Sand cat at Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary wows the internet with her hiss
When people think of Folsom’s worldwide fame, Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” often comes to mind. However, a four-legged resident of the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary recently appeared on feeds around the globe.
Pictures of sand cat Margo’s hiss has garnered an audience on Instagram, garnering nearly 10,000 likes and more than 74,000 views. The May 5 post made a Star Wars joke, saying “Revenge of the Hisssss!” in reference to “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.” Margo was featured in another Star Wars-related post the day before.
“Everyone just loves her because she has so much personality in this tiny little package,” zoo manager Jocelyn Smeltzer said.
Margo’s reach extended beyond the United States, according to Smeltzer, with viewers from Japan, Russia, Hungry and Poland.
The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is home to animals who would not survive in the wild, according to Smeltzer, either due to learned behaviors or physical limitations.
When Margo came to the zoo, Smeltzer said, she didn’t have any teeth so she’s housed by herself. Even though she doesn’t have teeth, her diet isn’t impacted.
“When zookeepers come in she’ll sometimes express it (her personality) by hissing, but then she’ll also be like, ‘I really want the mice you’re bringing. I really want the quail,’” Smeltzer said.
Her zookeeper, Helen Chu, said Margo’s sassy attitude doesn’t bleed into training sessions. The zoo trains animals to partake in treatment and care efforts, like trimming nails and administering medications.
“I love Margo’s sassy attitude but also how she’s very willing to participate in training sessions,” Chu said. “She loves to be mentally stimulated, but she also tells you exactly how she feels.”
The Folsom City Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday until Sept. 30, according to the Folsom city website. The fall and winter hours, Oct. 1 through April 30, are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ticket prices are $10 per person for adults and children 2 years and older. Children younger than 2 can enter the zoo for free. Yearly memberships range from $45 to $175 depending on the package.
Animals at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary include parrots, mountain lions, bears, peacocks, horses and more.
