October Zoo Happenings
Every Monday, two shows 10:30 and 12:30!
Toe Jam Puppet Band
Creative Arts Playgroup
Cost: Zoo admission + $5/family
Sing, dance and play the day away with New Bedford's favorite, the Toe Jam Puppet Band.
Please note: There will be no performance on Columbus Day, October 8th.
Saturday, October 6 8:00 am
Breakfast with the Animals
Zoo Members: $13/person, children under 3 free
Non-members: $16/person, children under 3 free
Rise and shine with the animals! Join the zoo staff as they prepare exhibits for the day and feed the animals. Then enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet at the Bear's Den Café. Program fee includes tour, breakfast and zoo admission for the day. Participants must pre-register and pay in advance. Program held rain or shine. To register, please call the North Woods Gift Store at (508) 991-4556 x 14.
Saturday, October 6 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Harvest at the Farm
Cost: Free with zoo admission
Celebrate fall at the farm in the zoo! Get a farmer's eye view from the seat of a tractor and look for a needle in a haystack. Join us for harvest-related activities for the whole family.
Thursdays, October 11 - November 15
10:30 - Noon
Bear Cub Club
Members: $65/child; $30 for second child
Non-members: $95/child; $45 for second child
Run in conjunction with the I.H.Schwartz Center Early Intervention Program, this integrated playgroup is for 2 and 3-year-olds and a parent. Each day features a visit to an area of the zoo, animal stories and songs, craft projects and a healthy snack. Registration is required. For more information or to register, please call (508) 991-6178 x 31.
October 19 - 21 and 26 - 28
6:00 - 8:30 pm
Boo at the Zoo
Zoo members: $5 adults; $3 children
Non-members: $9 adults, $7 children
Join us for slightly spooky family fun during the evening at the zoo. Get in a ghostly mood with a spooky wagon ride, haunted house, hay-bale maze, and much more-if you dare!
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Contact Info
Buttonwood Park Zoological Society
(508) 991-4556
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