Manitoba Tourist Destination

I make a point of driving up to Hecla Island a few times each year and it makes for a good day trip from Winnipeg.  While at the marsh boardwalk this little muskrat coated with some duckweed swam right up to where we were standing, climbed up the bank, immediately groomed his fur and dried off in what seemed a few minutes.  The muskrat started munching on greens – obviously not worried about any human presence.   Check out the teeth in the last photo -

Enjoy!

~Sharon

This is the last of my zoo posts but I would be remiss without including our lions.  Not too lively while I was there but at least the lioness was awake – the old fella – well, it was a Sunday afternoon and he was napping.  Hmmmm . . .

Enjoy!

~Sharon

A few more photos taken at the Assiniboine Zoo this past October.  Normally I do not use captive animal photos on this website but did take a few snapshots while visiting our tiger cubs this fall.  So today, a flamingo, Steller Sea Eagle ( this is a really large bird ) and a toucan.

Below: Flamingo in the tropical house preening its feathers.

Below: Steller Sea Eagle. With a wingspan of up to 8 feet and weighing in at 15-20 lbs this eagle is considered the most aggressive and powerful of its cousins, the bald eagle and white-tailed sea eagle. They are believed to breed only in far eastern Russia and some migrate as far south as Japan. Their diet consists mainly of salmon and like other eagles will dive into the water clutching a fish with their talons. They will also steal food from other birds.  This Steller Eagle sits alone in a rather small chain link enclosure at our zoo – mixed emotions here.  While it is the only opportunity I would have to see this beautiful bird of prey it is sad to see it alone and so confined.  Like our bald eagles, Steller’s nest along waterways where their food sources are.

Below:  Toucan in the tropical house enjoying a cateloupe. The birds in the tropical house fly around freely and have a variety of tropical trees to perch in.  These smaller birds are likely quite at home in this facility.

Enjoy!

Sharon