Temperatures across the country have plummeted this week, with wind chill temperatures reaching as low as -48 degrees. Schools, offices, and many events are being canceled in order to keep people safe. But in harsh conditions like this, what do zoos do? How do they balance keeping both the animals and their caretakers safe despite the conditions? We reached out to several Midwestern zoos this week to find out more.
Proper Preparation
The biggest takeaway after hearing from several zoos is that they all feel that they are 100% prepared for the weather conditions. Most zoos responded saying a majority of their animals thrive in cooler conditions. They added that the ones that don’t have access to an indoor exhibit. Jay Tetzloff, Zoo Director at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, Illinois, says that their zoo is largely made up of a collection of animals that can adapt to the cold weather. This makes the experience better for visitors and safer for keepers. But having cold weather animals isn’t enough. Zoo guidelines regulate when certain animals can be outside. The Cincinnati Zoo called out that their beloved hippo Fiona can only be outside in temperatures warmer than 45 degrees. These animals obviously have indoor enclosures for cooler days.
But when conditions get extremely severe, what precautions are taken to ensure animal safety? The methods taken vary by zoo. Animals’ needs are met in each. Henry Kacprzyk, Curator of Kids Kingdom and Reptiles at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, noted how their zoo increases the level of comfort of the indoor exhibits to encourage animals to utilize the indoor enclosures. According to Kacprzyk, the zoo utilizes supplemental heating, including heated flooring, to keep the animals comfortable. He also says diets are temporarily increased to include more calories to aid the animals in sustaining the harsher temperatures.
Cold Weather Animals
Kacprzyk also mentioned that some animals, like amur tigers, otters, and polar bears enjoy the cold weather and can withstand cold temperatures. In some cases, however, zoo staff has to take matters into their own hands and ensure the animals are safe. Jaime Racalla, Animal Care Supervisor at the John Ball Zoological Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan, says that even though many of the animals at their zoo can withstand Michigan winters, certain days this week were mandatory indoor days for the animals to ensure safety. She also calls out that the staff took extra precaution by moving their raptor species (bald eagles, barn owls, pelicans, and other larger birds) to an indoor enclosure as early as last weekend to avoid the polar vortex. These animals will stay in moderate temperatures in order to ease a quick transition back to the outdoors when the conditions are less extreme.
Taking Care of Zoo Staff
With the animals set up to survive the cold weather, the emphasis shifts to their fearless caretakers. Both Kacprzyk and Racalla listed several ways that the zoo ensure the safety of their workers. The John Ball Zoo provided zoo staff with extra hot cocoa this week to stay warm. They also were able to utilize extra zoo vehicles to make their way to the exhibits in a safer, quicker fashion. The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium ensures that their staff take additional indoor breaks during these harsh conditions.
While the above examples show how zoos take precaution during extreme weather, other accredited zoos will follow suit. The communications team at the Association for Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has guidelines set up for zoos to follow. Several standards specifically call out the responsibility of zoos to monitor habitats during harsh weather conditions. The AZA encourages zoos to go beyond the guidelines. This means taking measures such as mandatory temperature restrictions for animals like elephants and giraffes. Animals are also taken indoors as needed to ensure safety.
Last Resort Measures
As further evidence of zoos taking proper precautions during this arctic freeze, the AZA cited the large number of zoos that closed for multiple days this week. Of these closings, the one that stood out to me was the Atlanta Zoo. While the weather in Georgia may not be as severe as it is currently in the Midwest, it’s far below the norm for this time of year. But what makes this closing more interesting is that it occurs just days before the town hosts this year’s Super Bowl, bringing in thousands of visitors to the Atlanta area. Despite the temptation to withstand the temperatures and benefit from extra visitors, the zoo did the right thing and closed the zoo.
We’ve visited zoos when the weather was below 20 degrees. However, the polar vortex is enough to keep us away this week. Many thanks go out to those taking care of the animals at zoos experiencing these cold temperatures, as well as thanks to zoo leadership that has decided to close these zoos to ensure safety. Here’s hoping these conditions give way to sunshine soon!
Many thanks to staff at the following zoos for responding quickly this week and contributing to this article:
John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Cincinnati Zoo (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Miller Park Zoo (Bloomington, Illinois)
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
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