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