Here is an introduction to just a few of the wonderful creatures that make up our beautiful family here at Animal Ed.ventures.

We chose just a few so there will still be many wonderful surprises in store when you book a day of exhibition with us.

New Arrivals

A comprehensive list is at the bottom of the page

Tamandua - AKA Lesser Anteater
(tamandua tetradactyla)

Meet Phoebe Animal Ed.ventures’ all star Tamandua! She came to us all the way from Guyana.Anteaters are very, very rare in the United States and their care is highly specialized.
 
In the wild anteaters eat…… ants (!) using their long sticky tongues to reach into small openings and slurp out the wondrous little bugs. But, they also eat termites, grubs, and other bugs. As they slurp their way along they also take in rotten wood particles, mold, droppings from the nests they invade, small soft roots and dirt. Because of the delicate balance of all of these components, creating a captive diet that was suitable has taken many, many years of research.Anteaters are very smart and they are experts at ant and termite conservation. When they find a nest of delicious ants or termites, instead of just obliterating it and eating everything they can find, they steal a small meal and leave the rest of the nest or mound to continue to grow for future meals.
 (Pssssst…Phoebe has some friends that are famous!!! If you watch the new Dr. Doolittle movie, her friends Pua and Stewie play the part of the anteater. Pua and Stewie live in the state of Oregon.)

Greater Hedgehog Tenrecs
(Setifer Setosis)

Honey and Bart are our Greater Hedgehog Tenrecs.
Although they are called Hedgehog Tenrecs, They are not actually related to hedgehogs at all! They come from a family of animals that is related to Shrews.
They are very special and unique in that they come all the way from the Island of Madagascar. As with many of the animals on Madagascar, that is the only place they have ever been found. Tenrecs are nocturnal insectivores and love to crunch on all sorts of crawly bugs and grubs. They are semi-arboreal and, far different from their look-alike friends the hedgehogs, are incredibly agile climbers. They are still relatively rare in the United States and these are the only known Tenrecs in the state of Montana.

Kinkajou
(Potos Flavus)

Sterling is our wonderfully happy little kinkajou. Kinkajous come from South America and have a broad range of habitat reaching from southern Mexico to as far south as the southern tip of Brazil.
 
Kinkajous are almost totally arboreal (tree dwelling) spending 99% of their lives in the treetops. Because of this and because they are nocturnal, scientists originally had a hard time studying them in their natural habitats.
Kinkajous were originally classified as primates. When scientists were finally able to get up close and personal for further study, what they found was not a member of the primate family but a cousin to our very own North American Raccoon!
 
Although Sterling looks cute and cuddly, kinkajous rarely make good pets for most people. They are incredibly active from dusk until dawn and intact adults have been known to attack their owners using all of their muscles and tail to hang on tight.
 
African Bush Baby
(Galagos garnetti)

Say hello to “Piper” - Animal Ed.venture’s African Bush Baby.Given a special name by the native people for its call that sounds like a baby crying across the nightscape of the African bush, it was when British explorers arrived on the African continent that the name was translated into the English interpretation “Bush Baby”. They are found from East Africa all the way to sub-Saharan Africa.Bush babies are members of the primate family, but belong to a very special sub-order of animals known as Prosimians that includes Lemurs and the very rare and unique Loris.
In the wild, the Bush Baby’s diet is based on seasonal availability of foods and is very broad-based including moths, beetles, caterpillars, baby birds and eggs, fruits, and tree gums.Piper is sure to bring a smile to your face when you see her peek out for her treats – live crickets!

Sugar Gliders
(Petaurus breviceps)

These are some of our sugar gliders
Gliders look a lot like a cross between a chipmunk and a tiny flying squirrel and, as a result, people often make the assumption that they are small rodents. They are however a part of a magical family of animals known as “Marsupials” – They carry their very tiny babies in a pouch until they are ready to emerge and meet the big, big world head on. Gliders are insectivores and in the wild they eat all kinds of crickets, beetles, moths and even sometimes baby mice and birds.
Gliders can make great interactive pets for the right person. They are friendly and love to glide and play, bond strongly with their keepers, and they are relatively inexpensive to feed. Sadly however, many gliders wind up being re-homed because people don’t realize the commitment involved.

Burmese Python
(Molurus bivittatus)
 
Lois is a rescue that came to us by way of the city park in Cody, Wyoming over the 4th of July weekend over a decade ago. We found her “owner” wandering, staggering really, through the park in the early dawn hours with Lois tucked into a small gym bag. She was ice cold & barely able to move. As we questioned the young man about her it became more & more apparent that he had no idea about her proper care or anything. He tried to make up a story about how he came to have her & why he would have her out in the cold & keep her that way, but it was obvious that something was amiss & that he couldn’t keep his story straight. Concerned that she would not live much longer in such a state of chill, we offered to purchase her right then & there. The young man told us at that point that she wasn’t really his but belonged to a friend of his that was overseas in the army. He offered to call his friend & get back to us. We were afraid we might never see him again & were, of course, afraid for Lois, but had no choice but to let him take her & go. Strangely enough, about twenty minutes later he returned to the park & said his friend “overseas in the Army” had agreed to sell her. We have always thought it quite interesting how easy it must have been to call “the Army” up & speak with his friend…

It took a few antibiotic injections & a lot of TLC but as you can see she is one healthy girl now.

Pythons are a tropical species of snake that can grow to tremendous lengths, some as long as 25 feet or more. Lois is almost eleven feet long & weighs about 50 lbs. Her captive diet consists of XXXL rodents. Pythons are primarily a nocturnal species so keeping them as pets does not require the same specialty lighting as other, ”diurnal”, species of snakes.

Recently, Montana has changed its state laws. It is now illegal to buy, sell, or keep in private possession; Burmese Pythons, Reticulated Pythons, Indian Pythons, Amethystine Pythons, & Anacondas within the state & none may be imported without special licensing. This group is known as “The Big Five” due to their ability to grow to incredible lengths & massive weights.

If you currently own a Burmese or Reticulated python (or any of the above) that has been in your possession since prior to July of 2007 you are eligible to have your pet “grand-fathered” in for private ownership. The process is simple & free, & acquiring the license will protect both you & your large snake.

Sun conure
(Aratinga Sostitialis)

This is Nugget one of our resident sun conures.
Conures are known for having a voice that is as loud as their color is bright!
As babies, these bright yellow birds are barely recognizable because they start out life almost all green & change color as their adult feathers begin to emerge.
Nugget is a very friendly little parrot that loves to travel with us and visit.
 
All of the conures in our family are re-homes as a result of their raucous voices. This is why it is critical to always do your research BEFORE choosing a pet. Conures are relatively common in the national pet trade so there is literally a wealth of information available on their care, health, temperament etc. & we challenge anyone to find a website that touts the conures as being quiet birds! So do that research and remember – they are in fact beautiful, but not an appropriate choice for many, many households. 

**New Arrivals**

Our Other Animal Ambassadors include:

    Onsite tours offer EVEN MORE!!!
Straw Colored Fruit Bats
Peafowl
Black Australian Swans
Ostriches
Emus
Ornamental Pheasants

*our rescued population is growing every year and is supported by the generous donations of many people throughout the community. If you would like to contribute to the sanctuary we provide for unwanted or neglected exotic pets please see our Donations page

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