One year ago today: May 11, 2018, I like free courses.
Five years ago today: May 11, 2014, defining ‘mercantilism’.
Nine years ago today: May 11, 2010, one-more than Clapton.
Random years ago today: May 11, 2012, they’re lying.
Hello from the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary. As the sign says, this is not a zoo, but a rescue home for unwanted exotics, such as bears, peacocks, and Siberian tigers. It’s a novel concept, in this area anyway. I’d heard of it but never went until I got the invite. Alaine, hubby, & friends, we toured the place a couple of hours. The operation is dependent on public support, so alas, the cages are built on a budget and don’t make for the best photos. Shown here are the best of what turned out.
Most are larger critters, the sign notes they require 500 pounds of meat per day. That should give you some idea of the mortality rate that exists in the wild, since there were maybe 40 animals total. The cages are a generous size. Take time to read the plaques, it will reveal that some of these animals never domesticate and will attack their owners. Such as the bobcat, which decided it didn’t want to be petted.
Admission is reasonable, $10 for adults. It’s the honest john system, drop your money in the pail. The place has no highway signs, so program your GPS. There is no food or drinks, although I did see a closed down type of kitchen. The area does have that wild animal aroma and numerous signs direct everybody to keep quiet. Most kids, however, don’t read the signs. One favorite is the parrots from a doctor’s office. When taken, they were housed with a group of people who taught them cuss words. Don’t worry, mom, regardless of what you want to think, your kids have heard them all before.
It’s neither a zoo or circus, so there is not that much to hold children’s interest. It looked to me like the kids all felt sorry because of the cages. What the animals made of the kids I don’t know, but they kept well back from the fences. Favorites were the burro, fox, and coyote, but I’ve lived in Texas and Mexico and didn’t linger a lot. All the displays were clean and the animals fit, there is a large quarantine area and a vet service spot. Except for some birdlife, it was all mammals and a solitary alligator. The smaller ex-pets were all in fine shape, and this without the benefit of exercise laser dots.
Since the question will be asked, I’ll tell you. There were no babes. Zero. Forget the movies, there are no places to go in Florida that are full of aggressive young affectionate females. This entire day was, except for food service personnel, completely devoid of any singles between 18 and 38. There were a few married couples with kids in tow, but when I was in that age category, I avoided places where kids, old people, and marrieds hung out. It now seems that feeling is universal.
Shown here is an hour’s crust of bugs, which is acidic so you have to get it off your car. The splatter pattern is great for noticing how aerodynamic cars have become. Now if they could only invent a paint that sloughs off these bugs. It was also a hot day, the kind that make you wish you had a gazebo. There is a lot of seating at the pet sanctuary, in that the average visitor, they say, is over 65. The area is also very well shaded, none of the pathways have any direct sunlight. There is a rack of donated insect repellents and plenty of picnic tables. Inside the park, bugs are not a problem.
The staff said the best time for photos is Tuesdays and Thursdays, but did not elaborate. Likely something to do with feeding time. The cages are very large, if I didn’t say, and the feeding is done through 8” plastic tubes, a wise precaution. The arrangement gave me some ideas for my giant bird cage. Bring plenty of liquids if you require them there are no vendors in the area. Do not worry, Sparky and Sammy, the place gave me no ideas.
Autumn.
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The refuge can be stretched into a two-hour tour if you take enough rest stops. In the heat of the day and between feeding times, the animals are smart enough to lie down and snooze. Like this bear, the smartest one of the bunch. Into the pool, the only way we know he isn’t native to Florida is he’s got no six-pack of Coor’s Lite.
By mid-afternoon, everybody had worked up an appetite, so we returned to our favorite spot, at Fisherman’s Wharf. To find it jam-packed, no parking, long waits. As luck would have it, we scored a corner table on the water and I behaved myself with coffee and salad. One of our group was a lady from the pet home where Alaine volunteers. She was neither talkative nor my type, so it was a situation where aloof politeness was the atmosphere. Rumor has it the wharf has been sold and the new owners are pulling the old CAM clause increases to force the older tenants out. It will be a pity when the waterfront restaurants go. They are already over-priced, with your average snack running $12.
I was home still in the daylight, and so far ahead on my calories for the day, I put together a batch of bannock. I found if you misremember the ingredients and add double the amount of something, it still comes out as bannock. I’ve more pics but I’ll spread them over a few days, since it’s mostly more yard work on the agenda.
