It’s two for the toads! COOP will contribute 2% of sales of its Horny Toad Blonde Ale to support horny lizard conservation research in Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden and Oklahoma Zoological Society (OZS) are partnering with COOP Ale Works to help further conservation research for Oklahoma’s most beloved reptile, the horny toad, also known as the Texas horned lizard.
Through this unique collaboration, COOP Ale Works will contribute 2% of sales of its signature Horny Toad Blonde Ale towards conservation efforts being led by Tinker Air Force Base, the University of Oklahoma, Sam Noble Museum, and the OKC Zoo to study and protect Oklahoma’s dwindling populations of Texas horned lizards.
“Two for the toads is a win-win for craft beer enthusiasts and Oklahoma wildlife,” said OZS’s Executive Director, Mandy Heaps. “We’re grateful to COOP Ale Works for their partnership and commitment to giving back to conservation. Their enthusiasm for this campaign is appreciated and we hope this creative approach inspires support from community members, 21 and older, to help horny toads and their habitat.”
Texas horned lizards were once common throughout Oklahoma, but their population has drastically declined due to human-caused habitat loss and decrease in one of their primary food sources, harvester ants. Because of these threats, Texas horned lizards are considered a species of greatest conservation need, as well as a species of special concern by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
"Horny Toad Blonde Ale has been a cornerstone of COOP's brewing since day one,” said COOP’s Vice President of Operations and Head Brewer, Blake Jarolim. “After nearly 16 years, partnering in the revitalization of this species feels like a full-circle moment, especially since I fondly recall interacting with horny toads at my grandmother's house during my childhood. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness about this remarkable program through the support of our dedicated craft beer community."
Since 2008, OKC Zoo team members have helped track and monitor horned lizards at a reserve on Tinker Air Force Base. This is the longest continuous study on a Texas horned lizard population and has yielded important information about habitat preferences, diet, survival rates, and movement. The OKC Zoo also partnered with University of Oklahoma to establish a headstart program for Texas horned lizards. Eggs and hatchlings are collected at the Base and brought to the Zoo for incubation/rearing. Texas horned lizard hatchlings are cared for in the Zoo’s the Lizard Lab for the first one to two years in a safe, controlled environment as they grow past their most vulnerable stages in life. The lizards are then released at Tinker Air Force Base to bolster the population.
Wildlife fans 21 and older are invited to toast two for the toads and contribute to local conservation! According to COOP, Horny Toad Blonde Ale is crisp and refreshing with a hint of bitterness to balance the Pilsner malt body. Beer connoisseurs may also enjoy COOP’s Blood Orange Horny Toad Blonde Ale, a seasonal release offered in late spring/early summer (May, June, and July). Horny Toad Blonde Ale is available at most Oklahoma liquor stores, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Beyond the Lizard Lab, the OKC Zoo does not currently have Texas horned lizards on habitat for guests to see. The Zoo is hoping to add them to its Oklahoma Trails habitat through a partnership with Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry no later than 4 p.m. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Zoo admission is $16 for adults and $13 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Membership has its perks! As a ZOOfriends member of the Oklahoma City Zoo, enjoy free admission all year-long, plus many additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at www.okczoo.org/membership.
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