Training with Juniper
Hogle Zoo’s care and training program for gray fox born with congenital hydrocephalus
Meet Willow and Juniper
Gray foxes Willow and Juniper are beloved residents of Wild Utah, Hogle Zoo’s newest 3-acre expansion that opened in May 2024. Willow, the more outgoing and energetic of the two, can often be found climbing trees and running around their habitat. Juniper, the smaller of the two foxes, tends to be a bit shyer, remaining cautiously curious about the world around her.
Estimated to be around two years old, the pair were found abandoned as young kits in New Mexico and were taken in by a wildlife rehabilitation center. During their short stay, Juniper was observed to have some visual impairments. It was determined that the foxes wouldn’t be able to survive on their own in their natural habitat and were rescued to Hogle Zoo in 2023.
Junie’s Journey
Nicknamed “Junie” by her care teams, Juniper was born with a condition called congenital hydrocephalus, which causes a buildup of fluid around her brain. Due to this condition, she has lost most of her eyesight and requires high levels of care from her animal care team, veterinarians, and Hogle Zoo’s health partners.
In January 2023, Dr. Jaycie Riesberg, an ophthalmologist from MedVet, completed a comprehensive eye exam on Juniper to help us determine the cause of her visual impairments. The exam helped us understand that Juniper’s visual impairments didn’t derive from her eyes and led us to believe it was from her brain.
On March 9, 2023, Hogle Zoo’s animal care and health teams transported Juniper to the Utah MR Research Center at the University of Utah where an MRI of Juniper’s brain was conducted. The MRI showed a buildup of fluid around her brain, leading to the diagnosis of congenital hydrocephaly.
This diagnosis also helped us interpret that Juniper’s vision loss was due to fluid buildup, which created pressure on the optic area.
Ongoing Training and Care
Our animal health and care teams work hard to keep Juniper healthy, giving her regular anti-inflammatory medicines and closely monitoring her appetite, weight, and watching for any neurological signs. Juniper stays active and curious despite the challenges, enjoying enrichment activities and training.
Our dedicated team at the zoo has adapted their training program to better support Juniper. Unlike usual training methods that rely on visual cues, Juniper’s training focuses on auditory signals, like a buoy filled with rice. The buoy, attached to a long stick, is gently shaken until Juniper responds to the sound.
Usually, the goal is to have animals touch a target with their nose. Instead, Juniper is encouraged to move in the direction of the sound. Doing so allows keepers to position her for important care activities, such as visual health checks, medication delivery, and training for behaviors like crating and stationing. Like all animals at the zoo, Juniper can always choose whether to participate in training. When she does, she’s always rewarded with her favorite foods.
Training Juniper requires immense patience and dedication, and we are fortunate to have a team of keepers who are deeply committed to enhancing her quality of life.
Juniper, who identifies her team through voice and scent, has developed a trusting relationship with her keepers. Their sensitivity and dedication made her transition to Wild Utah a thoughtful and carefully planned process. Thanks to their efforts, Juniper and Willow have settled in well at Wild Utah, where you can often find them playing together or snuggled up for a nap when they’re not training with their keepers.
About Gray Foxes
Gray foxes play a crucial role in our ecosystems by controlling small rodent populations, helping to maintain a balanced predator-prey dynamic. Found in rugged, densely vegetated areas from southern Canada to South America—these foxes are elusive and rarely spotted in the wild.
Known as the “tree fox” or “cat fox,” gray foxes are unique among canids for their ability to climb trees. With rotating wrists and semi-retractable claws, they can scale trunks to escape predators, hunt tree-dwelling animals, or ambush prey from above.
Animal Wellbeing
Providing excellent animal wellbeing through animal health is a key priority for Hogle Zoo. Protecting animals in the wild starts with the wellbeing of the animals under our care. Juniper is just one example of the individualized care we give each resident animal at the zoo.
