Utica Zoo employee Kallen Muste works with one of the zoo’s ambassador animals.
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 animals to the ambassador crew.
— Nicholas Newcomb
