Portland Events, Music, Art, Entertainment, Sustainability | PDXPIPELINE.com

Another great Portland Fourth of July Event from our partners at at the Oregon Zoo.

Related from PDX Pipeline:

• Many Portland July 4th Weekend Events: Fireworks, Music, Parties | 2010
• July 2: Femi Kuti @ Oregon Zoo + Win Tickets | Son Of Legendary Afrobeat Pioneer Fela Kuti

From Press Release:

ZOO TO CELEBRATE BALD EAGLES, OTHER ANIMALS ON 4TH OF JULY
Oregon Zoo residents will get holiday-themed Independence Day enrichment treats

They won't be waving sparklers or lighting bottle rockets, but several lucky animals will be celebrating at the Oregon Zoo this Fourth of July. Zookeepers plan to treat the river otters, bald eagles and cougars to some holiday-themed enrichment July 4 in light of Independence Day.

Festivities kick off at 10 a.m. in the zoo's Cascade Stream exhibit, where river otters Columbia, Tilly and B.C. will play with floating stars and stripes made from car-wash strips. At 11:30 a.m., bald eagles will receive large cardboard salmon, festively painted in patriotic colors. (Bald eagles can also be seen daily from the zoo's concert lawn in "Predators of the Sky," part of the "Wild Life Live!" program.) And at 11:45 a.m., cougars Chinook and Paiute will be treated to cardboard fireworks and papier-mâché stars.
General admission is $10.50 (12 —64), seniors $9 (65+), children $7.50 (3—11), and infants 2 and under are free; 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.

"All the animals receive enrichment on a regular basis, but it's fun for staff, volunteers and visitors when we theme it to celebrate the holiday," said interim assistant curator Amy Cutting, who will provide commentary at the day's events. "Watching these animals engage with the items helps illustrate their intelligence and ingenuity. They clearly benefit from the experiences we provide."

Members of the zoo's Volunteer Enrichment Team create the enrichment treats, while zookeepers and veterinarians plan the contents.

The Oregon Zoo is internationally known for its environmental enrichment programs, which are designed to mentally stimulate animals by changing their environment. Enrichment also challenges animals with complex tasks that require problem solving. Zookeepers are always looking for new and interesting ways to keep the animals engaged and active with enrichment activities.

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 8 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 are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus No. 63. Visitors who take the bus or 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.