How are the animals doing?
Our highest priority is for the animals. Though we temporarily closed to the general public on March 17, 2020 during the “Stay at Home” mandates, our essential zookeeper staff continue to put the animal’s health and welfare first and foremost. Animal care starts in the early morning and continues for approximately 12 hours per day.
Our highest priority is for the animals. Though we temporarily closed to the general public on March 17, 2020 during the “Stay at Home” mandates, our essential zookeeper staff continue to put the animal’s health and welfare first and foremost. Animal care starts in the early morning and continues for approximately 12 hours per day.
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We are keeping it safe for ourselves and for the animals in our care!
Due to Federal Licensing, regulations, and mandates as they relate to the animals, we are required to follow the same protocol with the animals as we do with the public and in the workplace. Our animal care includes 6-foot distancing, masks, gloves, face shields where needed, foot (boot) baths to keep transfer from our shoes, and sanitation of all tools, frequently touched areas (locks, fences, gates), and any items that may come in contact with the animals. |
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We have spent the lock-down time making improvements to the animal areas. This includes re-purposing existing fencing and supplies to construct newer and more species-specific housing. During the beginning of October we moved all of the small cats to their new areas. We spent our "spare" time over the summer working many extra hours for the comfort of the animals. The new areas are landscaped with lawns, painted backdrops featuring Northwest plants, and the biggest transformation – black fencing for clear viewing and photos. We have also completed half of the planned red, silver, and arctic fox areas that are currently the new homes of the Arctic Foxes and part of our Red Fox family (expected completion by the end of October.)
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Hope and Jackson enjoying their new exhibit area! Along with getting the small cats situated in their new homes, one year old Hope and Jackson moved into their new environment. You can see just how relaxed they are living the good life at Cat Tales. This is a precious moment as these two young pumas are quite active the majority of the time.
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With cooler weather setting in the animals are coming out of their summer slumber and providing hours of entertainment.
Well into the month of October we are beginning to do our winter prep and taking down the shade tarps, pulling the pools and before too long putting away the hoses. The animals love the cooler weather (our meager staff know that winter is coming and the work load increases tremendously. The animals are gorgeous in the Winter, but shoveling snow is not our favorite task).
Well into the month of October we are beginning to do our winter prep and taking down the shade tarps, pulling the pools and before too long putting away the hoses. The animals love the cooler weather (our meager staff know that winter is coming and the work load increases tremendously. The animals are gorgeous in the Winter, but shoveling snow is not our favorite task).
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During the heat of the summer the animals are kept cool and comfortable. In the early summer, shade tarps were placed and secured over all exhibit and den areas. These will remain in place until cooler weather. Pools were put into the animal areas that currently do not have built in water features. The favorite time for “pool parties” (especially the tigers) is taking a dip or long soak prior to dinner being served. Sprinklers are run to keep all the areas, including the public spaces, cool throughout the day. Our shade trees are in full leaf and shade tents for the guests are in place.
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