Grandfather Mountain "Keeper for a day"

I won two passes for "Keeper for a day" at Grandfather Mountain in a raffle when I was at the WRNC symposium.  And we arranged to do it while we are on this trip.

We arrived at the museum that's attached to their wildlife habitat at 8:00 am, got our "keeper t-shirts" and followed the keepers on their rounds.  We watched as they took food to the river otters, cougars, and black bears, and picked up lots of poop from the habitats.  The habitats are very large, natural enclosures.  The animals all know the drill: go into a holding pen to eat most of their meal while the keepers scrape up poop with a rake and shovel.  It's obvious that the keepers love these animals and treat them well.

We spent almost three hours with them and then drove on up to the top of Grandfather Mountain.  We walked across the mile-high bridge and a little ways onto the rocks beyond, but the wind was strong so we didn't go out to the point.  The rocks are uneven and there are no barriers and we aren't as young as we were the last time we were here!

After going to the top, we came back down again to the animal habitat and walked through it along with the other tourists.  In some ways, you can see the animals better from that viewpoint since you are viewing over the fences and not through them.

Museum entrance

River otter

Tommie spotted this salamander in their enclosure, and one of them found it as soon as they got back in.
It didn't last long!...Yum!

This is Aspen, who was a captive cougar in Colorado until he was confiscated and taken to this habitat.

One of two cougars who were found almost starving as lost cubs in Idaho.

Enticing a bear into its enclosure

Omnivore chow, dog food, and fruit

They love carrots and sweet potatoes!

Ready to get out!

Still has some winter coat

Filling the water bowl

Looking up from the lower part of the enclosure

Picking up bear poop.  It filled that 5 gallon bucket!

The oldest of their six bears

Bear enrichment.  There's dog food in the container and they have to shake it out.

Posing bear

Eagle who has only one good eye

Road to the top

Mile-high bridge

No safety barriers!

Blue Ridge goldenrod.  It only grows in this area.

Zoe likes to ride with her chin on the window sill.