The Thornton Burgess Society
appreciates the support of the
Massachusetts Cultural Council

Resident Animals

Sir Speedy the Greek Tortoise: Sir Speedy- Mediterranean Tortoise [Testudo marginata]- It is also called an Egyptian Tortoise but, like all tortoises, it lives on land and has a protective shell on its’ back and belly.  Its natural range is from Southern Greece through most of Italy.  In the wild, it basks in the morning sun.  They search for food and find shelter to stay out of the midday heat.  In the late afternoon, they leave the shelter again to find food.  It is a strict vegetarian.  It can grow 14” long and up to 11 pounds in weight.  Sir speedy was born in August 13,1988.  According to the best estimates of scientists they may live to between 100 and 140 years!

Nina the Eastern Box Turtle: Nina- Eastern Box Turtle-[Terrapene carolina]-  This turtle is local and is permanently disabled.  She cannot be released into the wild.  This turtle lives on land all the time, its’ beautiful top shell (carapace) is camouflaged to the sun dappled leaves on the forest floor.  Turtles do not have teeth; they have a sharp beak for cutting their food. One of Ninas’ favorite treats to eat is earthworms!  Box turtles are listed as an Endangered Species in Massachusetts.  The Mass. Fish and Wildlife Dept. gave us a special permit to house her here.  She was donated Oct. 14, 2003, as an adult.

Leonardo the 3-Toed Box Turtle:  Leonardo-Three-toed Box Turtle [Terrapene triunguis]- Leo is an omnivore, which means he eats meat, fruits and vegetables.  Three-toed box turtles can be found from Missouri, south to Alabama and Texas.  His habitat is the forest floor leaf litter.  Box turtles have a hinge on the bottom shell (plastron,) so that they can close their shell tightly like a box to protect their heads and legs from predators.  Leo was born in captivity on May 8,1974 and could live to be 85 years old!

Kaa the Corn Snake: Kaaa-Corn Snake(albino) [Elaphe guttata]-  Corn snakes are slender and can grow up to six feet long!  They are from the South and Midwestern U.S.  Like the Cape Cod Milk Snake, they are constrictors.  In the wild, they live in barnyards, woodlots or meadowlands.  Primarily nocturnal, they are active in early evening.  In the wild, they eat mice,rats,birds, and bats.  In captivity, Kaaa is fed frozen mice.  Corn snakes live up to 20 years in captivity.  Kaaa was born April 1, 2002.

Albi the Garter Snake: Albie-Common Garter Snake (albino)-[Thamnophis sirtalis]-  This is the most common of all New England snakes.  They are easily recognized by their yellow stripes on a black background, although their color can be variable. Albie is albino; which is an organism with deficient melanin.    They love the sun and are usually found basking on stone walls.  Garter snakes do not lay eggs like most reptiles; they give birth to live young, which can be up to 40!  They mate after emerging from hibernation; and their primary source of food is earthworms and small amphibians. A garter snake can grow up to 4 feet and live 10 years!  Albie was born in the spring of 2006 .

Sticky Toes the White's Tree Frog: Sticky Toes-Whites Tree Frog-[Litoria caerula]- Whites tree frogs are found throughout Indonesia and the tropical north of Australia.  They are large heavy-bodied frogs, and range in color from maroon, to bight green to even blue!  Sticky toes is nocturnal, typically sleeping during the day, and becoming active at night to search for food.  As the name “tree frog” would suggest, this species is arboreal, preferring to live off of the ground.  Most tree frogs have adhesive disks on their feet that make them good climbers.  Sticky toes can grow up to 4 inches and live nearly 20 years!  He also loves to eat mealy worms, crickets and an occasional pinky mouse!  Sticky toes was brought to live at Green Briar at the age of 5, his birthday is June 3, 2003.

Mrs. Toad is a “Great Plains Toad”-Bufo Cognatus   This toad is common in the grasslands and prairies of Minnesota, Iowa & Missouri.  This toad burrows in the soil for protection from the heat and dryness.  At night when it’s cooler the sit at the edge of their burrow or next to a rock and waits for the prey to crawl by,  then catch it’s food with its long sticky tongue.  She will grow up to 4 ½ “ long!  Toads are primarily nocturnal and prodigious insect eaters.  And to dispel a common myth- Toads do not cause warts!   

Peter Rabbit: Peter-Netherland Dwarf Cottontail – Born March 17, 2002

Eddy & Teddy Rabbits: Eddy and Teddy- Rex Rabbits – This is a breed known for its very soft fur, often called the “Velveteen Rabbit.”   The Rex fur has a shortened guard hair which makes it coat short and dense.  Eddy and Teddy are twin brothers, born February 18,2007.

Rabbits are mammals which belong to the Lagomorph order, meaning “hare-shaped.”  They have incisor teeth that continually grow.  The rabbit species that are kept as pets is the Oryctolagus cuniculus.  Rabbits are herbivores that means “plant eater.” They have powerful legs with long feet and a short, furry, upturned tail. Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk and often nap during the day.

Erica the African Fat-tailed Gecko: Erica- African Fat-tailed Gecko-[Hemitheconyx caudicinctus]- Erica was born in  2002 and has been living at Green Briar since her owner went off to college in 2009.  She can live up to 20 years.  Fat-tails are insectivores; this means they eat live insects. They also sleep during the day and are active at night, this is called nocturnal.  They are healthiest and happiest living alone.  Erica is friendly, curious, and gentle; she will tolerate careful handling.  The desert is her habitat and she will grow up to 8 inches long.

Miss Prickles– African Pygmy Hedgehog–Atelerix albiventris.  Born July 9, 2010– Hedgehogs are found wild in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. They are insectivores and nocturnal. In the wild, they forage during the night for small animals such as insects, spiders, slugs, snails, frogs, reptiles, or fruits, roots and some fungi. Hedgehogs cannot release their spines like a porcupine. To protect themselves, they simply curl up into a ball!  Miss Prickles was donated by Attleboro Hedgehog Rescue.

The Finch Bros.- Brown-tail & White-tail-Society Finch- Lonchura domestica   Also bred as ‘Bengalese finch’, these birds have been domesticated and very popular in China since the 1700’s!   These brothers are active, alert & sociable; they love to flit from one perch to another!  If they’re scared they retreat to their little hut and huddle close together, this is where they sleep as well.  They also love to take a bath every day and slash water all around!!  The males are frequent singers; their songs are a soft, sweet chirping.  The brothers hatched from their eggs on October 31, 2012 !  They are becoming a very popular attraction in our nature center!

info@thorntonburgess.org

Thornton W. Burgess Society
6 Discovery Hill Road
East Sandwich, MA 02537
508.888.6870