The Elephants Will be Doing the Pumpkin Mash at Oregon Zoo

By Bill LaMarche

Portland, OR - The Oregon Zoo's annual Squishing of the Squash, in which some of the world's largest land animals demolish some of the area's largest pumpkins, will be held Friday, Oct. 30, at 10:30 a.m.

"At the Squishing of the Squash, our elephant herd will receive several big pumpkins to pulverize," said zoo event coordinator Krista Swan. "This is a great photo opportunity, so bring your camera."

The Squishing of the Squash is a precursor to the zoo's Howloween celebration, presented by Sterling Savings Bank on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1. Events include a fun scavenger hunt that directs trick-or-treaters to easily accessible activity stations throughout the zoo. Goodie bags filled with candy and prizes await scavenger-hunters at the zoo's exit.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can watch the zoo's enrichment team provide animals with pumpkins and other holiday-themed treats. "After all," Swan noted, "the elephants can't have all the fun." The enrichment schedule will be as follows:

Saturday, Oct. 31:
11:30 a.m. - Chimpanzees
12:30 p.m. - African wild dogs
1:30 p.m. - Asian elephants
2:30 p.m. - Black bear
3:30 p.m. - Polar bears

Sunday, Nov. 1:
11:30 a.m. - Sea otters
12:30 p.m. - African wild dogs
1:30 p.m. - Orangutans
2:30 p.m. - Black bear
3:30 p.m. - Asian elephants

Pumpkins for the Squishing of the Squash and other enrichment events will be provided by the Wilson Family Farm (the huge pumpkin) as well as Al's Garden Center. The zoo's Asian elephants receive the massive squash at 10:30 a.m. To see a video of a previous Squishing of the Squash, please visit: www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/Elephant_squishingSquash.htm

"Enrichment items like pumpkins help keep the zoo's animals mentally and physically stimulated," said Mike Keele, acting zoo director. "Our enrichment is often done behind the scenes, but holidays like Halloween provide visitors with some unique opportunities to watch our animals interact with their fun treats."

To see a video of a previous Squishing of the Squash, visit www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/Elephant_squishingSquash.htm .

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington's pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Oregon spotted frogs and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors who travel to the zoo via MAX receive $1.50 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $10.50 (ages 12-64), $9 for seniors (65 and up), $7.50 for children (ages 3-11) and free for those 2 and younger; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $2 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org  or by calling 503-226-1561.

Caption: The Oregon Zoo's annual Squishing of the Squash, in which some of the world's largest land animals demolish some of the area's largest pumpkins, will be held Friday, Oct. 30, at 10:30 a.m. Photo by Michael Durham, courtesy of the Oregon Zoo.

Oregon Zoo 4001 SW Canyon Rd. Portland, Oregon 97221 503-226-1561 www.oregonzoo.org 

To view Oregon Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-382-Oregon_Zoo