domestic goat

capra hircus
meet the park goats:
The Park is home to 7 goats - Matilda, Pippin, Merry, Winston, Peanut, Saffron, and Ginger.
Habitat

Domestic goats are raised worldwide in almost every type of habitat and require grass to eat and a clean, ventilated shelter. 

Diet

Having a four compartment stomach, goats are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach before digesting it. Goats are good browsers, feeding on a variety of shrubs, woody plants, and weeds and can also survive on bushes, trees, desert scrub, and aromatic herbs.
Reproduction

Goats typically reach sexual maturity at 6 months and in temperate zones, females begin to cycle in the late summer and show signs of eat for 1-2 days about every 21 days, through January. The strongest heat cycles occur from November to January. Baby goats are called kids.

Distribution

Typically residing in elevations of 3.281 to 16,404 feet above sea level. Goats and sheep were among the earliest domesticated animals - goat remains have been found at sites in western Asia dating around 7,000 B.C.
 

 

 

llama

lama glama 
Meet cleo:
Cleo was born in 2008 at a farm in Pritchard and came to the Park in 2010. She was a member of a large herd of Llamas and was given to the Park as they were trying to downsize.
Habitat

Plateaus with low lying shrubs, grasses, and small trees. 

Diet

Natural diet consists primarily of grasses, shrubs, tree foliage, lichens, and young shoots. In human care, their diet consists of hay, grains, and herbivore pellets. Similar to cows, llamas will regurgitate their food and chew it as cud.
Reproduction

Females have  a gestation period of 11.5 months, typically producing a single offspring, called a cria.

Distribution

Native to the regions surrounding the Andes mountains, llamas are a domesticated relative of the camel and are not found in the wild. Llamas are heavily used by the people of the Andes mountains but can also be found in Europe, North America, and Australia.

 

miniature donkey

equus africanus asinus 
meet kathy and dusty:
Kathy and Dusty were rescued from an auction by an individual in Quesnel. She bought them and then rehomed them with the Park.
Habitat

Dry, desert like climates with spare vegetation.

Diet

Their natural diet consists primarily of grasses but can also include shrubs and desert plants. In human care, their diet primarily consists of hay.
Reproduction

Females have a gestation period of 12 months, typically producing a single offspring which is called a foal.

Distribution

Native to the islands of Sardinia and Sicily in the Mediterranean, miniature donkeys can now be found in human care throughout the world. The population of miniature donkeys in their native regions are reported to be near extinction.

 

 

 

Turkey

meleagris gallopavo 
meet balu:
Balu was born on March 29, 2017 and was donated to the Park in April 2017.                         
Habitat

Wild turkeys live in mature forests of mixed hardwood and softwood trees. They may also be seen along roads and in woodsy backyards.

Diet
In the wild, turkeys will consume various plant matter and a variety of fruits and nuts such as wild black cherries and acorns. They will occasionally supplement their diets with snails, ground beetles, and other insects. In human care, turkeys are fed a balanced diet of mixed grains and oilseeds. 
Reproduction

Hens (female turkeys) will lay 4 - 17 eggs during a two week period. The eggs are incubated for 25-31 days before they hatch. A baby turkey is called a poult.

Distribution
These birds are one of only two domesticated birds native to the New World. The domestic turkey originated from the wild turkeys of North America. In the wild these animals can be found in Canada, the United States, and Mexico; however, due to their domestication can now be found worldwide.                         

 

 

pot belly pigs

sus scrofa 
meet enid and orson:

Orson, the male was born in July 2011 and likes eating and playing with toys. Enid, the female was also born July 2011 and enjoys lounging and belly rubs.
Habitat

Reside in open woodlands near wallows.

Diet
Their natural diet consists of grass, plants, roots, vegetables, insects, and grubs. Unfortunately, many pot-bellied pigs are overweight due to poor diet, overfeeding, and lack of exercise.                          
Reproduction

Females have a gestation period of 114 days, and can have 4 to 10 piglets. 

Distribution

These pigs are a domestic breed of pig that came from Vietnam in 1985 and can be found on farms around the world. 

 

 

 

domestic sheep

ovis aries
meet the park sheep:
The Park is home to 4 sheep - Molly,  Baabara, Morley, and Dave.                  
Habitat
In the wild, sheep reside in primarily mountainous areas. Sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated and are raised worldwide.                          
Diet
Herbivorous, consuming primarily seeds, grass, and plants. Their stomachs have multiple chambers to aid in digestion - to completely digest their food, sheep will regurgitate their food, re-chew, and swallow.                        
Reproduction
Mating season, or the 'rut' occurs in the fall. After mating, female sheep have a gestation period of approximately five months. Commonly give birth to 1-2 offspring (lambs) at a time in the spring.                      
Distribution
Domesticated sheep can be found worldwide. Wild sheep also live throughout the world in the Middle East, Asia, Central Europe, and North America.