Home from the tundra!

It's always a weird feeling coming back to work after a vacation, but this is a completely new feeling! I have been in Churchill for the last 2 weeks out on the Tundra Buggy everyday talking with visitors about Polar Bears International and polar bears in general. As a zookeeper, my main responsibility was to share with people how polar bears in zoos are turning out to be some of the most important subjects to help us protect bears in the wild! They are serving as ambassadors for their wild counterparts in an unprecedented way by participating in research projects that help us learn more about bears in the wild and protect them more effectively. In addition, I go on to talk about just how amazingly the bears have adapted to one of the harshest climates in the world. I was truly inspired by being out on the tundra everyday talking with people who care about bears, collaborating with other zookeepers, and answering questions about polar bears and climate change. Sometimes it may feel like the problem is too big, or its too late to change, but talking with the top scientists who say we can still change and meeting so many people who care and are ready to take action got me motivated to make as many changes in my life as I can! Now I am hoping to keep this momentum and inspire all of us to lead more sustainable lives in hopes of saving the polar bears!

ZooBoo on Twin Cities Live

Thursday's Episode of Twin Cities Live on KSTP

Max the Harbor Seal

On September 23rd Max, a 26 year old harbor seal, was transported to the University of Minnesota for removal of an ocular tumor on his right eye. Dr. LaRocca, a veterinary ophthalmologist, worked in collaboration with Como Zoo’s vet Dr. Trent and the University of Minnesota veterinary staff. The surgery was a success and Max had his one month check up with Dr. LaRocca today and is healing well. He is continuing to participate in his operant conditioning training program. Since Max participates in his own medical behaviors through training, we were able to closely monitor the 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.

ZooBoo on KSTP

October at Como Zoo

October brings about many changes at the zoo. The switch to winter hours occured on October 1, meaning the zoo closes at 4pm instead of 6pm, bringing all the zookeepers to the zoo at the same time instead of in split shifts. Wood cutouts of animals and fairy-tale creatures among other things start springing up all over the grounds in preparation for Zoo Boo. And, as the temperatures continue to drop, it is time to winterize the Bird Yard. The migration of the flamingos, ducks, and geese from the Bird Yard exhibit occured last Thursday. Keepers rounded up the birds carrying them down to the Animal Support Building where they were checked over, weighed, and photographed before being placed in their indoor holding. The Animal Support Building is once again filled with noisy quacking and honking.

Our newest addition, the flamingo chick hatched this July has grown like a weed! As you can see in the picture below, it is almost the same size as the rest of the flock and is starting to get the pink feathers of an adult. Feather samples have been sent to a lab to determine the sex of the little one. We will continue to give the flamingos access to their outside holdings during the nice sunny days in October, but it is nice to be able to close them in at night to make sure they stay toasty warm. Hopefully next spring will come quickly and we can look forward to moving them back to the Bird Yard for everyone to enjoy.

Baby Giraffe in the News

Baby Giraffe

A new baby giraffe born October 3 made it's big debut today. The "little" girl is 5' 5" and approximately 150 pounds.