Page 14 - Work Force February 2023

When winter comes, zoo animals get extra care
CSEA Monroe County Unit member Katrianna Kleinschmidt, a zookeeper at the Seneca Park Zoo, stands in front of the giraffes’ indoor enclosure in which they spend the winter.
ROCHESTER — While many people think of a trip to the zoo as a prime summertime activity, zoo operations are still in full swing during the winter months.
At the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, members drastically change their care for animals across the zoo in preparation for the colder weather.
While some animals can well endure colder temperatures, many animals who are native to warmer climates are put into indoor enclosures during the colder months. For instance, giraffes have a very large enclosure where zookeepers have put up different “toys” hanging from the ceiling to help curb any cabin fever.
Other animals, such as lions and zebras, have a higher tolerance
to cold and are kept outdoors for most of the winter, so they have heated rocks they can lay on in their
outdoor enclosures. The lions even have a heated double-decker bus to lounge in.
The zoo also has several African penguins that need to be kept inside during the winter months. The penguins have what look like very large cat carriers in their indoor enclosure where they can set up nests for themselves.
Whether they’re animals who need extra care during the winter or animals like snow leopards who thrive in the cold, CSEA members make sure that each and every animal is given the best possible care.
In addition to animal care, our members are constantly clearing snow and ice from walkways for patrons and keeping enclosures and exhibits as clean and well-kept as possible for the animals.
— Madison Ruffo
CSEA Monroe County Unit member Kevin Blakely, a zookeeper at the Seneca Park Zoo, feeds African penguins in the indoor enclosure where the penguins stay during the winter months.
At newly organized zoo, winter is bustling
UTICA — For Utica Zoo workers who recently organized a union with CSEA, the work doesn’t stop during the winter.
In fact, winter is a busy time for zoo workers who are planning and coordinating events and programs, all while ensuring they provide a positive visitor experience for those who brave the cold to see their favorite creatures and critters.
“A lot of people back in the day knew that we used to be closed in the winter, so we’re still trying to get that idea out of people’s heads,” said Chris Jakubowski, a CSEA member employed at the Utica Zoo.
Jakubowski wears many hats around the zoo, metaphorically speaking, but he’s known for one hat in particular - his cowboy hat, which earned him the nickname for which he’s known around the zoo,“Cowboy Chris.”
Jakubowski is responsible for
event coordination and visitor experience. His most recent projects included preparing the snowshoe trail and running the zoo’s “Bright Nights” winter event.
“These winter events help us engage the community more,” said Jakubowski. “Having events this time of year helps us because we’re making money, so we don’t have
to worry about struggling when February and March come around.”
Jakubowski added that winter events can help make more money available to expand and improve the zoo and work on special projects.
“If people are looking for something to do and it’s sunny
and a little chilly, the zoo is a great destination for people to get out and walk around and see some animals along the way,” said Jakubowski.
Don’t worry about not seeing the lions; they were all born here and play in the snow, according to
Jakubowski.
It’s not just the humans that are
working hard at the zoo during the winter; the zoo’s ambassador animals are also hard at work.
CSEA member Kallen Muste is an education and ambassador animal specialist at the Utica Zoo. While there aren’t as many education programs or zoogoers during the winter months, Muste works with the zoo’s ambassador animals to prepare them for the busy season.
“Getting animals used to and ready to go on program; people don’t realize how much of a process it is,” said Muste. “It’s a long process of getting them used to being handled and how to present them. A lot of thought goes into that.”
Muste makes sure that the ambassador animals are socialized and used to getting handled. During the slower months, Muste and the education team can help add more
Utica Zoo employee Kallen Muste works with one of the zoo’s ambassador animals.
animals to the ambassador crew.
— Nicholas Newcomb
14 The Work Force
February 2023