ANIMAL BIRTHDAY PARTY JUNE 16 AT GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN
On
June 16 Grandfather Mountain will host a birthday celebration for all
of the animals in the park. Grandfather’s habitat staff has prepared
a fun-filled day for guests as well as programming to honor and treat
its furry inhabitants.
“The Animal Birthday Party gives us an opportunity to celebrate all of their birthdays at the same time because they all deserve a special day,” said Habitats Manager Christie Tipton.
From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. guests can participate in contest drawings in the Nature Museum and make birthday cards for the animals.
A
Behind the Scenes tour will provide an opportunity to see the animals
in a unique way from 10:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. Grandfather is offering
the tour at a special birthday celebration cost of $30 per person. The
tour takes participants beyond the overlooks of the Animal Habitats
to see what it takes to care for the animals year-round. Participants
must wear tennis shoes or hiking boots and make a reservation in advance
by calling 828-733-8715 or registering in the Museum Gift Shop on June
16.
At 1 p.m. visitors are invited to play a game of Quick Frozen Critters with the Habitat Staff in front of the Fudge Shop. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. free slices of birthday cake will be served in the Fudge Shop. At 2:15 p.m. winners of the contest drawings will be announced and prizes will be awarded in the Nature Museum. Immediately afterwards, guests are invited to the deer, cougar, otter and bear overlooks to watch the animals receive birthday enrichments.
“Enrichment is anything to stimulate the animals and change up their day,” said Habitats Assistant Manager Tanya Cline. “It can be a scent, a toy, food, or anything new in their habitat. On their birthday it will be something special that we know they will love.”
“We hope everyone brings their families out to enjoy the birthday festivities,” said Tipton. We all love the animals and want to give them a well-deserved special day.”
In 1968 Grandfather Mountain began housing bears as a part of a propagation program and received two bears from the Atlanta Zoo. One of the bears refused to revert to the wild because she was imprinted on humans and did not know how to survive in the wilderness. Her name was Mildred and a permanent home at Grandfather was created for her.
Since Mildred, dozens of bears, cougars, deer, otters and eagles have made their home at Grandfather. The animals that come to the Mountain cannot survive on their own in the wild, and many of them are rescues. Grandfather strives to make the habitats as close to the animals’ natural environment and also strives to make life in captivity as pleasant as possible.
Grandfather Mountain is located at the intersection of US 221 and the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305. Admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children ages 4-12. There is no extra charge to participate in the animal birthday activities. For more information, please visit www.grandfather.com or contact Grandfather Mountain by phone at 800-468-7325.
| 2010 Schedule | |
| Millie the Bear will make appearances throughout the day | |
| 10 am-2 pm | Test Your Animal Knowledge Contest at the Nature Museum. |
| 10 am–2 pm | Make a Birthday Card for the Animals in the Nature Museum. Cards will be displayed in the otter underwater viewing area. At the end of the day the cards will be given to the animals! |
| 10:30 am–12 pm | Behind the Scenes Tour takes participants beyond the overlooks of the Animal Habitats to see what it takes to care for the animals year-round. Participants must wear tennis shoes or hiking boots and make a reservation in advance by calling 828-733-8715 or registering in the Museum Gift Shop on June 16. Special "birthday party" price of $30 each. |
| 1 pm | Quick Frozen Critters Game! Meet in front of the Fudge Shop. |
| 1-4 pm | Free birthday cake from the Fudge Shop while supplies last (one slice per person). |
| 2:15 pm | Contest prizes will be awarded. Names will be drawn and winners will be announced at the Nature Museum. |
| 2:30 pm | Animal Enrichment. After the awarding of contest prizes, follow the habitat staff to the deer, otter, cougar and bear overlooks to watch an exciting birthday enrichment! |
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P.O. Box 129 - US 221 & Blue Ridge Parkway - Linville, NC - 28646
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