Getting to know your neighbors: What's happening in the mammal room?

What’s Happening in the Mammal Room?

The Mammal Room is located near the front entrance of the house. Its residents are: Alfie, the cockatoo, Chupa Chups, the squirrel, Cocoa and Winter, the rabbits and siblings, Lilo and Lila, the chinchillas. The public is not permitted in the room but can observe from the doorway.

Alfie, our cockatoo, was caught attempting to steal Chupa’s lettuce. She timed her clever stunt and waited until Chupa was nestled in his hammock sound asleep. She stealthily strutted over to the area underneath his cage and happily walked away with it. Who knew she’d go after lettuce, of all things (although she’s known to eat baked ziti). Turns out, she really likes it. After she was caught in the act, she disappeared. She initiated a game with us by hiding under a sheet of brown paper located on top of her cage, occasionally peeking out. She had us playing along, thrilled to know that she could successfully hide from us.

Winter, the rabbit has her own game going on. At the end of the day, she knows when it’s time to get into her hutch. That’s when she hides behind the hutch and begins to play hide and seek! She stalls, just like a child at bedtime. Her hutch-mate Cocoa, is no different. They seem to take turns in this act of resistance but Winter is by far the most capricious.

The Mammal Room’s most infamous resident is our notorious squirrel, Chupa Chups. His escapades top all the rest! That is why Alfie decided to finally teach him a lesson by trying to take the lettuce out of his cage. Most days, Chupa has the run of the place. According to one of our animal care volunteers, he’s been known to get Alfie riled up by eating her leftover scraps found under her cage, then keeps himself out of reach of her long neck and beak. Chupa entertains himself by laying hidden, stretched out on top of the Chinchilla cage, flat as a pancake, until he springs off onto a very surprised volunteer’s shoulder or arm.

Usually, the Chinchillas remain quietly in their cage but watch out if they happen to spot an escape route! It takes a clever, experienced staff person to manage to catch up with them.

The Mammal Room is a bright, sunny, airy room that invokes a warm and happy feeling. What goes on at night is anyone’s guess. Have you ever wondered what our residents are doing as you drive by the area late at night? I imagine them breaking out in full party mode, free to let loose to their hearts’ content. They may even have their own Alexa playlist!

You’ve never heard of the infamous Mammal Room? Take a peek (admittance is not permitted) the next time you stop by for a new, educational and fun experience!

Anne Marie Tognella, Sweetbriar Volunteer

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS: LI Land Turtles

When it comes to your Long Island wildlife neighbors, how often do turtles come to mind? Most likely not often at all. Surprisingly, turtles can be found anywhere you look, they are all around us! It’s a sight to behold when we spot a turtle and they certainly do help us slow down and take notice.

Turtles have been our prehistoric neighbors dating back to pre-dinosaur days and have not changed much. One major difference is that they no longer have teeth. Land turtles are closely related to crocodiles! Do episodes of The Flintstones come to mind?

While many of us know about sea turtles, most of us don’t know much about land turtles. Land turtles, live on land, have high, rounded shells, feet for movement and are able to retract their heads and limbs inside their shells to ward off predators.

Eastern Box Turtles are the most common land turtles found in the Long Island Central Pine Barrens. They range in size from 15 to 18 cm. Also known as Box Turtles, they are omnivores and their diet consists of berries, slugs, earthworms, snails, beetles, crickets, mealworms, pill bugs, pinky mice, plants and mushrooms; lots of live foods!

They can thrive in a variety of different climates, including tropical forests and grassy fields, forested areas and blistering hot desert sand, and can live well over 100 years. Although box turtles are not aquatic, they can be found near shallow streams or ponds and have occasionally been seen swimming!

Our goal should be to help protect and sustain turtle populations. Chemicals affect animals, and turtles are no different. Very often turtles with ear infections are brought to Sweetbriar, something directly caused by chemicals/pesticides. They are known to put their heads in water and rub their heads in wet grass thus causing problems with their ears. Turtle numbers are declining on Long Island mainly due to loss of habitat. Long Islanders pride themselves with having perfectly manicured, leafless lawns which, although beautiful to look at, present a problem for turtles due to their need for leaves in which to hibernate.

When you see a turtle on the road, you can help it across if it is safe to do so but be sure to face it in the direction in which it was going. If you come across an injured turtle or a turtle in distress, call us or your local wildlife rehabilitator.

Please do not relocate turtles from their home territory. In New York State it is illegal to possess most of the native turtles without a ‘License to Possess’. It is not okay to take a Box Turtle out of the wild and keep it as a pet even if you let it roam in your backyard. If removed from its home base, eastern box turtles will spend their whole life trying to find their way back home, using their “homing instinct”. 

Did You Know?

 At Sweetbriar, unreleasable turtles live comfortably in their ‘secret turtle suite,’ (Turtle Town), located upstairs, in Sweetbriar’s Temperate Forest Room. Go on an adventure at Sweetbriar and explore the tunnel, located outside of the Rain Forest Room, their natural habitat below the forest floor. They enjoy a warm, humid environment in this specially designed environment, made just for them.

Register on our website and join us at Sweetbriar on our Turtle Walk on Sunday, June 2 at 8:30am. We routinely document the health of the tagged turtles on our property and proactively bring them indoors for a couple of days to ensure their safety while the fields are being maintained. You may even spot one or two on the turtle walk!

Anne Marie Tognella, Sweetbriar Volunteer

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS: MEET LONG ISLAND’S RESIDENT SQUIRRELS

Two species of  squirrels live on Long Island; the Eastern Gray Squirrel and the nocturnal Southern Flying Squirrel, which is rarely seen. Although they are mammals, they are technically rodents.

Do you find your neighbors annoying? They often can be, squirrels, that is. They like to take over your yard and help themselves to everything in sight. They are infamous for digging holes where they bury their food. These pesky neighbors think that your garden is their personal buffet! There is no such thing as a secure bird feeder. That goes for bird baths too. Birds don’t stand a chance!

 You think you are in control of your yard but when it comes to squirrels, they decide their territory...not you!

 SURPRISING FACTS:

The Gray Squirrel feeds every day, even in winter. It does not hibernate and is unable to conserve enough energy to survive for long periods without food.

A squirrel’s teeth never stop growing, and they are equipped to chew on absolutely everything...and they do!

Have you seen a squirrel jump? They can jump up to 4 to 5 feet vertically and 8 to 10 feet horizontally!

They can travel at 20 miles per hour...really! How do those short legs do it?

Squirrels use their long tails and sharp claws for balance while climbing, running and leaping.

Chupa Chups -Sweetbriar’s resident  squirrel

Did you know?

Sweetbriar has its very own resident Eastern Gray Squirrel, Chupa Chups. Chupa Chups came to us when he was a juvenile squirrel after the branch his nest was in was cut down. He fell and suffered a head injury, causing permanent neurological issues. You can find Chupa Chups in the Mammal Room where he plays with stuffed animals and keeps active all day long.

Anne Marie Tognella, Sweetbriar Volunteer

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS: MEET THE CORVID FAMILY

When is the last time your neighbor greeted you? Probably every day! The Corvid Family also lives in your yard and in your neighborhood. Have you met them? They are the common blue jays along with crows, ravens and magpies. You are likely to hear them often as they are quite vocal. Here on Long Island, there are blue jays, crows and ravens.

 Believe it or not, there are 135 species in this family and they are known to be super smart. Crows and ravens have special brains that allow them to reason and solve problems. Studies have shown that crows use tools and often make them! Ravens solve puzzles and have an uncanny memory for human faces...they never forget a face! Ravens even pre-plan tasks. Two un-releasable blue jays live at Sweetbriar and have bonded with staff, often communicating with them by whistling back and forth.

Ravens, like all other corvids, are monogamous, and the bond typically lasts for life. Ravens select their partners in the autumn, following impressive acrobatic displays. Following pairing, the duo preen each other, and usually support each other in aggressive interactions with other ravens.

You may be wondering who removed your garbage can covers and you’re convinced it’s the raccoons. Very often it’s ravens and crows!

SURPRISING FACTS:

Scavenging accounts for very little of a crow’s diet. The bulk of their daily meal is made up of human refuse, invertebrates and worms. The American crow is known to catch its own fish, for example, in some cases even using bread or other food as bait to lure fish closer.

They have some of the best spatial memory of any animal and they account for the largest songbird in the world!

DID YOU KNOW?

Sweetbriar made headlines again in January 2023 when 13 electrocuted crows were brought to us. They have since been rehabilitated and released in the fall of 2023. Take a look at the video of their release on our Facebook page.

Anne Marie Tognella, Sweetbriar Volunteer