Roos-N-More Tour Day A Big Hit

Roos-N-More Tour Day A Big Hit

By Rachel Brandes
Moapa Valley Progress
Published July 1, 2009

It was a busy day for the Roos-n-More Zoo in Moapa on Saturday, June 27. The Zoo hosted a ‘Tour Day’ in celebration of its newly re-open status.

The zoo was opened about a year ago but had been closed to the public for some time due to permit and licensing issues. These issues being recently rectified, zoo owners Valerie and Jay Holt were happy to welcome anxious attendees on Saturday and show them the time of their lives.

Saylor and Regan Shea enjoy a day at the Roos-n-More Zoo in Moapa, Nevada on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

Roos-n-More is a hands-on zoo where visitors get to experience animals like never before. On Saturday morning the Shea family from Indiana was traveling from their hotel in Las Vegas towards the Echo Bay Marina. They got off the I-15 at the Moapa exit to get something to eat. “We saw zoo signs and thought, what kind of zoo could be out here?” said mom Tara Shea.

The family was pleasantly surprised. Tara along with her husband Dan and two daughters, Saylor, 4 and Regan, 15 were on vacation celebrating the girls’ upcoming birthdays. Owner Valerie Holt took the Shea family on a tour of the zoo.

Saylor Shea from Indiana holds her new favorite friend Deer Abby at the Roos-n-More Zoo in Moapa, Nevada on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

The first stop was the area which is home to the camels, the zebra, pigs, fainting goats, zedonk (half zebra, half donkey), and an emu. The Shea family enjoyed feeding the animals carrots as well as petting and kissing the animals.

Saylor and Regan fell in love with the new baby goat which they got to hold as if it were a baby. “I want to take this goat home.” said Saylor. Regan agreed.

Next the family was introduced to Caico the Capuchin Monkey. Caico is like the baby of the family at the Holt home and is a lovable and fun character. Jumping from person to person and giving plenty of affection, Caico keeps zoo visitors entertained from start to finish.

The next stop on the tour was the lemur area which is home to four lemur, a toucan, a few parrots and two sloths. The family was again treated to a very hands on experience as the lemur jumped back and forth from head to head and visited with each family member.

Heading outside the family got to meet the two otters, Asian small clod otters to be exact. The male was bottle raised by the Holt family, he even learned to swim in the family dishwasher. “When we would unload the dishwasher, he would jump in that small amount of water and swim,” explained Valerie.

The female otter was brought to the zoo as an adult. The Shea family enjoyed tossing carrots to the otters and watching them dive into the water to retrieve them.

Along the tour the family got to meet two of the three porcupines and learn a bit about their quills. Saylor wasn’t too sure about these guys and the visit moved on to the deer, wallabies and kangaroos.

Saylor was excited to learn about the one-legged Kangaroo. Valerie explained that this Roo had to have a leg removed but that he still has the ability to hop around like any of the others.

Saylor and Regan were extra excited to meet a one year old roo named Hippity. The girls enjoyed holding Hippity. Saylor decided that this would be the animal she wanted to take home with her. That is until she met a 3-week old muntjac deer, Deer Abby. The family took a seat in the shade and visited with the turtles, ferrets, cats, even a munchkin cat that came out to visit. And of course the baby deer as Saylor wasn’t quite ready to part ways with the beautiful baby.

After a break in the shade the tour took the family into another building where they found guinea pigs and baby turkeys. All the while with Caico in tow. Following a last goodbye to Caico the family said their farewells to the Roos-n-More Zoo.

Regan Shea from Indiana feeds a friendly lemur at the Roos-n-More Zoo in Moapa, Nevada on Saturday, June 27, 2009.