Have You Held Any Wild Animals Lately?

While we were down in Vegas, Claire and I took the kids to Roos N More. The kids remembered it from last time and were super-excited to show Claire. It took them a little while to warm up to touching the animals, so this is all the closer they would get to the Armadillo.

For me, however, it's too rare an opportunity to pass up.

The Bear Cat (Binturong) loved smelling Claire's hair.

Liesel was not a fan, ha, ha!

I held the baby joey, but again, the boys weren't ready to be hands-on.

This joey is nearly a year old.

Yes, I let a snake get that close to my baby.

Liesel was intrigued by the Python.

The boys were brave enough to touch it!

Claire and I put it on our shoulders.

Parker petting the Coati (It's a South American cousin to the Raccoon.)

It looks like Liesel might be kicking the Coati, but she wasn't. She was just watching it with interest.

Apparently this Pirates of the Caribbean-style Capuchin monkey is a hair stylist.

Liesel liked petting it's tail.

It started playing with the rocks and jumping up high. It was hilarious!

This Capuchin is also pretty curious it seems, ha, ha, ha!

A Squirrel Monkey

They had McCaws, Parrots and other birds.

Jason was a little nervous about petting the Alpaca.

Claire with the zebra (They had painted it for a parade and hadn't washed off yet.)

Jason by the goats. You can see a "lovely" view of the backsides of camels and a "Zedonk" in the background.

Parker petting "Hedwig" the Eagle Owl.

This owl was unbelievably soft...so cool!

This one isn't yet full grown, but already has a wing-span of about five feet. The Eurasian Eagle Owl is one of the largest owls.

Seriously so soft!

Liesel was loved petting it!

Claire and Liesel

A South American Cavy

Parker and Jason checking out a Wallaby.

Grey Kangaroos (The one on the right has a joey in it's pouch.)

More Kangaroos (Red and Grey)

Claire near some Kangaroos.

This little Albino Joey is about a year old, but already has a developing joey in it's pouch. Yeah, so of course the developing baby is what Jason tried to touch, aye, yai, yai!

Apparently kangaroos can get pregnant at about a year and then every year afterward. Once the embryo is about a week old, it can either continue to develop or "pause" if there is already a baby joey in the mother's pouch. After the previous joey permanently leaves (I think it's around 8-10 months), then the embryo continues it's development. After about a month, it's born (only about an inch in size) and crawls up into the pouch. It latches on to one of the mothers teats and stays there until it's 6-7 months old. Then it starts to jump out sometimes, but still spends much of it's time in the pouch. So, from what I've learned, this baby was probably born a month or so ago, but is still not fully developed. Crazy, huh?

Here I'm petting a Grey Joey.

Here is a composite of some random footage I took of the Kangaroos.

Claire with a Toucan

Parker was very brave and held the Toucan on his arm.

It's amazingly light for how giant it's beak is.

Jason held it too!

Watching the Ring-Tailed Lemurs

Did you know all Lemurs are from Madagascar? Well, now you do.

My cousin feeding this Lemur a grape.

Holding a Kinkajou

Claire and the Kinkajou

Yes, this is DEFINITELY one of THE COOLEST places ever!

If you are ever near St. George or Las Vegas, you've got to go!