Animal Training Adventures

Time is passing very quickly here at America’s Teaching Zoo. We are already into our 2nd semester and it’s also moving along quite fast.  Last semester was a little crazy, there was a huge learning curve for all of us first years, and at final exam time in December, we were all extremely stressed out. If any of our grades dropped below a C, we would get dismissed from the program, and there were lots of worried people. However, the great news is that we are all still here! (we lost one person back in October/ November but none since then.).

It’s been a very sad year here and especially the last few months as we have lost lots of animals, mostly due to old age or illness. Just since we have started in the program since August we’ve lost a caracal, sea lion, goat, 4 sheep, bobcat, raccoon, opposum, sugar glider, wolf, 2 parrots (African Grey and Blue and Gold Macaw), and wood duck. We also don’t have our 3 pigs or camel anymore as they have gone back to their owners. (some of the animals at the zoo belong to the zoo and some are on loan from other companies). It’s very sad walking by the empty enclosures, but we have been told that we will be getting more animals soon so that’s something we’re all looking forward too.

We have less classes this semester so that is awesome, but we are busy with other things now. Every year the Zoo has a giant fundraiser called Spring Spectacular, which is 3 weekends in March of family fun. There will be all kinds of things going on like animal shows, various booths of activities, food, games, etc. There is so much prep work involved in this, that there is actually an entire class devoted just to this event. We are all put on various committees for Spring Spec and that’s what we work on. Some of the committees are: Vendors, Tickets, Set Design (for the scripted plays), Costumes, Props, Sound, Kids Zone, Eye to Eye (more animal shows), Creature Feature….

I actually came to Spring Spec last year while I was out here for the Eatm meeting that all the prospective students had to attend. I really enjoyed it so I’m looking forward to it this year, and especially cause I get to be a part of it this time around.

A couple weeks ago we had to turn in our animal requests – this is a list of animals that we want to train for next semester, that we will actually get to start getting “turned over” on in March. We choose from each category and list our top 5 choices. Our grades depend on what ones we get, and also how many people want that particular animal. The categories are: Carnivores, birds, primates and herbivores. We should find out sometime in the next few weeks which animals we are assigned too – very exciting!!!!

The weather here has not been great lately and it really sucks working outside in the cold rain. It’s been raining the last few days, and honestly, it’s super hard getting out of bed when its still dark outside and pouring with rain. It’s the kind of weather where you just want to lie in a nice warm bed inside in the warmth and watch a movie while drinking hot chocolate. NOT scooping animal poop and slipping in mud while being completely soaking wet. All of us were wearing our rain jackets with hoods up today, hurrying to get all our duties done. Envious of those who got to be in Nutrition and Reptiles this week as those are indoors. It gets to a point where you’re like “ok, I’m already wet, so what’s a little more water…” and eventually stop putting the hood up when it keeps falling down. Or not caring if you get sprayed in the face by the hose, yet again. (this happens all the time, it’s inevitable that you’ll get sprayed in the face (or leg, or stomach, or…) with a hose either from yourself or someone else, more than once. ).

But this is what we signed up for right? We have no choice but to keep doing our duties rain or shine, the animals have to be cared for. They don’t like the rain anymore than we do.