Fall 1999
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Story by Penny Schaefer, Ark Director
One weekend, Mr. Wallace and I went to an exotic animal auction in Wapa, Ohio. As I rarely go anywhere without one of my dogs, Watterson accompanied us. When we decided to attend this auction, we went looking for young deer. It was early Spring and if we were to find any, this would be the time of year. As fate would have it, when we arrived we were told there were two young fallow doe that had been "pulled" for the sale, which means being removed from their mother and put on bottles. (Here at Henry's Ark, we don't agree with this method, but it does happen elsewhere.) |
ARK OUTBACK available MARCH THRU OCTOBER
(or whatever the group can afford.) Contact Penny Schaefer, Ark Director
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When the time came to bid on these two young deer, I
already knew they were going home with us. As the bidding
started, Henry was fortunate that there were only myself and one other
bidder involved, since the excitement of bidding -- especially with
someone elses money -- can sometimes get out of hand.
Luckily we had the winning bid and for $180, both babies went to the
hotel with me that night. I soon found out that winning the bid was
the easy part. I had raised enough young animals to know that
my night had just begun. I got the bottles and formula ready
and every hour on the hour I offered them a bottle. I wasn't
the familiar warmth they were comfortable with, so as they
leaped over my bed, I grabbed them in midair and held them securely
to force milk down their throats. Now towards the wee
morning hours, this was no longer enjoyable and I was growing very tired.
I soon noticed a pattern. Each time the deer looked
for "mom", they were drawn to Watterson, who they would nudge
as if she were their mother. At first, she was simply wanting
to play with them, but I soon decided to use her to earn their
trust. So as I sat in the floor on one side of Watterson, I offered
the bottle to the deer from under her belly.
Beginning that first night, Watterson became their mom.
They refused to give her up. Everywhere she went, the
deer were sure to follow and they seemed to get great comfort
being on each side and suckling her hair. This method worked well
on the spotted one, but the brown would have nothing to do with it.
So I had to catch her and force her to take the bottle. Our
" game" went on twice a day for about three months, before
she finally weaned herself. |
PHOTO BY: PENNY SCHAEFER
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There is a theory that if you step off the Trolley in the Ark outback you may only survive for about ten seconds, depending on just how fast you can run or whether or not you can fly. Little did we know that Ark founder, Henry Wallace would be the first to test -- and fortunately disprove -- this theory. On a typical tour of the Ark a few weeks ago, the tractor-turned-trolley inched its way
along with passengers gleefully taking in the sites of
our very own "outback". As it sputtered up the
hillside, a new calf and her proud mother were
spotted near the fenceline.
The uneven ground and low branches prevented a good view of the two. So
Henry maneuvered the trolley as close as the trees
would allow, picked a parking spot and cut the engine.
Leaving the passengers behind -- along with some of his better judgment -- Henry
climbed off the trolley and headed up the hill on foot for
a closer inspection. It was then I began to count.
"One... Two... Three...".
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TEN SECONDS TO LAUNCH!by Teresa Boyatt, Ark Volunteer
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On Four, the weight of its load popped the trolley out of gear, lurching it forward. On the count of Five I jumped forward and by Six was able to stomp on the brake and hold it down with all my might. What happened next was all a blur. Amidst the shrill screams of trolley passengers, I turned to see the lightening fast mama cow charge, make contact and give launch to a flying man. My first thoughts were, "I didn't know Henry could fly!" (I don't think he knew either!) Seven... Eight... Nine... Ten... We watched as Henry's flight seemed endless and then kerplunk -- ending in an unusually large pile of very soft manure that eased his landing considerably. Mama Cow had made her point, as she and baby walked away showing Henry their backsides -- a welcome site needless to say. And at Eleven... Henry began his climb back aboard. As the trolley chugged back toward its station house it contained a wiser, albeit dirtier and sorer driver. |
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SCORE
Cows 1 Henry 0 |
PLAYING `POSSUM
 by BARBARA SPEARS, Assistant Ark Director Several weeks ago we received a telephone
call alerting us that a mother opposum had been hit and
killed on Rose Island Road near the Ark. Unfortunately
several of her young had been killed as well.
Penny Schaefer, our Ark Director, retrieved
the mother and brought her into the nursery. Immediately,
we pulled the still clinging surviving babies out of their
mother's pouch. We washed them and placed them in an
aquarium with a heating pad in order to keep them warm.
I set out to get them some milk. We use
Mother's Helper in a can for opposums, which can be found at
most pet stores. Too young to nurse from a bottle, I had
to syringe feed these little ones until they could lap their
milk from a saucer. Today, I'm happy to report that three
survived. They now
eat fruity baby food and climb around everywhere.
This has been my first experience raising
opposums so young. I has been exciting and very rewarding
watching them grow! My final reward will be to see
them released back into their rightful place in the wild.
Barbara & Baby Enjoy a Walk Along Arkway Parkway 
MEET BISCUICK by Henry Wallace If you have been to Henry's Ark during the past four or
five years, you probably know "Biscuick." Biscuick is a goat --
but not just any goat. Biscuick is special. Even his name is
special. He was named by Penny Schaefer, Ark Director,
who finds the names for most of our animals.
Biscuick was born an unlucky number. That was #3.
His mother had only two operating nipples and
Biscuick's siblings got to them first, leaving him out of a source of milk.
That's when Penny took over and put him "on the bottle."
Because he had to be fed during the night as well
as during the day, Penny took him home with her in the
evenings and returned to the Ark with him in the mornings. They
became constant companions.
That arrangement worked well enough until
Biscuick outgrew round-the-clock bottle feeding and learned to
climb onto furniture. When he ate a lamp shade, he was
finally banished from Penny's household and relegated to the
Ark, where he had free run of both the Plaza and Arkway
North and South.
Having been raised under special
circumstances, Biscuick continued in his special ways. He found that
taking the "high ground" was to his benefit as well as to his liking.
From the roof of an auto, to the top of a haystack or hood
of the jeep, Biscuick could keep away from those animals
he didn't choose to associate with. He was also able to keep
an eye on possible food sources, such as open feed bins or
an inadvertently dropped carrot. Perhaps also,
philosophically and physically speaking, it put him above his
contemporaries. So if you miss Biscuick on the ground during your visit
to the Ark, you may want to check out some of our loftier places.
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Our WISH LIST includes Dog & Cat Food & Treats, Blankets, Alcohol & Disinfectants, Garbage Bags, Paper Towels & Towels You can mail your tax deductible contribution to:Henry Ark Please include your Name, Address, City, State, and Zip Code. |
Henry's Ark is struggling in stormy financial waters. A NOT FOR PROFIT
501(c)3 free to the public corporation, it has no outside funding and depends on
donations from our visitors and readers. All
contributions are exempt -- receipt available upon request. Thank-you for your support!
The Staff and Animals at Henry's Ark. CONTRIBUTIONS OF MONEY OR SUPPLIES ARE WELCOME! |
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A Place Where People and Animals Meet
Henry F. Wallace -- Founder Penny Schaefer -- Ark Director Barbara Spears -- Asst. Ark Director Terry Chambers -- Newsletter Editor |
Board of Directors Henry F. Wallace, Chairman Carla Wallace |
Is Located At
7801 Rose Island Road
Prospect, KY 40059
Open to the Public Year Round
From 9:00 a.m. to Sunset
TUESDAY thru SUNDAY
C L O S E D
M O N D A Y S
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Have you met Buddy and Monde? Do you know what they are? Be sure to read our next newsletter and learn all about them!
GET YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON OUR MAILING
LIST BY CALLING 502/228-0746 OR E-MAIL US AT
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VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http://www.horsesales.com/ark.htm
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