Delmarva Trip Advice

RatioTile

RatioTile

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Hi all,

I have 6 free days in a row and I'm planning on going to the DMV, specifically with Washington D.C. and Baltimore as my main hubs. As usual, I'd like to maximize unique lifer species. Any recommendations on where I should go? Zoos, aquariums, private collections, bird rescue centers, reptile stores, aquarium warehouses are all good suggestions.

I'll be taking public transportation, with Ubers if necessary. Also, which of the following parks have closed sections? Here's my preliminary itinerary:

1) Smithsonian National Zoo - epic new native bird collection, some herps, Allen's swamp monkey.
2) National Aquarium in Baltimore - Australian endemic species, blacknose shark (still there?), screaming piha (still there?), anything else in the renovated Amazon section.
3) Virginia Living Museum - some salamanders and fish, a species of packrat/woodrat.
4) Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - insectarium
5) Maryland Zoo in Baltimore - American badger (listed as ambassador animal, I'd probably have to request it), some herps (is bog turtle displayed there)?
 
LOL that isn't Delmarva. This is Delmarva.
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Virginia Living Museum is three from DC. They do not have any wild rat species.

You will not see the badger at Maryland.
 
TinoPup said:
Virginia Living Museum is three from DC. They do not have any wild rat species.

You will not see the badger at Maryland.
Click to expand...

Ah, ok. I thought Delmarva was synonymous with DMV area. Is it impossible to change the thread name now?

Is the badger never shown in educational talks, or could I negotiate with staff in advance (I’ve successfully seen a lot of bts animals this way)? In your experience, what’s the easiest zoo in the country to see the species at?
 
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RatioTile said:
Ah, ok. I thought Delmarva was synonymous with DMV area. Is it impossible to change the thread name now?

Is the badger never shown in educational talks, or could I negotiate with staff in advance (I’ve successfully seen a lot of bts animals this way)? In your experience, what’s the easiest zoo in the country to see the species at?
Click to expand...

No, they're two different things. DMV is DC/Maryland/Virginia. Delmarva is Delaware/Maryland/Virginia peninsula.

She is only used in digital talks, she has some health issues. You will not be able to see her (trust me on that one). Claws N Paws in the Poconos, which has a pair, is very easy to see them at. Wild Animal Park in NY has one as well, but might be harder to see depending on the time of day.
 
TinoPup said:
No, they're two different things. DMV is DC/Maryland/Virginia. Delmarva is Delaware/Maryland/Virginia peninsula.

She is only used in digital talks, she has some health issues. You will not be able to see her (trust me on that one). Claws N Paws in the Poconos, which has a pair, is very easy to see them at. Wild Animal Park in NY has one as well, but might be harder to see depending on the time of day.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks! More questions about Maryland Zoo:

1) I remember an outdoor bog turtle habitat in 2012 in which they were impossible to see. Are the bog turtles easier to see now? They’ve been a a species that keeps evading me, both in zoos and on wild herring trips.

2) Is the brown bear a grizzly, or another ssp.?
 
RatioTile said:
Ok, thanks! More questions about Maryland Zoo:

1) I remember an outdoor bog turtle habitat in 2012 in which they were impossible to see. Are the bog turtles easier to see now? They’ve been a a species that keeps evading me, both in zoos and on wild herring trips.

2) Is the brown bear a grizzly, or another ssp.?
Click to expand...

It's the same exhibit, I don't know if they're easier to see than in 2012.

She's a grizzly, she was rescued as a cub in Montana.
 
If rarities is what you are after, then I'd suspect Metro Richmond Zoo and Catoctin Wildlife Preserve may be two zoos worth looking into, although @TinoPup is the expert on Maryland and Virginia Zoos on here so she could give you better suggestions.
 
Neil chace said:
If rarities is what you are after, then I'd suspect Metro Richmond Zoo and Catoctin Wildlife Preserve may be two zoos worth looking into, although @TinoPup is the expert on Maryland and Virginia Zoos on here so she could give you better suggestions.
Click to expand...

They're both impossible to get to by public transport and you'd have a hard time with Uber. He's been to catoctin before.
 
TinoPup said:
They're both impossible to get to by public transport and you'd have a hard time with Uber. He's been to catoctin before.
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Yep, I went to Catoctin with a friend on a road trip. As for Metro Richmond Zoo I looked on Google Maps and I could get there from DC via Greyhound bus plus Uber. However, at least from the website species list I don’t see any species that would be new for me. Thank you all for your help.
 
RatioTile said:
Yep, I went to Catoctin with a friend on a road trip. As for Metro Richmond Zoo I looked on Google Maps and I could get there from DC via Greyhound bus plus Uber.
Click to expand...

The zoo is 45 minutes from the city in normal traffic. You might be able to get a ride out there, but getting someone to take you back to the city will be really difficult.
 
RatioTile said:
Ok, thanks! More questions about Maryland Zoo:

1) I remember an outdoor bog turtle habitat in 2012 in which they were impossible to see. Are the bog turtles easier to see now? They’ve been a a species that keeps evading me, both in zoos and on wild herring trips.

2) Is the brown bear a grizzly, or another ssp.?
Click to expand...
There haven’t been bog turtles in that exhibit for years, probably more than a decade. There is a bog turtle on display in the tunnel of the Meadow Exhibit
 
Aardwolf said:
There haven’t been bog turtles in that exhibit for years, probably more than a decade. There is a bog turtle on display in the tunnel of the Meadow Exhibit
Click to expand...

Remind me what turtle is in there now, is it eastern box?
 
Aardwolf said:
There haven’t been bog turtles in that exhibit for years, probably more than a decade. There is a bog turtle on display in the tunnel of the Meadow Exhibit
Click to expand...

I just realized "herping" got autocorrected to "herring," and now it's too late to edit that post. Whoops. Is this bog turtle easy to photograph?
 
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