Our Animals Have a Job to Do

They have feathers, fur, scales or shells but they all have one thing in common – they have a job to do, just like the keepers that care for them. Our Zoo’s hands-on animals are called outreach animals, and most of them live in The Loft.

“We have two types of outreach animals,” Jennifer Diaz, Education Interpretive Animal Keeper said. “They are either ‘working’ or ‘handling.’ Only one of our animals, Tiger Lily, the skunk, is both.”

Diaz explains that working animals demonstrate natural behaviors or learned skills. Marty McFly, an American kestrel, flies from one part of The Loft onto a glove. Remmy, an opossum, shows off his climbing skills by lifting himself onto a stump. Handling animals allow hundreds of Zoo guests to get up close and feel their exteriors. Snakes, tortoises and some really cool insects are the most common handling animals.

“All of our outreach animals are personable,“ Diaz said. “They are also animals that want to ‘work.’ We don’t use animals for outreach if it is stressful for them or if they are scared of the experience.”

They are usually well behaved. Lily likes to open the fridge and take out her own snacks, but for the most part the animals in The Loft follow the rules.  

“We use positive reinforcement to train our animals,” Diaz said. “If they don’t feel like training, they simply don’t get a delicious bug or piece of fruit. Most animals really enjoy training time because it means they get food that tastes the best to them.”

Not only do our outreach animals give guests memorable close-up experiences, they are teaching children the responsibility of caring for an animal. Diaz lets selected children help tear lettuce for the lizards, give water to the tortoises, spray down the amphibians or watch a snake eat a mouse.

“Our outreach animals have a very important job to do,” Diaz said. “They help guests get over their fears of species with scales (mostly snakes), put smiles on their faces, leave lasting memories and, most importantly, they help people fall in love with nature and value caring for it.”