The oil spill in Michigan

As cleanup and wildlife rescue efforts continue for what is being called the worst oil spill in the Midwest’s history, many of you have asked us for advice on how to get involved. Our great partners in Michigan are already working hard to mitigate damage to the surrounding ecosystem before oil spreads to Lake Michigan. While Shedd Aquarium is assessing how to best support our partners with our resources and animal-handling expertise, we encourage anyone in the Kalamazoo area to follow the recommendations of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at this time.

Remembering John G. Shedd on his birthday

His name is chiseled in stone over the entrance to the aquarium. But who was John Graves Shedd? According to his boss, department store founder Marshall Field, Shedd was "the greatest merchant in the United States." He was also, as we know, a magnanimous philanthropist, donating
$3 million to build the world’s finest aquarium in his adopted city of Chicago. John G. Shedd was born 160 years ago today. Although he came from humble beginnings, he always aimed high.

Know before you go!

Meteorologists are calling for hot weather this weekend so stay cool by the lake! Before you pack a water bottle, sunscreen and a towel make sure you check in with the Chicago Park District. Swimming statuses for Chicago beaches are updated by 10 am each day so check the website for a swimming advisory or ban. Or you could simply text your favorite beach to 312-715-SWIM (7946) and they will text you back the current swim status! It’s an easy way to receive critical information for your beach outing!

Making BLU "green"

One of the most important things to Shedd’s Auxiliary Board is being aware of the impact that we as a group, and as individuals, have on the environment. This year the Auxiliary Board started a Conservation Committee to help us actualize some of our ideas and turn them into ways we can make a positive impact on the community. One of the goals of the Conservation Committee was to make BLU, our annual fundraising event taking place on July 17, as "green" as possible. With the help and guidance of the experts at Shedd we are proud to be taking the following steps to minimize the impact this event has on the environment:

Jazzin’ Plus: What you’ll only see during Jazzin’ at the Shedd

If you can tear yourself away from the balmy breezes on the terrace, the skyline at sunset and the jazz for a while, and stroll over to Amazon Rising, you’ll see Shedd’s immersive floodplain forest exhibit in a new light.

Moonlight.

Beluga birthdays in July

Time to send a shout-out to beluga whale Bella, who turns 4 on Saturday. This playful girl is so interactive that she just might send a high-pitched squeal back! She’s one of three Shedd whales whose birthdays we’re observing in July.

Shedd in the Gulf

Ken Ramirez, Executive VP of Animal Collections and Training, discussing Shedd's involvment in Gulf wildlife rescue efforts on FOX Chicago.



Read more about Shedd's involvment in the Gulf wildlife rescue.

Posted by Joe Kantor, web editor

Shedd in the Gulf

As a respected leader in the field of animal care and environmental conservation, Shedd Aquarium is lending its experience and expertise to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill rescue and rehabilitation efforts. In fact, a member of our animal health division, vet tech Mayela Alsina, is in New Orleans now to work with Audubon Institute’s sea turtle and marine mammal rescue and rehab efforts. As the scope of the environmental tragedy has increased, so has the need for help, and Mayela joins other animal care specialists from the area and around the country at the Audubon Aquatic Center, where she will spend the next two weeks. Currently the center is caring for 106 sea turtles, 101 of them directly affected by the undersea oil well blow out that continues to pollute the Gulf.

Fish of the Month - Farmed Rainbow Trout

July’s Fish of the Month is farmed rainbow trout, a fish that the Right Bite team has many fond memories of! We absolutely love visiting the Rushing Waters trout farm whenever we can, to talk trout with Peter, the manager, and even to put on some waders to help harvest the fish! Located in Palmyra, Wisconsin, about a two-hour drive from Chicago, this beautiful trout farm sits on 80 acres of pristine forest. Rushing Waters has 56 ponds and raceways to grow the rainbow trout. The staff harvests the fish year-round by hand, never using any chemicals or antibiotics.

What else is fantastic about farmed rainbow trout? For starters, most carnivorous farmed fish eat more protein than they provide to the people who eat them, which is an inefficient use of marine resources. For example, it takes three pounds of wild fish to grow one pound of farmed salmon! However, farmed rainbow trout are incredibly efficient at converting their feed into protein. That, coupled with ecologically responsible farming methods, makes farmed rainbow trout a best choice for sustainability.