Beaver shot in the Tulsa World

[RecycleMichael]

Nice story on the new aquarium additions...

Aquarium's new guests are furry

By SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
3/6/2008

Beavers and river otters are featured in the Ozark stream exhibit, slated to open Friday.

JENKS -- A muscular beaver could be seen via night-vision cam era scratching every last inch of its wet, furry body while relaxing in its den Wednesday afternoon at the Oklahoma Aquarium. It's part of a new exhibit that's set to open to the public Friday in memory of the late Mark Hayes, who promoted the restoration of the northeastern Oklahoma Ozark habitat and its scenic waters. The exhibit was his brainchild. The Hayes Family Ozark Stream Exhibit is a cool, yet humid environment where beavers, river otters and raccoons enjoy natural sunlight, living plants, waterfalls and seeps.

The Ozark animals are the first mammals to be featured at the aquarium, but the exhibit also shows off native fish: smallmouth bass, streamers, stone rollers and darters. The otters were sliding on their bellies down an embankment that simulates a rocky riverbank the animals use in the wild for a quick escape.

The raccoons were in a drier forest environment, with smaller streams where in the wild they find food. Times will be scheduled each day for visitors to observe feedings. "This will allow people to see and appreciate what's in their own backyard," said Kenny Alexopoulos, the aquarium's deputy director. Alexopoulos said Hayes restored a section of stream in land he owned in the Battle Branch Creek area in Dela ware County.

The delicate ecosystem plays a crucial role in flood control, animal habitat and recreational activities such as swimming, inner-tubing and fishing, which are most threatened by erosion and pollution. The $500,000 exhibit was made possible by the Hayes family, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oxley Foundation.

Alexopoulos said the exhibit is really worth $1 million, but the aquarium was able to cut costs by having its biologists design and build the exhibit. The water where the featured mammals live in the wild is spring-fed and very clean, Alexopoulos said. The exhibit re-creates that environment using Tulsa water that has been filtered of chlorine and other chemicals.

About 1,000 gallons of water a minute is recycled through a pump to create the waterfalls and seeps. A private dedication and ribbon cutting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The aquarium's executive director, Teri Bowers, said Hayes had hoped the exhibit would leave people with a greater understanding of why it is important to protect this piece of Oklahoma's natural environment.

[sgrizzle]

Didn't know Terri Bowers was the ED now. I can only imagine she is much better than the last one.  Kenny being Deputy Director is very important. He has put an amazing amount of himself into the aquarium from day one. Everything from swimming with the sharks to painting the walls. This new exhibit is great for the aquarium and I expect we will see a lot more progress going on at the aquarium with these two in charge, especially when they can make an exhibit at half the normal cost.

[Breadburner]

Having muscular and beaver together is disturbing....

[cannon_fodder]

NICE thread.  Thread title of the year for sure.

And the Beavers are really cool too.  I've seen them a few times already.  The new area is top notch and the animals themselves are pretty amazing.  I'm seen more Beaver in the wild than in captivity - so seeing them up close was pretty cool.

I'll be there this weekend to see them in their new home.

[Wilbur]

Made me look.

[Conan71]

Susan Bramsch was first director wasn't she?

Common thread there with advertising/media types.  Probably a pretty smart move rather than an eco-wonk with no social skills running it into the ground.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Susan Bramsch was first director wasn't she?

Common thread there with advertising/media types.  Probably a pretty smart move rather than an eco-wonk with no social skills running it into the ground.

She was when it opened. She required the staff to use Sterling Media (which she founded) for all of their advertising. So instead of being able to typ something up in word and sending it to kinko's, they had to spend $$$ on full color high-end graphics for even the simplest job. People who disagreed with her policies ended up not working there. She did a good job of getting it open, but she wasn't that great at running it.

[TheArtist]

I always thought they needed some cute, fun, critters at the aquarium. Since dolphins are off limits, beavers, otters and raccoons are a good choice. One can only get so enamored with sea slugs and bass, and sharks aren't that playful and cuddly either. Will have to go here in the next month or so and check out the new denizens.

[cannon_fodder]

I went this weekend to take see if I couldn't see some nice fury beaver.  Apparently they are somewhat shy and like to keep themselves hidden from strangers as I didn't see a single beaver in the open the entire time I was there.  They had a TV that was inside their cover that allowed me to see the beaver, but they refused to put on a show for me.  I can see as many beavers as I want on digital media at home... it's just not the same as a real live wet furry beaver right in front of your face.  Or even two of them snuggled together.  But these two were just sleeping in the lodge.

The otters were also hiding.

The Coons were out playing though.

The exhibit is actually really nice.  TONS of flowing water, native fish, and excellent otter environment.  I imagine it will improve vastly when they get used to their new homes.

Check it out.  Always a good time.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I went this weekend to take see if I couldn't see some nice fury beaver.  Apparently they are somewhat shy and like to keep themselves hidden from strangers as I didn't see a single beaver in the open the entire time I was there.  They had a TV that was inside their cover that allowed me to see the beaver, but they refused to put on a show for me.  I can see as many beavers as I want on digital media at home... it's just not the same as a real live wet furry beaver right in front of your face.  Or even two of them snuggled together.  But these two were just sleeping in the lodge.

The otters were also hiding.

The Coons were out playing though.

The exhibit is actually really nice.  TONS of flowing water, native fish, and excellent otter environment.  I imagine it will improve vastly when they get used to their new homes.

Check it out.  Always a good time.

Leave the pistol at home next time and they might come out! []

[Emily]

Sillybrigid, I really hope you read the subject line on this post....

[PonderInc]

The thread title is like a rorschach test.  When I first read it, I thought...who had the gun?  

But then, I'm from Oklahoma, where some stores sell ammunition in the check-out aisles...next to the candy and gum.