Even the organutan's got into the fun.
Happy New Year's Everyone!
You couldn't tell by the look of it, but right now we're doing important work getting ready for anther season of Sparky Shows! Even though the stage is covered with snow, we are inside working hard to create a new Sparky Show for next year. This means we are busy writing a new script and coming up with new behaviors Sparky can do in the show. A lot of people are surprised to know that Sparky's training continues year round, not just during Sparky Shows. There are several reasons we train her year round. First, we train her to perform a number of medical behaviors that make visits with the vets not scary and just a normal part of her day. Second, training is an important way to build a trusting relationship between Sparky and her trainers. Finally, depending on how challenging the behavior is, it can take weeks to years to learn new behaviors. That means that some of the behaviors we are teaching her now, you won't see in a Sparky Show until 2010! And on that note, I must get back to work because Sparky is ready for her afternoon training session!
Last Friday was a reminder to me that I do not have a normal 9-5 job. 
1) I'm wondering what sort of people take the trips on the buggies -- what draws them to Churchill for this experience -- and what sort of training or orientation are they given to keep a respectful distance from the bears?
I was surprised by the variety of people who took trips to Churchill! Many of the guests were not from North America; a lot of folks were from the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand. That being said, all of the guests had one thing in common: They love polar bears! Many people were there because they believed it would be their last chance to see polar bears in the wild.
Many were also very interested the other wildlife around Churchill. We saw a number of snowy owls perched on rocks in the tidal flats, ptarmigan (which is an Arctic member or the grouse family) and both red and arctic foxes. Some buggies even got to see caribou (I was not so lucky).
In addition to being nature lovers, a significant number of photographers joined us on board the buggies.
In reference to your question about any training, before a group goes out on the tundra, the drivers give an introduction to the day and discuss the buggy rules and the importance of respect for the animals. In Manitoba it is illegal to harass, bait, or feed polar bears, and this law is taken very seriously by the citizens and tour companies. Drivers explain that there is no food or drink allowed on the back deck; anyone caught feeding or baiting a bear will be picked up from the buggy by a helicopter, at their cost, and flown back to town. They will also be fined or could serve jail time. In a situation where the person is not able to be identified, the entire buggy and all on board will return to launch. In my expereince, guests always understood the importance of this law and no one ever tried to sneak the bears food.
In addition, the drivers are trained to pay attention to the body language of the animals as we approach them in the buggies. They emphasize that we are traveling in the bears’ territory. If a driver senses a bear is uncomfortable with the buggy's presence, they will respect that animal by not approaching them or leaving the area. As an animal trainer, I was very impressed by how well the drivers and tour guides know the animals!
Polar Bears International (PBI) was also able to fund a research project to evaluate the effect of ecotourism on the bears. The results identified various ways tundra vehicles could approach bears to minimize a response from them. The research also helped to understand precursor behaviors bears display that indicate a potential negative response to the buggies.
2) Now that you're back, if you what do you wish you would have known before you went on this trip that would have made it a better experience for you?
I wish I would have had a better camera! My point and shoot digital did not do justice to the bears or the scenery. But other than that, I felt very well prepared. Prior to my trip, I was given hundreds of pages of information by PBI to read and learn. In addition, working with our polar bears at Como Zoo and answering visitors' questions was a lot of help in preparing me for what I encountered in Churchill.
Thanks again for your questions!
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tumor before surgery and are now able to examine the surgical site. The keepers would like to thank all who helped make this medical procedure a success.
As I sit here and write my blog, two of my friends (Maribeth and Becca) are singing me happy birthday!!!! So.....today was my birthday!!!!!!!!! haha...and if I might add, probably the best birthday I will ever have. The day was filled with once in a lifetime activities that I will never forget. It all started out by the mother and her two cubs coming up to the Tundra Buggy for the first time. I invited them to my party : ). haha That was amazing.
After taking hundreds of videos and pictures of the bears, we had a priority to fulfill. A helicopter ride to be exact. What a wonderful birthday present right?! We took a tundra buggy out to a safe place where the helicopters would be picking us up. The group met with the pilots and drivers and learned about these amazing vehicles before we piled into them for our ride to the den. As I entered the helicopter, I had no idea what to expect. I had requested to sit in the front so I could get the full effects of the ride. It truly felt like I was in a video game. It felt surreal. Our pilot was an amazing tour guide considering he was telling us about the land hundreds of feet off the ground, going at about 90 miles per hour. As we landed I imagined what the tundra would feel like, and as I stepped out onto the precious tundra floor, I was surprised by the squishy spongy feeling under my feet. It was amazing. After exploring the maternal den, looking out over the river at the autumn trees, and investigating about the earth, we hopped back onto the helicopter to return to the tundra buggy. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever encountered!!!!!!!
After returning to the lodge, we did a video conference, ate lunch, and got some business done. Kathy came up to me and asked me if I wanted to call my parents. I wondered “well I don’t REALLY want to, but I guess that would be nice, seeing it is my 17th birthday!” So she took me into the girls bunk for some reason, maybe because it is quieter in there, and I called my mom and dad. After I was done, her and a few adults led me to the dining car and told me to open the door. So I did! I opened the door slowly, and peering inside, I saw that it was dark! I was like, “what the heck?!” and all of a sudden, everyone popped out from under the tables and yelled “SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!” and began singing and taking pictures. Of course, I began to cry because all day I was hoping that something really special would happen. My dream came true! It was amazing. It was so sweet that they spent their time and efforts to make my birthday even better!
Good evening Como!
It's 11 o'clock in the evening and the reason I'm up so late is because we had a very amazing experience tonight!!! The group was being given a presentation about the greenhouse effect and The Northern Lights by Stacy when we got interrupted by the shouting of "BEAR! BEAR!". The mother and two cubs that we have been tracking came to our camp and were right outside our windows!!!! It was the most extravagant beautiful site I've ever seen. And actually right at this moment everyone is crowding around the windows looking in awe at them and taking pictures. I am not technically supposed to be blogging because I was on "kitchen duty" but I thought I just had to let you guys know!!!!!
Tomorrow's my birthday and the group has some BIGGGGGG plans!!!!
I'm off to shower and get ready for my big day!
Hello Como! Here are a few pictures from my previous days of adventures!!
Today was filled with adventurous activities but i would like to just touch base on a few of the most exciting and important ones.
We ventured onto the tundra, hoping to spot some bears, and after almost giving up and going home we did! Or should I say James did! Out in the distance along the horizon James spotted the mom and two cubs that we think were the ones we spotted yesterday. The group got to witness them trudging across the water in a single file line and resting in the grass on the other side. That was an amazing site. I definitely took a lot of pictures!
After returning from our adventure on the tundra we did some group activities and then Carolyn and Robert's friends from Churchill came in and talked with us about their career as trappers. Parker, Jim, and Betty brought with tons of different pelts from various animals which were incredible! Everyone got to feel them and take pictures with them. They told us about their lives and told us some stories about their hunting experiences. Definitely very inspiring...
The group then was greeted by a man named Kevin Burke. He is an official Tundra Buggy driver. We all sat in the meeting car listening to his fantastic stories about driving the buggy's and how he got started in the business. His inspirational stories and words of wisdom consisting of "follow your dreams" brought tears to my eyes. Kevin is an amazing guy.
Now I'm off to watch the sunset!! : )
Oh my gosh!!! Today was the day of our first polar bear sighting, and for me it was the most amazing moment of my life. Eva (the student from Denmark) spotted them first, and yes it was a THEM!!!!! Our first polar bear sighting was of a mom and two cubs. How incredible is that!?
Well ill start from the start. We woke up at around 7:15 and ate breakfast at about 7:30. Breakfast consisted of oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, and toast. The group then gathered in the meeting car for a quick discussion about natural tundra happenings, and what our plan is for the week. After getting abruptly interrupted by a bear warning...we were told to gather our belongings, change into our long underwear and blue coats, and load onto the buggy. After about an hour of driving through mucky ponds and over gigantic boulders, we spotted an arctic hare and some birds. Finally Eva spotted some white blob in the distance which just happened to be a mom and her two cubs!!! Like Robert Buchanan said "all you can hear is the sound of your own heart". He was so true! It was the most amazing feeling and sight i had ever seen. We followed them around for about 2 and a half hours, watching them walk, lay, and play with sticks. Those 2 hours seemed like 5 minutes. After oohing and ahhing over these three adorable bears, we decided to head on back to the Tundra Buggy Lodge. After returning we split off into our groups and we began planning our "Impacts" presentations.
Well I'm off to dinner now!!!!
Hey everyone!!!! I arrived in
Our day consisted of waking up at 4 Am and boarding a small personal jet. We visited Parks Canada wildlife center and then got on a coach bus and headed for the small town of Churchill; which has a population of about 900 people. Very different from our Como Park Community, but very unique and full of character. After walking down the street we ate lunch at Gypsy's cafe and soon after we visited the school/community center, post office, and the amazing Hudson Bay! After our little tour, we hopped on the coach bus and visited the polar bear jail! we met with Sean Bobier who is the Conservation Officer of Churchill.
After that... what we all were waiting for!!! Our first expedition to the Tundra Buggy! We drove for about 2 hours onto the tundra and arrived at our amazing Tundra Buggy Lodge! The group claimed bunks and then gathered for a safety meeting. The meeting ended and we scurried to the dinner car to eat a delicious dinner cooked by Robert Greg the cook! We ate sandwiches and soup! Now the group is just blogging away and hopefully...waiting to see the Northern Lights!!!!!!!
Hey! It's the night before I leave for Churchill and I'm supppper excited!!!! I am sad to say that I haven't packed yet..but I'm working on it. I am so anxious to meet everyone tomorrow after arriving in Winnipeg. I can't wait to depart on my adventure to the tundra and learn everything there is know about POLAR BEARS! I'm looking forward to gaining speaking and leadership skills so I can return to my Como Park Community and share what I've learned. I can't wait to hop on that tundra buggy and go exploring!!!!!!!!!
Now I'm off to catch a polar bear! : )
As the summer is starting to wind down, some animals are just getting started. Just this morning Jaya, the baby orangutan, was climbing all over the exhibit. He was swinging on all of the ropes and climbing around just like the big orangutans. The other orangutan watched from the ground as Jaya explored new heights.
The baby flamingo also has grown a lot and has started exploring. The flamingo still has grey fluffy feathers but now is able to wonder around the bird yard.
During your visit, you can also view a miniature Union Pacific train. The train is located by the bird yard and will be on display through out the week. 
September 7th is the last day Blooming Butterflies will be open to the public but if you miss it this summer the exhibit will be opening again next summer. Stop by Como Park Zoo and Conservatory for one last adventure this summer.
The grounds were fairly busy with the general public because it was such a beautiful day. Almost all of the animals were outside and they were very active. Visiting the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is a great place to plan any event or just to come for a day visit. When she isn't performing Sparky VI is learning all kinds of new behaviors. Sometimes that means learning something completely new, sometimes it means building off of something she already knows and making it a little more complex, and other times it means reminding her of a behavior she already knows!
Yes, believe it or not, sea lions can forget things too! For example, Sparky VI knows how to balance a ball on her nose both on the land and in the water. At one point in her life, she also knew how to hold it on her nose while she came out of the water and onto the stage, which is quite a leap if you've seen the show! However, about a year ago she either forgot the behavior or something has prevented her from being able to perform it for over a year.
As trainers it is our job to determine why she isn't performing the behavior anymore and figure out if and how we can get her doing the ball balance again. The first thing we needed to assess was if she was still physically capable of doing the behavior. When I was 12 I could do a back-flip, but it would be unfair to expect me to do that now since I haven't done one in years and I am completely out of practice! We had to find out if the behavior have become uncomfortable to do for some reason. Did she pull a muscle? Has her muscle tone or sense of balance changed recently? As trainers sometimes we can pick up on very subtle behavioral cues which would indicate the animal might have a medical issue that would need the vets attention. We tested her balance and strength and determined none of these to be an issue. She was performing all of her most challenging behaviors without any hesitation! We also checked her weight to see if she had gained any additional poundage that would make it difficult to perform the behavior. Our pinnipeds are weight each week and she was well within her normal range, which is 130-140 lbs. Luckily there did not seem to me a medical or physical reason for why she would not come out of the water with the ball on her nose.
Hmmm, so if she appears to be physically capable then why would she not do it? Well, it could be a number of things: she could have forgetten, maybe she just doesn't want to, or maybe she messed up one time and now she is not sure she can do it! Either way to get the behavior back, patience it key. I needed to make every step towards the final behavior very rewarding which means she gets lots of fish and attention. If she forgot and isn't sure she can do it anymore then taking small steps towards the final behavior will hopefully remind her what we would like her to do. So that is what we have been doing all summer. I asked her to hold the ball steadily on her nose in the water, and gave her lots of fish! Then I asked her to come on deck and if she swam quickly towards me, I gave her lots of fish! Next I expected her to try and come out of the water, even if she couldn't keep the back on her nose, I would give her lots of fish, an A for effort! Well that seemed to fix it! Now she tries everytime to keep the ball on her nose and come out of the water. Sometimes she does it perfectly and she practically gets her whole bucket of fish! Other times she drops it, but I still feed her so the behavior stays fun and interesting for her. Afterall, one of the major reasons we train aniamls is to keep the animals mentally stimulated. In addition, this behavior is developing her muscle strength and tone and increasing her agility. Hopefully by next summer she will be keeping the ball on her nose and moving all around the stage and water easily!
We recently said goodbye to Ralph "Doc" Farnsworth who has retired from Como Zoo and the Unversity of Minnesota School of Veternariy Science.
Star Tribune Story - July 7, 2008
From Como Zoo vet to volunteer
CHRIS HAVENS, Star Tribune
The gorillas probably won't miss Ralph Farnsworth all that much.
Just seeing the veterinarian in his khaki hat walking toward their home at the Como Zoo gets them riled and banging on the glass. When he showed up, they knew they were about to be prodded and maybe stuck with a needle or two.
They'll be resting easier now because Doc, as he's known around the St. Paul zoo, retired last week after more than 40 years of treating the animals.
"I'm old enough," the 71-year-old veterinarian said. "You've got to quit sometime. Might as well do it while I'm in good enough health."
Yes, he still has all of his fingers and toes and a few memories of close calls. His patients have included birds, sea lions and giraffes. He prefers larger animals, despite his smaller stature.
His career didn't come with much of a handbook, so he forged ahead using common sense, intestinal fortitude and animal tranquilizers.
The problem with working with zoo animals, he said, is simple: If you get hurt, you probably get killed.
Farnsworth never liked to get bit, said zoo curator John Dee, who started at Como 20 years ago as a keeper. "You always made sure you had a good hold on the animal," he said.
Not scared? Not careful Farnsworth never planned on working with exotic animals.
But over his career he flew with a gorilla sedated on a stretcher in a small jet to Omaha, captured a moose loose on the grounds of the Glensheen Mansion in Duluth and bottle-fed baby lions in his home. He has shared his knowledge with numerous students.
A few things he has learned:
• Animals are resilient. Sometimes it's best to give nature a chance to be a healer.
• Given the choice, it's better to be on a plane with a gorilla than a horse. "A gorilla has a lot more sense than a horse."
• Sometimes more rewarding than just keeping animals healthy is knowing that people will be able to keep seeing the species.
• If it's not scary working in an animal's pen, then you're not being careful.
Farnsworth's favorite thing about the job has been the challenge of doing it.
Zoo medicine has changed tremendously since Farnsworth started. The level of care was based on how close a vet could get to an animal, he said.
In the old days, ropes were used. Then tranquilizers became safer and safer. Now, some animals respond to commands.
The animal he enjoys working with most is also the most difficult: the long-necked, long-legged giraffe. "They look graceful and nice, but they can kill you very easily," he said.
Farnsworth can be a character, Dee said, but he takes treating animals very seriously.
"If there was an expert around, he got the expert," Dee said. "He was never bashful about getting help so we got the best care for the animals."
Arlene Scheunemann, a zoo board member and longtime volunteer, first met Farnsworth 40 years ago. "He has been absolutely excellent," she said. "Doc was always around."
She fielded late-night calls from him to rush to the zoo to help with a sick animal and returned the favor when her family would take home baby orangutans, tigers and gorillas.
Taking baby animals home for a couple of months was common practice years ago because there wasn't enough room in the old, cramped facility.
No more milking Farnsworth grew up on a dairy farm near Toledo, Ohio, and had every intention of returning to it after college at Ohio State University. But he ended up in vet school and after graduating took a teaching job at the University of Minnesota. That was in 1962, and immediately he began helping out part time at Como.
In 1965, he became the zoo's primary veterinarian in addition to his U duties. "I ended up being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 45-plus years," he said.
Dr. Micky Trent, a U colleague who has been working with Farnsworth over the past several years, will take over as the zoo's primary vet.
Dee said Farnsworth remains on speed dial and will serve as a "special volunteer."
Farnsworth's feelings toward retirement are similar to those he felt when he watched the last cow get towed down the driveway of the family farm in Ohio. "It dawned on me -- now I don't have to milk tonight," he said. "That's kind of how I feel today."
Chris Havens • 651-298-1542
Summertime is downtime for many kids while they are on vacation from school. But at the zoo it is our busiest time! In between caring for the animals and performing Sparky shows for the summer crowds, we also have some less exciting, but equally important maintenance work to do around the zoo. One of the wonderful things about being a zookeeper is that we never sit still for too long! Whether it is srubbing pools on our hands and knees, disinfecting enrichment items, preparing pools for painting, or vacuuming pools we are always moving!
After 45 of dedicated service Veterinarian Ralph Farnsworth (also known as Doc to some) has retired. He will still be seen around the zoo grounds not as a vet but as a volunteer. He has many memories of working with all of the animals and people but his favorite animal is the giraffe.
Doc has taught so many things to so many people. Thanks Doc for all of your great service here at Como Park Zoo.
Well, it may have come on quietly, but it is definitely summer! It's 80 degrees, the sun is shining, the ice cream stands are out, and the Sparky Show has started! This years show is "Sparky's Coastal Journey" and it's all about her imaginary trip to California and the Arctic in search of polar bears. The kick-off was Saturday and it was a hit as crowds learned and laughed while Sparky and her trainer gallivanted all over the United States. Chino even came down for a surprise visit and waved to the surprised crowd!
And of course we were all happy to see the seals and sea lions out on the newly resurfaced Island soaking up the rays. Training demonstrations with the animals occur at 3:00pm daily (except for Mondays) and will begin on Saturday May 31st.
It's been a beautiful Memorial Day weekend, and just think, we have an entire summer of fantastic warm weather ahead of us!
After a long winter and an even longer spring, the weather and construction around the zoo has finally cooperated enough for the Zebra and Giraffe to go out. After the yards had been cleaned and given the once over, we opened the doors for Jahari and Daisy Giraffe, and Ulysses the Grant's Zebra to enjoy the sunshine. All were a bit hesitant as is usual for hoofstock when there is a change in routine, but after only a few minutes, Ulysses was running and kicking up his heels as the giraffe calmly walked their exhibit, nibbling the new grass and looking at their adoring fans. We hope to get the rest of the giraffe herd out in the next week. Jenga, the almost two year old, seemed eager, but has not ventured out yet. 8 month old Autumn and mother Clover will get to go outside when it warms up a bit more. For now, they can be seen on the inside exhibit.
Let the Sun Shine and Happy Memorial Day weekend!
One of the best parts of my job is getting to go to the different areas of the zoo to assist with the zoo's operant conditioning program. Operant conditioning, is a great way to mentally stimulate the animals as well as get them to participate in their own daily health care. Today, the cat keeper and I decided to try a session with Pahstrel, an Amur Tiger, outside on exhibit. Pahstrel was lounging in the sun in the tall grass at the center of her exhibit when we went out into the keeper area, but her ears perked up when she recognized our voices and heard us call for her, and after only a few seconds came over to the fence to begin her session. We do protected contact training with our big cats, meaning there is always a barrier between the trainer and the cats. As an added safety measure, we also use tongs to feed the training treats to the big cats. Even though they look cuddly and cute, these animals are wild, and would not hesitate to grab a finger or arm if the opportunity arose. Pahstrel was very eager and participated well for the session, putting her paws on the mesh when asked, as well as sitting and standing on her back legs on command. We kept it simple as she had not previously trained outside and was a bit distracted by the noises of the zoo getting ready to open for the day. At the end of the session, she returned to her spot in the middle of the exhibit to soak up the sunshine while it lasted.
