Losing one of our animal ambassadors is never easy. Developing relationships with the animals under our care is unavoidable—mutual respect and trust is necessary to provide high quality care. Our respect, admiration and appreciation of each animal ambassador runs deep.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ms. V the turkey vulture. Ms. V was our longest-tenured animal ambassador and had been with us for 39 years. She was admitted to the wildlife center on September 21, 1985 as an orphan after being taken from her nest by two young boys. Vultures are very social and live in family groups. Although she did not have any physical injuries, she considered humans her “family” and was too imprinted to release. Because she was taken from her nest as a baby, she never developed the skills and behaviors necessary to survive in the wild.
Animal ambassadors play an invaluable role at Lake Metroparks’ Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center. They can be powerful catalysts for learning and amplify the educational programs they are featured in. Over her 39 years with us, Ms. V interacted with countless thousands of guests, students and campers. Our educators were not only able to share the natural history of turkey vultures but also the vital role they play in a healthy ecosystem.
Because of her social nature, Ms. V was a popular animal ambassador. She loved to make a statement any time she was in front of a crowd and captivated audiences with her lively demeanor. She loved visitors and enjoyed playing with the staff by landing on their heads and pulling their hair. While she could be a handful, she was the consummate professional when we needed her to be, and she allowed us to teach generations of visitors about conservation.
While we are saddened by her passing, we are happy to celebrate her remarkable life. We learned a lot from her, and we know many of you did too. We invite the public to share their memories of Ms. V with us at marketing@lakemetroparks.com.