Billy the Red Kangaroo

Have you ever seen how a Joey gets into his momma"s pouch? We had the unique opportunity to BE the momma"s pouch when Billy came to Wild Things almost two years ago. Abandoned by his mother at a Texas zoo, Billy was hand-raised and unable to cope with the rest of the kangaroo mob. He is a fascinating animal to work with and share with an audience. We are still anticipating him hopping into schools at 6 ft. and 180 lbs.!

Fur Bearers

From hoof stock to marsupials, to lions, primates and bears, OH MY!

Wild Things is a haven to over 30 of these fur-bearing creatures!

Click on any of the images below for stories on a few of the mammals that call Wild Things home.

• Waldo the Beaver
• Ozzie the African Vervet Monkey
• Maidu the Mountain Lion (Cougar, Puma)
• Billy the Red Kangaroo
• Tules the Tule Elk
• Pook the White-handed Gibbon
• Cookie the Golden Fronted Spider Monkey

Tules - Tule Elk

An orphaned calf from Point Reyes, CA Tules came to Wild Things through the California Department of Fish and Game. It is believed that she is the only Tule Elk in captivity and we are honored to be able to give her a home. Henry Miller, the man who saved this species from extinction by setting aside 1000 acres as the Tule Elk preserve, is a wonderful example to children how one person can make a difference.

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Pook - White-handed Gibbon

Pook was brought from Thailand 40 years ago by a missionary doctor. She remained a family pet until she reached maturity at seven years old and began getting aggressive, as all wild animals will. She was then relegated to a small chicken coop where she remained (with nothing to swing from) for the next 13 years. Although the family loved and cared for her as best they could, she went through a lot in those years, losing an arm to a dog and being teased by neighboring school children. It was when the couple became too elderly to care for her, that she came to Wild Things. It brought tears to our eyes, when she was released into her new habitat with ropes and swings, to see her joyfully bound from one rope to another despite her handicap! Although she has never been shared as an outreach animal, she is quite famous, as her calls resound through the pine trees of Weimar. Don"t be surprised when you hear the neighbors answering back!

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Cookie - Golden Fronted Spider Monkey

Born in 1976, Cookie came to Wild Things from an illegal situation in Placerville, CA, in 1991. She had been housed in a tiny cage with only a light bulb to keep her warm during the cold winter nights. This beautiful endangered species is much loved by everyone who has had the opportunity to meet her. You can't help but wonder what good she could have done for her species to be out in the Amazon Rainforest where she truly belongs.

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