Do you remember that nursery song, “Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy?” Well, we made a slight change to it recently at the hospital at the San Diego Zoo. Instead of “does eat oats” we’ve changed it to “nosey goats!” Why? Because we had been living this revised version of the song for the last 30 days.

When new animals arrive into the collection, they must first be quarantined for 30 days and pass several exams before being released onto grounds. During this time, the hospital keepers really get to know the animals. And the animals we had the opportunity to get to know were five very cute pygmy goats destined for the Zoo’s Children’s Zoo. Their names: Bucky and his sister Honey, Freckles, Fudge, and Socks.

Besides being cute, they are very vocal. And I mean vocal! As soon as they hear someone is in the area, they begin their incessant calling until someone comes over with fresh food and attention. Never mind that there is still food in their dishes; they want attention more than anything.

So occasionally, one of us would “sacrifice” ourselves and go sit with the goats. Yes, it would be a hard job having five little goats come over to you and want to stand on or by you. Quite brutal (she says with a sarcastic smile!). Usually keeper Suzanne would volunteer to “acclimate” the animals. We could hear her laughing hysterically as they all tried to sit in her lap or eat her hair. Must admit they were good therapy.

They have passed their exams and quarantine time and left today to live in the Children’s Zoo. We’ll miss them. But we may just have to visit them soon, just for a short therapy session.

Yvette Kemp is a senior hospital keeper at the San Diego Zoo.

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