# Wildlife around the Museum August 22, 2012 - [ Blog ](/news-categories/blog) [](/file_url/386) ![hissing cockroaches](/sites/g/files/omnuum6411/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/library/files/img_00091-1024x768.jpg?itok=5ZOeWDIl) As you might already know, the Ernst Mayr Library has a colony of hissing cockroaches as library pets. Recently these cockroaches have moved to larger digs. The new, big tank was donated by Dr. Alan Grant, a Visiting Scientist at [HSPH](http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/). Thank you Dr. Grant! Stop by and hold a few hissing cockroaches and you will wonder why you ever thought your cat was so cuddly. Occasionally you can also see wildlife around the MCZ--living animals, not just the amazing [research collections](http://www.mcz.harvard.edu/collections/index.html) full of treasures or the incredible exhibits in the [Harvard Museum of Natural History](http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/). In June, I walked out of the building and was privileged to watch a turkey hen foraging. The turkey didn't seem bothered by the people walking along the paths. [ ![turkey-1024x768.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6411/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/library/files/turkey-1024x768.jpg?itok=og40W1f0) ](/file_url/388)[ ![foraging hen](/sites/g/files/omnuum6411/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/library/files/turkey2-1024x768.jpg?itok=ilW-kysc) ](/file_url/387)More recently, as I hurried to the Oxford St. garage, anxious to get home, I was stopped in my tracks when I saw a young rabbit hopping around near the entrance. [](/file_url/391) ![nwlabsrabbit2-1024x650.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6411/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/library/files/nwlabsrabbit2-1024x650.jpg?itok=Ub8IENcR) [ ![nwlabsrabbit.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6411/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/library/files/nwlabsrabbit.jpg?itok=Q5OSxU-L) ](/file_url/389)Romantically, I would like to think there is a previously unknown breeding colony of New England Cottontails (*Sylvilagus transitionalis*) finding enough scrubby acreage to survive and stealthily hiding from the humans at Harvard, or even some sneaky Eastern cottontails (*Sylvilagus floridanus*). Alas, I am probably living in a fantasy world and this one has escaped from a less ideal setting. Any mammalogists want to comment?[](/file_url/390) ![New England Cottontail](/sites/g/files/omnuum6411/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/library/files/new_england_cottontail_1.jpg?itok=innrvwf2) See also:- [ Ernst Mayr Library ](/blog-categories/ernst-mayr-library) - [ MCZ ](/blog-categories/mcz) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)