Patches

We must sadly inform our readers that the World Bird Sanctuary’s loveable little “velveteen” rabbit, Patches, passed away on April 14, 2014.

Even though she was technically a Mini Rex rabbit, anyone who has ever stroked her soft fur will know why this breed is popularly know as the “Velveteen Rabbit”. 

Patches was whelped at the Ralston Purina farm in Grey Summit, Missouri in 2005.  She was part of their rabbit nutrition study program which monitored the health and growth rate of the animals when fed different foods.  As she matured she became one of their breeders as a continuing part of the program.  When Purina was purchased by another corporation, their rabbit nutrition program was phased out.  We were fortunate to acquire Patches and another rabbit for our Education Department.  Patches had already had several litters by the time she came to live at WBS.

Patches settled right in to her new job as official greeter for the youngsters who visited our Nature Center.  She also was an important part of the WBS education programs that traveled to elementary schools to teach youngsters the differences between birds, mammals and reptiles.  She was one of our “touchable” animals and was always patient and docile when little hands were feeling her soft fur.

Patches will be missed by staff and visitors alike--and especially by the children who make a beeline for her enclosure when entering the Nature Center.

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer

365 Photo Project - Rabbit vs. Owl

April was a good month for taking photos.  Spring is always a good time for wildlife photos, and I had a hard time choosing this month’s feature photos.

 Definitely a rabbit/owl standoff

My first favorite photo from this month is of the young Barn Owl our education department is raising—Minerva.  Until they are a certain age, our hand raised Barn Owls are given the freedom to roam our wildlife kitchen.  This accustoms them to humans and their activities. One day she wandered into the Nature Center and discovered our rabbit, Hazel.  She put her wings out in a threatening manner.  This was very amusing to watch especially since, in the kitchen, Minerva always liked the rabbit and would sit in front of her cage for hours just watching.  However, it seems that in the classroom it was another story altogether.

My second favorite photo is not the greatest quality, but it means a lot to me.  On April 21, 2012 a group of us traveled to Onondaga Cave State Park for Missouri’s first bat festival, which was presented by the Organization for Bat Conservation out of Michigan.   We had a good time and saw a program about bats, which featured a few live bats of different species. 

 Peggy, a Malaysian Flying Fox

The program had two live bats; one was a Common Vampire Bat and the other is the one pictured in the photo—Peggy, a Malaysian Flying Fox.  Very cool bat!  This is the world’s largest bat weighing in at about 2lbs.  She is an injured bat and cannot fly, but still an amazing animal.

If you would like to meet Minerva, our young Barn Owl, or see a real live bat up close, come visit our Nature Center, which is open 363 days of the year from 8 am to 5 pm. 

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

Adopt A Bunny - Hazel

HAZEL'S STORY

Species:  Mini Rex Rabbit

Whelped:  2007

Hazel was whelped at the Ralston Purina farm in Grey Summit, Missouri.  She was part of their rabbit nutrition study program, which monitored the health and growth rate of rabbits when fed different foods.  As she matured she became one of their breeders as a continuing part of the program.  Hazel has had four litters.  When Purina was purchased by another corporation the rabbit nutrition program was phased out, and we were fortunate to acquire Hazel and another rabbit for our education department programs.

Hazel is a classic example of a coloration pattern known as a Castor.  Mini Rex rabbits come in a multitude of colors (approximately 18), and are a very popular breed because of their plush coat, which feels like velvet when stroked.  They are often referred to as The Velveteen Rabbit, after the children's book of the same name.  This breed is very prolific and they are very good mothers.  They also excel in the sport of Rabbit Hopping.

When Hazel arrived at our facility she was a bit nervous about being handled, but after just a few days of being handled and stroked by our staff she has become very calm and seems to enjoy the contact.  

As a part of our Education Department, Hazel will greet visitors at our Nature Center, and will also travel with our staff as part of our Critters for Kids and Fur, Feathers and Scales programs to hundreds of schools and preschools.  She will help to demonstrate the differences between mammals, birds, and reptiles.  Since our birds are not touchable, Hazel will be a very popular part of those programs, since the children will get to actually touch and pet her.

To adopt Hazel, simply click our DONATION button, make a donation of $50, and specify in your payment notes:  Adopt-A-Bunny: Hazel.  Also, be sure you include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the animal of your choice!  Adopt A Bunny parents receive:

* A personal visit with the animal you adopt!!  Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for your personal visit.

* Certificate of Adoption

* Color photo of the animal you have adopted

* Sponsorship card

* One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)

* Life History and Natural History of the animal

* 10% discount off WBS merchandise

* Invitations to special Sponsors Only events like Camera Day

* Discounts on WBS special events

* WBS decal

Adopt A Bunny - Patches

PATCHES' STORY

Species: Mini Rex Rabbit

Whelped:  2005

Patches was whelped at the Ralston Purina farm in Grey Summit, Missouri.  She was part of their rabbit nutrition study program which monitored the health and growth rate of the animals when fed different foods.  As she matured she became one of their breeders as a continuing part of the program.  Patches has had several litters.  When Purina was purchased by another corporation their rabbit nutrition program was phased out, and we were fortunate to acquire Patches and another rabbit for our education department programs.

Patches is a Mini Rex, also known as Velveteen Rabbit.  Her coloration pattern is known as Broken Castor (Castor is the name for the dark patches).  Mini Rex rabbits typically weigh between 3 to 4 1/2 lbs. (Patches weighs slightly more than that right now.)  The Mini Rex was derived from the Standard Rex breed, which is larger (typically weighing between 7 1/2 to 10 1/2 lbs.)  

Now that Patches is a part of our education team she will spend her days meeting young visitors at our Nature Center in Valley Park, and traveling to schools and preschools as part of our Critters for Kids, and Fur, Feathers and Scales programs.  

To adopt Patches, simply click our DONATION button, make a donation of $50, and specify in your payment notes:  Adopt-A-Bunny: Patches.  Also, be sure you include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the animal of your choice!  Adopt A Bunny parents receive:

* A personal visit with the animal you adopt!!  Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for your personal visit.

* Certificate of Adoption

* Color photo of the animal you have adopted

* Sponsorship card

* One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)

* Life History and Natural History of the animal

* 10% discount off WBS merchandise

* Invitations to special Sponsors Only events like Camera Day

* Discounts on WBS special events

* WBS decal

Bunnies At A Bird Sanctuary???

Why do we have bunnies, you may ask....

Meet Patches and Hazel, our two newest residents.  They came to us from Purina's Research Farm when the Rabbit Nutrition Study program was phased out.  

Patches is a Broken Castor color Mini Rex rabbit.  She is 4 years old and has already had several litters.  When Patches arrived she was already very calm and didn't seem to mind being handled and petted.

Hazel is 2 years old and has had several litters also.  She too is a Mini Rex rabbit and a good example of the Castor color.

When she first arrived at WBS Hazel was docile, but a bit jumpy about being stroked.  However, since our animals are handled on a daily basis, she is already finding that being stroked by humans isn't such a bad thing, and now seems to be enjoying the contact with our staff and our small visitors. 

This brings us to why there are bunnies at a Bird Sanctuary!  A great many of our outreach programs are presented at preschools and elementary schools, for audiences ranging from two to fourteen year olds.  The first impulse for this age child is to want to touch the animals.  Unfortunately, our birds are not touchable.  However, the bunnies and guinea pigs are very touchable and satisfy this urge.  Plus, they help us to explain the differences between birds, mammals and reptiles to the children.  So....the bunnies are very important members of our education team.

When you come to visit, be sure to stop by to see and pet Patches and Hazel.  When you pet them you'll realize why this breed is also referred to as "The Velveteen Rabbit".