Lehigh Valley Zoo - Part Two

In part two I am going to begin with one of my favorite residents of the zoo and that is Cranky.  Cranky (the name they gave to him) is an African Spurred Tortoise and he has the most expressive face of any reptile I have seen.  When it is winter he stays inside with the Kookaburra.  In Spring and Summer you may see him sash-saying around the grass eating by the Guinea Hens. 

A little ways down from Cranky with have two more smaller Tortoises, Kangaroos, the Aoudads, Camels, Wallabies, Onyxes, and Zebras. 

Next come three of the animals I also love which are the Gray Fox (up there with Cranky), the Canadian Lynx, and the Bobcat.

Louie (his name) the Gray Fox.  Louie came to them from a smaller zoo within past few years and is adjusting well.

Lexi was someone's pet for a year before they realized they could not raise her and she has been at the zoo over 10 years.  I found a kindred spirit in Lexi.  She's a good girl. 

Shitz-pa (spg?) hangs on usually on her branch in the front unless too many visitors are there and she wants privacy.   I saw her eying one of the Peacocks who was sitting close to her pen one day. 

These are the beautiful Palominos at the zoo who once lived out on the Trexler Game Preserve.  They were moved in so the zoo could take care of them and they are getting older.  I believe my friend at the zoo told me that they are around 30 years old each.  They don't look a day over 19.

Then there are the Mexican Wolves, whom last I knew were on the endangered list along with Red Wolves.  Why do people kill animals they don't understand?  These wolves are at the zoo for their protection and to eventually be used in breeding.  They offer a wolf feed where you can watch them devour a deer (most likely road kill).  It's interesting to watch because you can witness the 'pack' mentality.  I may decide to post my photos of it at a later time here.
There is a Porcupine and several Raptor habitats and you will round out at the Lemurs.  This little pair (one male and one female) like to hang out in their tree.  I believe the male has the reddish face.  Anyway, you may witness the Lemur feed also which will allow you to get better photos of them, because they tend to be reclusive. 

Since I've been there (almost a year ago) they have added some new animals.  I believe they got a Raccoon and a Skunk.  Their map can be found here.  http://lvzoo.org/zoo_map.cfm
On your way out don't forget to cross the fjord, so you can get a glimpse of the elk herd. 

I nicknamed him King Wapiti.  He has a harem of females.

And the herd of Buffalo.  My friend, Kelly, at the zoo fought to allow the Buffalo to breed and so there are babies now.  I can't wait to go up and see them again.  Hopefully this Easter. 
The Lehigh Valley Zoo is one of the nicer zoos I have gone to.  Also you can hike on the Trexler Game Preserve.  It is well worth the trip and every visit helps the birds, animals, and reptiles get fed, have shelter, and veterinary care.  Please do not boycott zoos because you think you are helping the animals because you are not.  Many of these animals come to the zoo because they are endangered, suffer from a medical condition, or have been imprinted upon and can not survive out in the wild.  Please support your zoos.  : )

Lehigh Valley Zoo - Part One

This is my last post on Pennsylvania for a while, but I wanted to write about another hang-out of mine which was or is the Lehigh Valley Zoo.  The Lehigh Valley Zoo is on the Trexler Gamer Preserve up in Schnecksville, PA.  It is situated above Allentown PA. 
After entering the gate, if you veer to the right it will take you right to the South African Penguins, which are usually in chorus with one another.  There are 8 - 10 little penguins and they love to have company.

Yes, he is going to jump.  They love to swim.

These two are trouble.  Brother and sister River Otters.  They also love company, except when they are napping in their den. 
Not all Snowy Owls are the same.  This past winter we have had a Snowy Owl invasion.  All those Snowy Owls looking for rest and food.  This Snowy Owl I nicknamed, Ms. Snow - u - don't because she appears to be a diva.  She actually relaxes in the Autumn and the Winter, but during busy times, she skeptical towards her guests.

I love the pond area where there are Black Swans, a Trumpeter Swan, a Mute Swan, Mallards, a Duclair Duck, an Egyptian Goose, a Red-Eared Slider, as well as visiting birds. 

They house a variety of birds such as the Lorikeets.

And the Kookaburra who erupts in laughter from time to time.

Several raptors including a Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcons, Ravens, Barn Owls, and a Barred Owl. 

She's not amused ... by anyone.
Another one of the species of birds are the Peacocks, or Peafowl.  They wander the park like the royalty they believe they are.  They usually mate at the Prairie Dog habitat.  You can hear their high-pitched screams or see them walking as a group with their chicks.  I love the peacocks.  They will actually follow you around if they find you interesting. 

There are also a pair of Grey Crowned Cranes. 

I forgot about the Emus and the Ostriches, who are always alert to what is going on in the park. 

This concludes Part One of the park.  The next part will cover the mammals. 

Indian Ladders Waterfalls

Indian Ladders is a hike I went on once with the Appalachian Mountain Club and I tried to go on it again but what I thought was it was not and we only hit one waterfall.  Very few people know this trail where you hit Tumbling Waters waterfall, Upper Indian Ladders waterfall, and Lower Indian Ladders waterfalls.  I remember parking by the Mile 10 marker off of Rt. 209 between Bushkill and Dingman's Ferry and entering with the group into a forest area. 

The hike started out along a stream and went upwards into the Pennsylvania forest.  We got glimpses of small waterfalls along the way.

We walked up a bunch of hand made stairwells. 

Lizards, newts, and skinks along the way.  Also fungus - lots of different colored mushrooms. 

First waterfall we hit was Tumbling Waters that we saw between the trees till we got closer.

Tumbling Waters.
Then we walked further and hit Indian Ladders Upper and then Lower Falls. 

I remember when I first saw the Upper Falls thinking this must be the Mother of all Falls, but I've been to waterfalls in NC now and they are just as equal in majesty.

This is one of the more scenic PA hikes I've been on.  I know that at some point we had to use a rope to descend part of the trail because it was steep, so you want to have some hiking experience behind you before you go on this trail.  I went on this hike back in August 2011, so you may want to check road conditions after the past couple hurricane seasons the Northeast has had and plan accordingly. 

Hawk Mountain

Hawk Mountain was another one of my hang-outs when I lived up North.  It is a bird sanctuary.  It is where most people flock to to watch the Spring and Fall Migration of Raptors and Birds.  It is situated in Kempton, PA, which is about 2-3 miles up the road from the Cabela's store that I have just written about.  The Fall migration is when you can find the most people there, sitting on North Lookout to watch them fly over.  There are birders there equipped with scopes and binoculars to help identify the Raptors/birds flying over. 

There are several miles of trails there, which is why hikers go there throughout the year and not just during migration. 

The trails will take you through forest canopies.

Bridges and boulders.

North Lookout where people usually sit on the boulders and watch the Spring and Fall migrations.  Get there early in the Fall because it gets filled up especially on the weekends.

Rhododendrons grow all over the park in the Spring and Summer.  Also Mountain Laurel.

This is the North Lookout Owl Mascot.  Be careful he swoops down sometimes and lands on the rocks.  : )



Turkey Vultures love me.  They graciously pose for me whenever I am in town.  For migration, you should bring no less than a 500 mm lens, because the Raptors/birds fly high in the sky.

There are also water lilies in the Lily pond off to your right as you are entering the trail right before the trail head where they take your tickets. 
Hawk Mountain is in central PA and a great place to just go and unwind on your day off.  You can get some decent hiking in and hang out with the wildlife and birds.  It is a fairly safe area, as there are hikers and Hawk Mountain guides and crew on all the time. 

Cabelas

This post is rather on where to get hiking and camping supplies rather than hiking itself.  I must stress again that I like my wildlife and birds alive and not dead before I start, but I do respect the art of taxidermy.  Cabelas is a store that not only offers great deals on products, but also has the most incredible taxidermy displays that are curated in a store.  They are museum quality.   The store I have gone to is the Hamburg, PA store.
Immediately as you enter the store, you are hit with the taxidermy displays.  There is a huge installation in the center of the store.


Several species of wildlife are on this display from deer, elk, moose, wolves, musk ox, bears (all breeds), mountain goat, etc…

You wonder how they get them posed so well.  They obviously didn’t shoot them posing for the camera - well I hope they didn’t.  That would be sadistic. 

This big boy is enormous.  It’s sad to think their lives were ended.

The moose actually has the whole family there with the female despite her not being pictured here with them.  The curator obviously respects the lives of these animals and want to show them in their everyday lives.
There is a separate room for deer.  There are lots of deer in the room alone.



There is also a section for African animals, which is my personal favorite since it’s highly unlikely I will be able to go on an actual safari. 

The African Lions are beautiful.

They curated them on a ‘hunt’. 

And there is a Rhino among other animals. 

Just another day at the watering hole. 

Besides the Center exhibit, the deer exhibit, and the African exhibit there are smaller ones in glass cases of birds and fish on the walls in the fishing department.  I believe more customers spend their time taking pictures with their smartphones than shopping - at least the first couple times they go.  I can’t speak for the other Cabela’s stores, but the Hamburg store is incredible.