The snow arrives in Cornwall!

Like most of the country this week we have had snow, it makes the journey to work a challenge but we obviously have to get in to feed and care for the animals.
It looks beautiful but not all the animals are fond of it, the British Otters love the snow and ice and enjoy rolling around in it and swimming in the freezing water. The Asian Short Clawed otters are not as keen and seem to get back inside as soon as they have finished their food. The hand reared cubs enjoyed the snowballs we made for them but again Biggy and Smalley not as keen with Biggy wanting to be picked up off the snow for a warm cuddle!

We have had a few more surprises this week we were amazed to see a young Joey in its mothers pouch looking out onto the freezing world around him. It’s definitely in the best place in these conditions.

On Thursday the snow had disappeared so we prepared to catch up on some of the jobs that the weather had disrupted. On the routine morning inspection I came across a large carp in the waterway at the edge of the waterfowl lake. On closer inspection it had been recently killed and I think I disturbed the diner, certainly must have been quite a large animal to catch it and drag it out of the water!
We gave it to the Asian Short Clawed family and it kept them quiet and busy for the rest of the day.

Dasher the Muntjac deer is continuing to do well at home, he is weaning now and growing too.

Hilda, William and their cub, who we have decided to call Pluto, continue to do well, we have seen them all sharing a box and John spotted William and Hilda coming out of one box in the afternoon and the cub came out of the other so they seem very relaxed with each other. The same cannot be said for Hilda’s attitude to her keepers! We went in on Thursday to cement the side of their pond as it has been leaking, we timed it so that they would be resting after their breakfast. The otters usually have a look to see what you are up to and then leave us to it but we always go in pairs in case they object to our presence. We have been keeping out of William and Hilda’s pen as much as possible so that we do not disturb them or cause unnecessary stress.
William was the first one out and he just swam and walked around us not really worried by our presence. Then Hilda who had been watching from her tunnel decided we were probably getting too near to the box where the cub was tucked up. She was out swimming around, charging at us, hissing and spitting the whole time. John was cementing and Sonia and I were on watch armed with brooms to keep the otters out of the way if they do get too curious. Hilda made a charge for my broom and bit it and pulled it straight out of my hands, she is so feisty. I think she got a shock too as she retreated whilst I retrieved my broom. We quickly finished the job as we did not want to upset her any more.
Pluto is getting much bolder and will come out and wait for his food with William and Hilda; yesterday tea time it was at the gate growling at me just as his Mum does!

We hope the snow will not be around for much longer as we have so many jobs left to and less than eight weeks to complete them in.