Second Saturday - Wellness in the Wild, Celebrating the Hattiesburg Zoo’s 75th Anniversary Takes Place Saturday, September 13th with a slate of activities highlighting animal and environmental wellness.
Schedule of Activities
All Day - Milkweed Seeds and Planting Instruction Station, Mobile Cart at Flamingo Pavilion
Native to North America, different milkweed varieties aren’t only beautiful, but they help support a wide variety of pollinators required for a healthy food chain that humans depend upon.
Milkweed also serves as a lifeline for monarch butterflies, an iconic North American insect that is endangered due to toxic pesticide use, climate change and devastating habitat loss.
Although some people view Milkweed as a weed, the truth is, it provides more ecological services to humans compared to many common alien plant species that originated in other countries. With that in mind, growing Milkweed in your yard and promoting its growth in playgrounds, parks, school properties and along roadside areas is very important.
Make a stop at the Milkweed Seed station to pick up your seeds and receive instructions on how to grow them at home.
All Day - Bio-Fact Station, Mobile Cart at Flamingo Pavilion
The Hattiesburg Zoo is home to several animals considered to be critically endangered, near threatened or vulnerable.
Stop by the Bio-Fact Station to learn about endangered species and what you can do to help save these animals from extinction.
10:30 a.m. - Animal Enrichment – Happy Birthday
Colobus Makeda
Colobus Habitat (Africa)
11:00 a.m. - Story Time, Just Itzy by Lana Krumwiede
Itzy the spider is tired of being called “Itzy Bitzy.” On his first day of spindergarten, Itzy decides to prove to everyone that he’s a big spider by catching his own lunch. But spinning a web is hard work, and every time Itzy gets close to catching a fly, something gets in the way. Will Itzy ever get a chance to prove himself and shake his pesky nickname?
Education Room
Participants will sample chocolate chip cookies made from cricket flour
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. - What do Zoo Residents Eat?, Asbury Discovery Center
Take a look at the varied types of foods that make up the daily diets of the Hattiesburg Zoo residents. From hay, to browse, to dry biscuits and kibble – guests will have the opportunity to better understand the science behind what makes up a sustainable diet plan that provides for healthy and long-lasting quality of life for our animals.
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. - “Doc” MacStuffins, Asbury Discovery Center
Do you or your pet have a favorite stuffed animal falling apart at the seams and in need of some TLC? Instead of buying a new furry friend, let Dr. Julia “Doc” MacGregor (AKA, Doc MacStuffins), Hattiesburg Zoo veterinarian and her trusty assistants get them back in tip top shape. “Doc” MacStuffins will perform a wellness check on all “patients”. Once she has made her diagnosis, she and her medical team will fix rips, mend tears and small holes and give them a good fluff. “It’s always better to fix a beloved stuffed animal than to buy a new one,” said Doc. “We are looking forward to patching up many of our visitors’ well-loved stuffed friends and making them “feel better” during our Second Saturday Birthday Celebration.”
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Make Homemade Bubble Bath, Flamingo Pavilion
12:00 Noon - Animal Enrichment – Happy Birthday!
Alpaca Teddy
South America Yard
1:00 p.m. - Story Time, Just Itzy by Lana Krumwiede
Education Room
Participants will sample chocolate chip cookies made from cricket flour
2:00 p.m. - Animal Enrichment – Happy Birthday!
Hyena Kuuma
Africa
2:00 p.m. - Animal Enrichment – Happy Birthday!
Zebu Miranda Bocephus
African Veldt
3:00 p.m. - Story Time , Just Itzy by Lana Krumwiede
Education Room
Participants will sample chocolate chip cookies made from cricket flour
Throughout the Day - Appearances by Ti (Zoo Mascot)
