Baltimore and its environs are home to plenty of animals that are at least as compelling as a months-old panda.
Sure, there was plenty of wailing and gnashing of teeth when Washington's National Zoo, blaming the government shutdown, was forced to turn off the camera it has trained on its resident giant pandas, Mei Xiang and her 2-month-old cub. Thank goodness the Panda Cam is back on.
But Baltimoreans, for one, should have been able to take the shutdown in stride. Charm City has plenty of fascinating animals living within its borders and slightly beyond, critters that might not have a camera trained on them 24/7 but deserve to be media stars nonetheless. (Some already are.)
Here are eight area animals that can, and do, shine in the spotlight, happily soaking up whatever attention is sent their way. And here's a bonus: We've got some humans willing to speak for them. The Panda Cam, sadly, offers no narration.
Keep in mind, everyone: There very well could be another shutdown in January, and the Panda Cam could go dark once again. Aren't you relieved to know Baltimore has so many potential replacements?
Decker, 2
Resident cat at Ace Hardware in Federal Hill
Answering for Decker: Store manager Nina Burriss
Where did the name "Decker" come from: He's named after Black & Decker. The employees voted on it, and "Decker" came in first. "Ace" came in second.
What's a typical day like for Decker? He lounges everywhere he can. He's playful, he's crazy and, a lot of times, he's lazy. He loves it. He absolutely loves it here.
Best story about Decker: We all have our little stories of Decker. At Christmas, I love it that he's always playing in the Christmas trees. He's probably one of the best cats I've ever met.
Who has the upper hand in this relationship? Decker, for sure. We're all the pets, and he's the owner.
Rise and Conquer, 4
The Baltimore Ravens' ravens
Answering for Rise and Conquer: Amy Eveleth, animal embassy specialist at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore (where R&C; live when it's not gameday).
Brushes with fame: Because they love all Baltimore birds, Rise and Conquer have been known to rub wings with Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Tommy Hunter, J.J. Hardy, Nate McClouth, ... the list goes on and on. But the spot closest to their hearts is reserved for our beloved Super Bowl champion Ravens. One of our favorite photos was of Ed Reed giving Conquer a chest scratch after one of his many TDs.
Do they enjoy the spotlight? Rise and Conquer love the whistles, the flames as the players come out of the tunnel during pregame ceremonies. As soon as they hear the music, they begin to wing-salute the players. They're so conditioned to the sound of "Lose Yourself" by Eminem that they start getting jumpy if they hear it on the radio.
Best story: Their handlers always ask fans to put down their food and drinks prior to having a photo taken with Rise and Conquer. Why, you ask? They have been known to steal a bite or a drink when you aren't looking! Doughnut holes, french fries, and there was that one time Conquer snagged a cherry out of a cup of sangria. He did not like it and spat it right out, but given the opportunity, they will take a bite of your food and they have awful breath. You've been warned.
What would they say if they could speak? First, they would ask the human who makes their diets to stop trying to get them to eat green peppers; they hate them. Second, they can't help but look at you sideways when you ask, at M&T; Bank Stadium, what kind of bird they are.
Bill, 100+ (in USNA years)
Naval Academy mascot
Answering for Bill: Midshipman 1st Cllass Broderick Neelfeller, one of Bill's goat handlers.
How Bill and the USNA got together: Currently, there are two Bills, Nos. 33 and No. 34. The first Bill the Goat was given to the USNA over 100 years ago by a few young officers on the USS New York. Bill made his first appearance at the Army-Navy football game and personally led the team to victory. Since that game, Bill has become a good-luck charm for the Navy football team.
Brushes with fame: Bill is by far the most popular part of the Brigade. At tailgates, kids and parents quickly run to Bill as soon as they catch a glimpse, desperately hoping to take a picture with him or even have the privilege of petting him. Bill has also stood on the sidelines next to presidents, vice presidents, top-ranking military officials, even celebrities. What other mascot can say that?
What would Bill say, if he could speak? Bill already talks to each goat handler about when he wants to be petted, fed and moved away from plebes doing push-ups on the sidelines during the games. The rest of our conversations are more personal, and I do not believe he wants them to be shared.
If there were a Bill Cam, what would the public see? A Bill the Goat cam would be more than successful. Bill is your normal happy goat that wanders the fields and eats as much as he can, though we probably don't want everyone seeing his weekly meetings with Coach Niumatalolo where they discuss game plans for Navy football victories.
Samson, 5
Maryland-born elephant
Answering for Samson: Mike McClure, general curator/elephant manager at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
How Samson and the zoo got together: Samson is an African elephant. He was born here at the Maryland Zoo on March 19, 2008.
Notable accomplishments: He went through a record-breaking growth spurt recently and put on over 1,000 pounds in less than 4 months!
Who has the upper hand in this relationship, Samson or the zoo? Samson clearly thinks he owns the world! He is comfortable in his environment and knows every inch of it inside and out. He regularly defends it against encroaching woodchucks, snakes and squirrels by running them out of his territory.
Best story about Samson: When he was "little," he once managed to get a tractor tire stuck around his waist. He looked like a bizarre ballerina with a rubber tire tutu. It took me a while to get it off of him, but he was having fun the entire time, rolling around and bumping into things like he was in a giant hamster ball.
What would Samson say if he could speak? To his public, he would say that he thinks the rest of the elephants are cool, but that he knows that the only reason people come to the zoo is to see him. (It's a heavy burden for him to be so adored, but he carries it well.)
If there were a Samson Cam, what would the public see? Unfortunately, you wouldn't see anything exciting or even cute. Cameras would have to be mounted up out of trunk reach (those cute fluffy pandas don't have a 7-foot-long arm on their faces), so all you would see is a top-down view of a big elephant eating and sleeping.
Mirabelle, 7
Boston terrier; model, muse, subject of a series of picture books for kids
Answering for Mirabelle: Baltimore artist Michael Muller, the human caretaker of Mirabelle's empire
How did you and Mirabelle get together? She was the best Christmas present I ever got.
Any brushes with fame? I am always blown away when total strangers recognize her on the street and shout out, "That's Mirabelle!" Recently at the Decatur [Ga.] Book Festival, we got to meet Sara Shepard, author of "Pretty Little Liars," the hugely successful [young-adult] book series. It turns out she and her little boy are fans of Mirabelle.
Does Mirabelle enjoy the spotlight? I think she does. She always seems to know when she is going to do an event. I know she enjoys meeting kids, especially the sticky ones. She licks a lot of babies in the course of a Mirabelle day.
Who has the upper hand in this relationship? Mirabelle, for sure. She has me wrapped around her little paw.
If there were a Mirabelle Cam, what would the public see? I think they would see a lot of wrestling with her sister, Amelia, and disembowelments of stuffed toys. I would watch it, too, just to find out what she is up to.
Margaret, 25
Macaw and media star at Baltimore's National Aquarium
Answering for Margaret: Liz Evans, the aquarium's manager of animal training
Notable brushes with fame: Before coming to the National Aquarium, Margaret was on "Late Night with David Letterman" as part of the stupid pet tricks segment several times, and on Animal Planet¹s "Pet Star," hosted by Mario Lopez.
Does Margaret enjoy being in the spotlight? Yes! She seems to love attention and often poses while she's having her picture taken. Margaret is a hyacinth macaw, and her kind live in very large flocks, so she is very social. Since she lives at the aquarium, people are her "flock," and she is most comfortable socializing with her people (our staff) and guests.
Best story about Margaret: Margaret actually likes going to see the vet! Our animal care and veterinary staffs have worked very hard to always make medical procedures fun and filled with lots of treats. She lets aquarium staff file her nails, trim her wing feathers, listen to her with a stethoscope and even give her any needed oral medication. She always gets lots of coconut (her favorite) after vet visits! It's just like her to have everyone in the room working to please her.
Buck, 1
All-access feline at Baltimore Arena
Answering for Buck: Paul Webster, the arena's assistant box office manager (and the man who takes Buck home at night)
Brushes with fame: Aside from being named CEO (Cat Executive Officer) of the Baltimore Arena, he's already experienced a photo shoot for the [Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter Inc.'s] Soft Side Campaign, which can be seen gracing the Baltimore Arena on the Hopkins Plaza side. And while we all try to keep the fame from going to his head, he has achieved the temperament of a full-scale diva.
Who has the upper hand in this relationship, Buck or the arena? Buck definitely has the upper hand. His displeasure is doled out on toys and ankles alike, but when he's happy, the world seems to stop so he can cuddle you. I liken him to a Sour Patch kid; first he's sour, then he's sweet.
What would Buck say if he could speak? Buck would inform me, in no uncertain terms, that he tolerates my presence only because I feed and pet him. He would tell me I don't feed him enough and that I always pet him too much. Don't I know that he's a star and should only be approached when he decides to allow it? And don't get him started on the indignity of going to the groomers to have his nails trimmed; those mean ladies had it coming. But always at the end of chewing me out for some indiscretion or another, he would let me know that he loves me and loves his new home; he just wishes he knew why I have to live with him.
Orb, 3
Kentucky Derby winner and top Maryland thoroughbred
Answering for Orb: Co-owner Stuart Janney III
How did you and Orb get together: We met in 2011 in Paris, Ky., at Claiborne Farm, right after he was born.
Does Orb enjoy being in the spotlight? Yes. He loves crowds and lots of attention.
Who has the upper hand in this relationship, Orb or you? Orb. He's much stronger and has more people taking care of him than I do.
What would Orb say if he could speak? He would ask why I think I won the Kentucky Derby, because he is pretty sure he won the race.