The rain let up, so ABR got back to work. Even though it is Valentine’s Day, our curators were busy with enclosure maintenance and improvement. First, though, we did have a special visitor.
We do have many other critters in the area who visit from time to time.
One of the jobs was to clean and disinfect the Hartley House.
IImportant work to be ready for the class of 2025!
Curator Jamie goes back and forth to pack the new gravel, donated by a local company.
Next, he power washes the plastic sheeting at the top of Enclosure 1 fencing.
Do you know about the black plastic sheets at the top of the enclosure fences? These sheets are made of a marine-grade plastic and they come in 4’x8′ sheets. The last time we purchased this material (2022), we paid $41.00 for each sheet. There are about 60 sheets just in Enclosure 1. We punch holes in the four corners and around the top and bottom of each sheet. Then we use heavy wire or metal zip ties to attach the sheets to the chain link fence. The sheets run the “long way” all the way around the inside of the fence and cover the top four feet of the 8 foot tall fence. Below the black plastic sheets, there are multiple rows of electric fencing. It wouldn’t likely happen, but in the event a cub or yearling got past the electric fencing, they would reach a slick, hard sheet of plastic that is claw resistant. A cub or yearling is not tall enough to reach over four feet of slick plastic to grab the top of the fencing and keep going. In other words, the black plastic sheets are a level of protection to prevent “self-release”.
ABR tries to anticipate and prepare for all eventualities!