# Unique and Unusual animal Encounters

Category: Animal House

## Post 1 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Sunday, 02-Mar-2014 21:07:23

I was just wondering what unusual animals people have gotten to see and pet, such as ones that one often doesn't get the opportunity to interact with. For example, have any of you ever gone to a deer park and interacted with deer, or do any of you have unusual pets. My sister has three hedge hogs and a basilisk. I have also been to a deer park and one time I got to touch an elephant. I've even gotten to hold terantulas and snakes. It was fascinating to see a creature I had not encountered before. So, what are some experiences or encounters with animals that some of you have had? Or what are some animals you would really like to have the chance to interact with?

## Post 2 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Monday, 03-Mar-2014 10:41:01

Unique and unusual animal? A teenager whose phone battery has died miles from a charger. Do not pet its head, however, as it will bite you. This is what I have heard anyway.

## Post 3 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Monday, 03-Mar-2014 10:41:19

If you can ever pet a Galapagos tortoise, you would find it most unusual. It feels like a giant moving rock. I have kept reptiles before and still I was surprised. The shell is uneven and rough, just like a rock that has been subjected to sun and erosion.

## Post 4 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Monday, 03-Mar-2014 20:34:06

Yes, teens without means of talking on their phones are indeed very dangerous animals, lol.
As for the tortoise, that would be very interesting. Where did you get the chance to pet one of those?

## Post 5 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Monday, 03-Mar-2014 21:37:06

lol Leo haha!! Don't pet it's head haha...
Very cool and interesting topic!
I got to touch a sheep once. I've also touched a yorkie puppy that was a day old. Talk about very soft downy like fur and very small. Could fit in my hand.

## Post 6 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 04-Mar-2014 10:19:21

Galapagos tortoise I saw at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in FL, one good thing in FL.

## Post 7 by Runner229 (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 04-Mar-2014 12:17:18

Well, we did get to pet a deer all though we weren't supposed to at the place where we wee. We were at this campsite near the beach and had we gotten caught we would have been fined something like $500 or more. The deer came right up to us and let us pet him. He was probably hoping we would give him food though we knew better than to do that, because then he would harass us for food and probably bring some of his buddies around.
I also held a snake before. I forget what kind of snake it was but it was 4 to 5 feet long. It rested on my shoulders. The handler didn't go far because he said he needed to be there in case the snake tried wrapping itself around my neck.

## Post 8 by HauntedReverie (doing the bad mango) on Tuesday, 04-Mar-2014 12:40:03

We have a couple wolf sanctuaries here in Colorado. Unfortunately, I haven’t been to one yet, but this is a third hand encounter I heard about.
My boyfriend and his friend went up to a sanctuary. They have ambassador wolves which are socialized to humans. They greet and hang out with visitors. Wolves like you to show them your teeth upon meeting so they can smell you and take your measure. I guess this was an extention of that. My boyfriend’s friend wound up with his head in a wolf’s mouth. The wolf was just sort of nomming on him, not like, trying to eat his head off.
I think I might be just a little concerned about my head.

## Post 9 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 04-Mar-2014 14:04:08

Ah and does the original poster do these things? Is he such an ambassador wolf?

## Post 10 by Runner229 (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 04-Mar-2014 14:43:14

Oh no no no. I am not afraid of doing many things, but I would never allow my head to end up in a wolf or an alligator's mouth. That is crazy.

## Post 11 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Wednesday, 05-Mar-2014 18:42:46

Corn snake.

## Post 12 by Runner229 (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 05-Mar-2014 21:52:20

Yep, I'm 99 percent sure that was it actually.

## Post 13 by Dana (Veteran Zoner) on Friday, 07-Mar-2014 0:17:25

animals I have owned and handled daily; dogs, puppies, guinea pigs, rats, snake (Columbian redtail boa 10 feet long), horses, goats, sheep, geese, chickens, cockatiel.
animals I have looked at through touch; wolf (timber wolf), various lizards, elephant, tortoise, armadillo, chinchilla, owl, falcon, llama, deer.
I have touched many other animals that were stuffed such as bears, elk, coyote, moose, fish.
it's cool to know what things look like.

## Post 14 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Sunday, 09-Mar-2014 16:21:37

I can't say I bite people's heads off, but you can think of me as an ambasidor wolf if you like. :) I would so love to have the chance to see a living wolf. I did see a fox cub once and that was just wonderful. I have seen several snakes, one was some kind of constrictor, about the size of a person's thigh.

## Post 15 by Dana (Veteran Zoner) on Sunday, 09-Mar-2014 17:05:32

the male was aprox 185 pounds. they were in a cage but, I was allowed to put my intire arm in there and check him out really good. they have really thick coats, similar to a husky feel. they are large boned with broad head.
there are all sorts of rules that one has to follow in order to keep wolves. such as a 12 foot high fence, for example.
the wolves that I felt were at a exhibit and were extremely mellow. probably used to just hanging out having folks stare at them all day. but, it was still cool to check them out.

## Post 16 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Tuesday, 11-Mar-2014 14:40:33

I love wolves, and would love to see one, but I do not think I would want one for my own. I know it is possible to keep them, but they are wild animals. I know some wolves are born in captivity are used to that life and that is the kind of wolf I would very much like to meet.

## Post 17 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 11-Mar-2014 23:50:17

wow Dana, amazing and so cool of your animal/animal encounters!!
I just recently touched a skin of an auter. Very soft like a thick fur short haired cat. Very pretty!

## Post 18 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Friday, 21-Mar-2014 22:06:47

I saw a stuffed otter once. They are beautiful animals! So sleek and flexible and their fur is just beautiful.

## Post 19 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Tuesday, 25-Mar-2014 22:40:06

Hmmm, let's see.I've touched a baby aligator, a coyote cub, a timberwolf cub, deer, a cheetah and an elephant. I actually got to ride the elephant which was pretty cool. The cheetah just purred.

## Post 20 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Tuesday, 25-Mar-2014 23:01:07

That's so cool. Wish they had a zoo or somewhere to be able to do that in Tx.

## Post 21 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Thursday, 27-Mar-2014 21:25:21

I've also ridden cammels on several occasions and that was pretty cool.But I think the cheetah was my favorite.

## Post 22 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Thursday, 27-Mar-2014 22:37:54

Oooo, baby canids! And a cheeta, that must have been something. I probably would have liked the coyote and wolf best myself. Wolves and their relatives are very special to me.

## Post 23 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Friday, 28-Mar-2014 20:35:03

OOO! Cheetah! What'd that feel like? Cool!
I think wolves are so neat as well! But, I'd have to say my fave. big cat is the lion. Hands down!

## Post 24 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Sunday, 30-Mar-2014 23:29:38

It felt very fuzzy, sort of coarse. Of course I was only able to touch her head and that only briefly. But it was still pretty neat.

## Post 25 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Monday, 31-Mar-2014 18:02:46

When we were very young our family lived in the country. We had a pet sheep (kind of coarse feeling), and a pet deer. I don't remember what the deer felt like.
We raised chickens (yuck very nasty animals) and I used to hear coyotes at night; they wanted our chickens.
I had a friend who had a pet pig. Very intelligent.
I had a neighbor who raised pythons, he once put one on my shoulders, kind of draped it on my shoulders and neck. We took a picture. I was glad when that was over.
I once rode an elephant at the San Antonio zoo. He was swishing the flies off with his tail, and he whacked me across the face.
Bob

## Post 26 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Monday, 31-Mar-2014 18:11:06

Oh yes, snakes.
I snake-sat once for a friend It cost me a short-term relationship though. This was before the frozen mice that you heat up, so I fed him the real deal. Made sure I iknew what end of the cage he was in. Opened the box with a glove on so as not to get bit by the rat, picked it up and dropped it in the tank.
When the snake struck it was a terrific crash screech and that was it.
Anyway, for one feeding this chick was there who I was dating..
She cried, said I was a cruel person and when I tried to comfort her saying that was just nature, she slapped me away and that was about all she wrote.
Yes, yes, I know now everything is different and you feed them frozen mice that you heat up and all that. I'm not really getting any snakes or pets of any kind anyhow. Was just doing a friend a favor. But it was a long time before he lived down my loss of that girl. Lol lol

## Post 27 by pebbles (the key to flying is falling and missing the ground.) on Wednesday, 09-Apr-2014 5:04:30

Pets of my own. I have had, dogs, cats, african gray, parakeets, cockateal, guinea pig, rabbit. I horseback rode for 10 years. petted a cow, sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas, pigs. I held a hedge hog, sugar glider, chinchilla, ferret. I touched a prairie dog, arctic wolf. I touched a stuffed bear, a tiger pelt at the arkansas zoo and a marmeset. I have held snakes of several kinds. a hissing cockroach, a box turtle. a donkey. I touched a skunk pelt when a place came to our school. Rpobably the most exciting was when I was on a cruise through Mexico. I got to swim with dolphins and was peting them. I did that in Mazatlan and got to swim with sea lions in Puerta Viarta. That was exciting for sure.

## Post 28 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Wednesday, 09-Apr-2014 12:48:36

Oh yes, mice/rats. When I was in college we did experiments on white rats.
My lab partner was probably the only person alive who hated rats worse than I did. She told me that rats were my responsibility.
We had this rat we named him Oscar, and he hated me as much as I did. When I would reach in his cage he would try to bite me.
Eventually he learned that our presence meant he would get water if he ran the maze. So we kind of worked out a truce.
However, I would have liked to introduce him to Leo's neighbor's snake.
Pebbles, a hissing cockroach? Sounds totally disgusting.
Bob

## Post 29 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Wednesday, 09-Apr-2014 19:12:16

I've held a hissing cockroach and a tarantula, I actually rather liked both of them, particularly the tarantula, it's hair was very plush.
As for rats and mice, I don't like mice as much, but rats don't bother me, I rather like them. I guess I'm not grosed out easily, I don't mind snakes either, unless they are poisonous. I petted a dolphin, but would really like to pet a seal or a sea otter.

## Post 30 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Saturday, 12-Apr-2014 5:55:50

what a neat topic and interesting too, I've met a AL packer, I've patted a lion cub whom are just like a big cat is and fed a ostrich and met 2 baby pingwings and felt a stuffed one which was interesting though I liked the feel of there fur as it is as soft as cat fur is, smiles.

## Post 31 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Sunday, 13-Apr-2014 0:45:34

Thanks Loves Animals :)
Oh, penguins! That must have been something. And an ostrage? Did it try to peck you or anything? I've only seen an ostrage egg, not the real thing.

## Post 32 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Sunday, 13-Apr-2014 5:55:35

your welcome and yeah they were quite neat though the real one's you couldn't touch them because even though your hands are clean there could be things on them which could carry diseases when touching the animal so they don't allow you to for that reason.
Yes that's right and we got to feed them though they pluck the food with their beaks but kind of nip with it when the contents of the food is on your hand which gave me a bit of a fright and another one bit my sisters finger which was funny.

## Post 33 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Tuesday, 22-Apr-2014 16:01:05

Penguins don't have fur, although I suppose when any bird is a baby its down can feel like fur. Certainly the baby chickens I've touched in my life felt like that.

## Post 34 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Wednesday, 23-Apr-2014 23:41:57

I wanna give a baby seal a hug.

## Post 35 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Thursday, 24-Apr-2014 5:17:09

actually there was on the one I felt and awe that sounds so cute, smiles.

## Post 36 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Sunday, 27-Apr-2014 15:22:04

I'd like to touch a Meerkat.

## Post 37 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Sunday, 27-Apr-2014 23:55:22

yeah I would like to touch one too they're a cool animal and quite interesting and can be rather cheeky too, smiles.

## Post 38 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Wednesday, 07-May-2014 18:34:27

They make some pretty cool noises too.

## Post 39 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Wednesday, 07-May-2014 18:53:45

All the animal lovers mainly like furry creatures. I see no slugs, worms, snails, crickets or anything else on here.
Careful, all the non-furred creatures may rise up and take out a class action against you all. lol

## Post 40 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Thursday, 08-May-2014 5:28:56

Reason being is because they are nice to hold and hug, there cute and cuddly and the slugs and insects and such have not really ever interested me but also they not quite nice.
yeah they do make cool noises and are pretty funny too, smiles.

## Post 41 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Thursday, 15-May-2014 14:08:38

Agree with Amy AKA Loves Animals on the furry critters thing.

## Post 42 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Thursday, 15-May-2014 18:00:30

Ah but feathered things sing so beautifully though.
A canary to a blind person is what a fishtank is for the sighted.
You come from work all stressed out and tired, and the canary singing in its cage, or even just chirping and foraging, you can relax near it with a beverage of your choice and enjoy.

## Post 43 by Flidais (WISEST IS SHE WHO KNOWS THAT SHE DOES NOT KNOW) on Thursday, 15-May-2014 22:36:06

What an awesome topic!
I'm so envious of the cheeta pets. I have yet to pet any of the large cats.
off the top of my head i remember petting/handling:
elephant
dolphin
lorikeet
sting ray
macaw
various boas
baby kangaroo
giant pacific octopus
baby tiger sharks
meerkat
hedge hog
emu
Not as interesting
goats
pigs
cows
sheep
llamas
smaller snakes
turtles/tortoises
horses
dogs
cats
hamsters
gerbils
rabbits
guinea pigs
rats
various small birds
ducks
&LT;3 &LT;3 &LT;3 &LT;3 &LT;3 animals

## Post 44 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Thursday, 15-May-2014 22:55:30

wow how neat and I like birds too, the one's that talk are quite humorous to listen to, smiles.

## Post 45 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Sunday, 18-May-2014 2:26:53

Thank you, Meow! What is a

## Post 46 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Sunday, 18-May-2014 6:07:47

what? you didn't finish your sentence and your welcome, smiles.

## Post 47 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Sunday, 18-May-2014 22:51:04

That's what I get for trying to post when I'm half asleep. I meant to ask what a lorikeet was. I have never heard of one of those before.

## Post 48 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Monday, 19-May-2014 0:04:13

neither have I, smiles.

## Post 49 by Flidais (WISEST IS SHE WHO KNOWS THAT SHE DOES NOT KNOW) on Monday, 19-May-2014 22:05:56

they're super colorful birds. Sometimes at zoos they have an aviary where you can pay to get a cup of nectar and when you go in they perch on you to drink. Even without the nectar some just like perching on you for fun. It's super cute.

## Post 50 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Tuesday, 20-May-2014 0:10:16

thanks for explaining about them and yeah that does sound so cool, smiles.

## Post 51 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Tuesday, 20-May-2014 7:43:56

Yes, thank you. They do sound cute. :)

## Post 52 by Deadnight Warrior (Zone BBS Addict) on Wednesday, 21-May-2014 14:00:08

I love animals, and have had all sorts of interactions with them. My grandparents live in this little farming village in Mexico, so I've had tons of interaction with goats, sheep, cows, as well as my grandpa teaching me how to ride horses and donkeys when he was still alive. My uncle there also raises dogs and I've had the incredible experience of having one of the mothers trust me to handle her day old puppies. I'm sure she even looked forward to it, since I always brought them back fed. (Although I would usually end up with more milk on my shirt than in the puppy's belly.) And to the poster who swam with dolphins, you are so lucky! I've always wondered what they feel like. There's an aquarium here where I live that has a tank of baby sharks that one can touch as well as another tank of stingrays. For my eighth birthday, I had a party at this animal sanctuary where my parents had a gift certificate for and my friends and I got to touch and see all sorts of birds and animals. At one point, one of the staff brought out a giant python and had us line up and he placed it in our hands so we were all holding it up while he held its head. There's also a pond at my university where there are ducks and turtles that you can feed, as well as a frog that once jumped out of nowhere and gave my girlfriend a good scare while we were walking along the pond. And finally, once while I was staying with some family in Texas where the houses belong as much to the insects as they do to the humans, I was feeling around on the floor for my prosthetic eye that I had dropped while I was drying it and found a giant cockroach.

## Post 53 by Binary solo (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Wednesday, 21-May-2014 15:27:32

I think my best instance is probably when I got to see an elephant when I was 5 and accidentally stuck my hand into it's trunk, which made me jump me a lot. The same day I also got to touch a dolphin and I think that's a part of the reason for them being one of my favorite animals.
Appart from that I have a question. In the first post a basilisk is mentioned as a real animal but I'v been under the impression that the basilisk is a mythical beast known for being able to turn people stone with it's gaze. Is there an real animal called a basilisk?

## Post 54 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Wednesday, 21-May-2014 17:11:46

wow how neat and we have a place here that is similar and as you walk along this path sharks will swim pass and it actually looks like there going over your head which some found a bit scary.
Dolphfins are a cool animal and I've touched a seal which felt a bit strange but nice, smiles.
Those kind of animals have quite funny characters and are pretty entertaining too, like this one seal actually could wave at you as like a person does which I thought was quite cool.

## Post 55 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Thursday, 22-May-2014 6:42:26

Yes, it is a real animal. It is a lizard that can walk on water. It is also called a "Jesus Christ Lizard" I believe it is native to South American rain forests.

## Post 56 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Thursday, 22-May-2014 6:47:18

Oh, Leo.
I'm strange in that I like some creepy crawly's. I like terantulas, snakes, salamanders, even some cockroaches and beatles. Oh, and I like dragon flies, mostly because I rescued one when I was little. It was stunned, laying in the shallows of the lake at my Grandparent's cabin. I picked it up, thinking it was dead and placed it on the picnic table, feeling sad that such a creature had died. But a few minutes later, it dried off and flew away. I was so happy!

## Post 57 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Thursday, 22-May-2014 19:02:25

o I don't like those kind of things you've mentioned but of course we all have things we like and not like, smiles.

## Post 58 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Sunday, 08-Jun-2014 16:20:54

Birdsong really doesn't do much for me.Now a cat's purr is another matter. Faithfulwolf you actually petted a meerkat? That's neat. What did it feel like? As for the cheetahpet that was just about the coolest thing I'd ever done and probably the only opportunity I'm likely to have.Needless to say it's a memory I treasure.

## Post 59 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Sunday, 08-Jun-2014 20:09:48

i love hearing cats purr and there are different kinds I've heard too, smiles.

## Post 60 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Sunday, 08-Jun-2014 20:24:02

The cheetah's purr was pretty awesome.

## Post 61 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Monday, 09-Jun-2014 5:01:47

I bet it was, smiles.

## Post 62 by Big Pawed Bear (letting his paws be his guide.) on Wednesday, 30-Jul-2014 11:22:02

I've stroked horses, meerkats, rhinos, a jarraffe, sorry for the spelling, dolphons, stingrays, snakes, elephant, cats, dogs. would love to cuddle a tiger or lion, and meet a bear.

## Post 63 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Friday, 08-Aug-2014 21:05:25

Meerkats? What did they feel like?

## Post 64 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Saturday, 09-Aug-2014 19:17:33

What's a meerkat?
Are they good to eat?
Bob

## Post 65 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Saturday, 09-Aug-2014 19:17:34

What's a meerkat?
Are they good to eat?
Bob

## Post 66 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Monday, 01-Sep-2014 23:03:56

well they're a interesting kind of animal and are most likely found in a zoo or some type of animal park and can be pretty entertaining, I'm unsure of the description of them but I think they are pretty cool, smiles.

## Post 67 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Wednesday, 03-Sep-2014 15:37:03

I don't know. Maybe some cultures eat them but I've never heard.

## Post 68 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Thursday, 04-Sep-2014 6:03:22

neither have I but bob likes eating animals, joke