A New Appreciation for Seasonal Challenges
I grew up in Spokane and have enjoyed the beauty that each season brings to our region. I am also accustomed to the seasonal challenges, from springtime allergies to snow shoveling and driving in slush. It took moving onsite at Cat Tales and experiencing the seasons, and all the tasks that come with them here to truly appreciate the hard work and commitment that caring for our outdoor occupants require.
Summer is gone, and winter will be here far too soon, so what does that mean to the animal care and maintenance teams here at Cat Tales? Let’s see…
Preparing for Winter
Shade tarps that provide relief from the heat in the summer need to come down. Snow weight is nothing to joke about, so exhibit roofs need shade tarps removed before the fluffy white stuff arrives.
Hoses that help us run sky sprinklers, clean and fill pools, and keep the animals refreshed stop working when filled with ice. Hoses removed, drained, and stored. Spiggots locked for the season and sprinklers stowed away. Our arms, already muscled from hauling basalt, fencing, and compost, are about to get a new workout in hauling water buckets while spilling as little as possible from our winter water source to all the animals through the chilly months ahead.
Tackling Winter Maintenance
Stock up on torches, butane, and lock lube to keep our padlocks functioning all winter. Nothing can quite describe the (sarcastic) joys of thawing a padlock to open it, doing your task, and then needing to thaw it again to get it to close properly. Do you know how many padlocks we open and close each day?!
Water bucket swap time! Each animal gets a heated water bucket installed for the winter, which of course requires running power supply, splitters, and installing the species suitable bucket or bowl for the animals. I always remind my current winter crew of how easy they have it with these heated buckets, where most previous students enrolled in our program had to haul, thaw and replace heavy ice buckets daily for all of the animals. Perspective is a great tool to counter complaining.
Stocking Up for Winter’s Unpredictability
Pool skimmers, bleach pans at our safety gates, and all other non-winter tools are stowed for the season. Cleats and torches are added to our staff’s daily equipment gear, and basic supplies – straw, animal food stores, bleach, gloves and paper products for sanitation, are stocked up to have on hand, just in case… (Just in case could be interruptions to supply chains, weather affecting supply access, and potential winter weather closures. We also stock up as we prepare for the decrease in our visitors each winter, which means a decrease in financial support to cover our normal expenses, so we stock up while we can… just in case.)
The Never-Ending Battle with Pine Needles
Pine needles. The bane and time suck of our lives in the fall, and throughout much of the year. Raking leaves is fun, as it provides enrichment supply for the animals, and some pine needles as well. But the amount we manage is far more than we need or want. Pine needles just keep on giving.
The Physicality of the Job
Believe it or not I love it all. The process, the seasonal tasks and To Do lists which seem endless until the weather changes and the new To Do list takes its place. I missed each of the four seasons that the Spokane region enjoys annually enough to move back home from Hawaii to experience them again. And I love the physicality of the job. Never before have I had to watch my back while raking to avoid being sprayed by a tiger, or time my zip-tie removal (shade tarps) and zipping on new zip-ties (power cords) while carefully avoiding being snagged by a bobcat or serval.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed my first attempt at blogging the world of wildlife rescue and zookeeping, and that it didn’t come across as a complaint list. I do love the job, and being able to teach it to each new student in our program keeps it entertaining. Until next time, enjoy the autumn and watch out for tigers lifting their tails at you.
Lisa G. – Executive Director, Lead Keeper