EXPANDING OUR NEVADA FACILITY—PROJECTS IN 2007 With the assistance of several teams of volunteers, in 2007 we constructed a new clinic and a new tiger tiger enclosure, and expanded our perimeter fencing and one of the cougar enclosures. Our new Siberian tiger enclosure was completed, allowing us to place our first tiger, who arrived in December 2007. CarWill LLC Engineered Wear Solutions engineered several dozen panels and inclines for the tiger enclosure, at no cost. C. R. Drake & Sons, Inc. gave us the use of a front bucket loader. The generous support of these companies saved us thousands of dollars. Additional work on the tiger's habitat was carried out as an Eagle Scout project. The new clinic is three times as large as our Illinois building, and will have separate areas for admitting, isolation, veterinary treatment, education, food preparation, workshop, and handicap-accessible restrooms. Since the photos below were taken, we have completed the roof, windows, and doors. (Photos by Judy Mosby)
The Hawkins Cougar Enclosure Expansion was completed in September. Our two youngest cougars, Monty and Cooper, are thoroughly enjoying their new quarters, which were expanded from 1,200 square feet to 5,000 square feet. This project was funded by a $6,850 grant from the Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation of Reno, NV.
The expanded enclosure includes landscaping provided with the assistance of Rick Hull, a volunteer from the Master Gardener program of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. The new furnishings include a partially-buried culvert where Monty and Cooper like to tunnel and hide; the culvert was donated by Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. of Winnemucca.
Several groups worked during special "volunteer days" during the summer and fall. On June 17, a group organized by Kristy Berge worked attaching 8 x 20 six-gauge fencing panels. Each panel weighs about 100 pounds, so that was a day of hard labor in temperatures over 90 degrees! (Photos by Judy Mosby) | ||
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The construction took approximately 600 hours. We used an auger to dig holes three feet deep, and then cemented in several dozen 10-foot galvanized steel posts, weighing about 100 pounds each. These formed the frame for the fencing panels, which were welded onto them. We used a tractor to position each 100-pound 8x20 six-gauge fencing panel for the top of the enclosure. Much of the work, such as attaching 9-gauge hog rings to all of the panels, required very time-consuming manual labor. 
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More volunteers came on June 30 to set additional posts for the expanded perimeter fence. This group was assisted by parents and Scouts from Pack 223, who helped with the steel posts after preparing the footings for the pad for the tiger den. On July 8, several volunteers from the Nevada Conservation Corps in Reno helped us continue this massive project. Volunteer coordinator Marian Studer headed up the group (below), which included four international students. Marian is from Iowa, joined by Nicolas (France), Kyoungsu (S. Korea), Seiko (Japan), Chris (Scotland), Daniel (Illinois), and Tavia (Minnesota).
After working on the fence, this group spent an additional hour grooming and shaping the area for the tiger's pool, which is part of Jackson Gratwohl's Eagle Scout project. Many thanks to the volunteers who have been helping with these projects: Kristy Berge, Julie Kirby, Harry & Judy Mosby, Dave Ramsey & friends, Randy Scilacci, Marian Studer and the Nevada Conservation Corps, AmeriCorps (Winnemucca office), and the parents and Scouts of Pack 223, including Tina Hughes and Jackson & Jim Gratwohl.
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They cut 10-1/2' steel posts, mixed cement in our own new cement mixer, and cemented the posts 3 feet into the ground—finally completing the perimeter fence. | | |
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