Snakes on a Plane! Woodland Park Zoo Animals Visit Museum of Flight

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: February 11, 2021 7:50 pm

Pecos Bill the Trans-Peco rat snake explores the cabin of an early 737 plane

Photo Credit: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

As part of the Wild at Heart series celebrating local cultural organizations in Seattle animals from the Woodland Park Zoo went on a field trip to The Museum of Flight.

The Wild at Heart series brings together Woodland Park Zoo and a range of Seattle cultural institutions each month. This month they joined the Museum of Flight ahead of Valentine’s day to let our hearts soar!

Harry the skunk looks around the Museum of Flight

Photo Credit: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

Harry the Skunk and Cisco the Harris’s Hawk enjoyed their visit to the Museum of Flight. They were able to explore the Great Gallery which is one of five buildings on the 23 acre campus.

Cisco, who has been flying in zoo educational programs since 1989, explored the aircraft while Harry the skunk checked out the Lockheed M-21 Blackbird, developed by the company’s legendary and aptly-named Skunk Works engineering team.  

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“Animals have inspired human innovation and creativity, and hopefully the reverse can also be true – that human innovation can inspire care for animals,” said Woodland Park Zoo Animal Curator Rachel Salant. “It’s fun to see these animals being enriched and exploring a new space. But it’s also a reminder about the connection between the world that we’ve built and the world we’re charged with protecting.”

“Virtually everything at the Museum ties directly back to humankind’s ancient desire to fly like a bird, and it’s a connection everyone feels around our fantastic flying machines,” said Museum Senior Curator Matthew Burchette. “And when you check their names, it’s a zoo! There’s a Robin, a Falcon, a Snipe, a Camel, a Pup, a Dove and the list goes on and on. It’s entirely natural to bring some living brethren to the Museum. Not to mention that our resident Astronaut loved meeting these new visitors!”

Harry the skunk meets an astronaut at the Museum of Flight

Photo Credit: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

To finish off the visit it was real life Snakes on a Plane. The 2006 film came to life as Pecos Bill the Trans-Peco rat snake explored the cabin of an early 737 dreamliner.

You can see more of the action from the animal’s visit on The Museum of Flight and Woodland Park Zoo social media pages.

Both institutions are members of Inspire Washington, a statewide coalition that champions advocacy and resource development for Washington’s cultural sector. They are also both members of the Puget Sound Attractions Council.  

Cicso the Harris’s Hawk takes in the sights at the Museum of Flight

Photo Credit: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

Learn more about the Woodland Park Zoo on their website – Woodland Park Zoo