Lake Forest Parks & Recreation Brochures Winter & Spring 2019 | Page 66

Wildlife Discovery Center Creature Feature CHACO, THE SCREAMING HAIRY ARMADILLO! They scream, wag their tails, and even sleep on their backs! What kind of animal might this be? If you visit the WDC, you’ll find the answer: the screaming hairy armadillo, Chaetophractus vellerosus. Native to the Monte Desert, east of the Andes, you can find this bizarre creature in the Grand Chaco and Pampas areas of Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. Their preferred habitat includes sand dunes and dry savannas, and they have been spotted in elevations exceeding 3,000 feet. Possessing a great sense of smell, excellent hearing, and above average vision, this little creature weighs barely more than a pound and rarely reaches more than 15 inches in length. This makes them quite adept at surviving the harsh climates of their native habitat. When threatened, they emit a startlingly loud squealing sound. These bizarre little omnivorous creatures have a number of interesting hunting tactics for locating prey. Some force their heads under loamy or sandy soil and spin in a circular fashion, forming a conical trap to ensnare small invertebrate prey. They’ve also been observed burrowing into the carcasses of larger animals in pursuit of invertebrates. Although primarily insectivorous, they do consume some smaller vertebrates such as lizards, frogs, birds and mice; and some vegetation is part of their diet. They are known to consume a lot of sand, though it’s not known if this is intentional or a result of its quirky foraging styles. They gestate approximately 60-75 days, giving birth to only one or two offspring. They are weaned at a young two months of age and are sexually mature at nine months of age. In optimal conditions, these little armadillos have been known to reach 16 years of age in the wild. The WDC’s screaming hairy armadillo is named Chaco – for his home region. Born in 2018, Chaco, with his quirky personality, has become a very popular animal at the WDC. Come see him stand on his hind legs, wag his tail, and sleep on his back – all normal behaviors for his species. You can find Chaco in our administrative building, open Saturdays and Sundays from 10-4. He loves visitors! Animal Encounter Program Spend 30 minutes with the animal of your choice! The Animal Encounter Program is a 30-minute session with one of our “star" animals. This an opportunity for you and your guest to experience a safe, more intimate encounter with an animal listed below. With the guidance of one of our animal keepers, you will learn about the animal’s natural history and how we care for and interact with it. All fees generated from this program fund animal care. For more information, or to set up an encounter, contact Rob Carmichael, Curator, at [email protected]. 64 www. LF Pa rksa n d Re c .c om ANIMAL PRICING Two-toed Sloth “Hazel” $150 18’ Burmese Python “Dorothy” $100 250 lb Alligator Snapping Turtle “Bruno” $100 American Alligator “Casanova” $100 Barred Owl “Cy” $75 Venomous Reptile Experience $75 Red-Tailed Hawk “Curly” $75 Three-Banded Armadillo “Archie Roomba” $75 Virginia Opossum “Opie” $75 Water Monitors “Grug and Gia” (once owned by Nicolas Cage) $75