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All About Ambassador Animals

On this page you can learn a little more about some of our ambassador animals: fun facts, their backstories, and even their nicknames. Keep in mind: we do not give out these nicknames to the public. More will be added soon, so keep checking back!

Q: Why don't we give names out to the public?

We do not want the public to think of these animal's as pets, they are wild animals who bite, scratch, and require very special diets and cage setups. Our kestrel is a good example of when things go badly, and people try to raise animals they shouldn't.

GPNC Birds

Oskaar

Eastern Screech Owl

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Oskaar came to us after her tree was accidentally chopped down while she was still in the nest. She was taken to a rehabilitator, then given to us when she was old enough. Though physically healthy, she is imprinted on people and therefore unreleaseable.

Odin

Eastern Screech Owl

an eastern screech-owl with one eye

Odin was accidentally hit by a car and had to have one of his eyes removed by a vet. Having one eye makes it hard to hunt and avoid being hunted, so Odin must live out his life in captivity.

Red

Eastern Screech Owl

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After flying into a barbed wire fence, Red had to have part of one of her wings amputated and can no longer fly so is unreleaseable. She has had seizures in the past, and so longer goes out on programs and is kept in the classroom where it's more peaceful.

Teeto

American Kestrel

Virtual Programs

Teeto was stolen from his nest when young, and then confiscated by the police and taken to a rehabber. Once he was old enough he was given to us and is unreleaseable due to being imprinted on humans.

Q: Why are two owls red, and one grey?

In the wild, about 1/3 of eastern screech owls are what we call a red morph. There's no real reason why some are red and some are grey, though in different parts of their range it can be more or less common for the red morph to be seen. 

GPNC Reptiles

Wu

Speckled Kingsnake

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These snakes are at the top of the snake food chain in Kansas. Most of their diet is other snakes, including venomous copperheads and rattlesnakes!

Hairy

Western Hognose

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These little snakes have a big attitude and are very dramatic. They will often flare our hidden "hoods" on the side of their head when threatened and then play dead.

Darth Maul

Three-toed Box Turtle

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One of only two species of box turtle in Kansas, the other being the Ornate Box Turtle, our state reptile.

Theon

Common Snapping Turtle

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If you see a snapping turtle in the park, it's a common snapper. Alligator snapping turtles are much more common down in the southern states, but historically could be found in Kansas.

Q: Why do we let the public only touch snakes?

While we do not let the public touch birds, turtles, or most other animals, we do allow them to touch (but not hold) snakes in order to try and dispel the fear that is often associated with snakes. Turtles bite and scratch, birds don't like being touched, but snakes are very easy to keep under control and when people interact with a snake that is calm, that can easily change their minds about these misunderstood creatures!

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