My Zoo

Ok so it's been awhile since I've posted anything but time gets away from me. I've been working 6 days a week at the zoo since well pretty much since I was hired so my free time is limited. Love the overtime so I'll take all I can get to pay off the costs of moving out here. The down side is I have only one day to myself and sometimes that just isn't enough. Not to mention the fact I work a second job, but that's another story. Lots of things have happened since I moved out here 2 months ago, but I haven't had the time or motivation to type them out. I'm gonna try now to cover at least a couple of them but we'll see how it goes.



First the skinny on my new Zoo. I work at the Utica Zoo here in lovely scenic Utica NY. It's not the largest all inclusive Zoo in the world. It's no Brookfield Zoo (I'm originally from Chicago) but it's pretty nifty all the same. I work in the Children's Zoo/Asian Realm section of the Zoo where I work with mostly hoofstock animals (that's animals with hooves on their feet for those who don't know) like Goats (Tennessee Fainting, Nigerian Dwarf and African Pygmy), Llamas, a Donkey, a Bactrian Camel, Jacob's Sheep, a Collared Peccary (pig), and a Muntjac (tiny deer like animal). I also work with quite a few birds both big and small, from our Screech Owl all the up to our Emu, with just about everyone in between. Some are Raptors (Birds of Prey) Harris and Red-Tailed Hawks, Barn and Great Horned Owls, & an American Kestrel. Others are not: Peacocks & Peahens, Ducks (various species), Golden & Reeve's Pheasants, and a Black Crowned Night Heron. I've also got a bunch of different turtle species in my area. No fish, but I have California Sea Lions, Flemish Giant Rabbits, Parma Wallabies, and a Cat. Not too shabby for one section of the Zoo.

There are 2 other sections of the Zoo: Core and North Trek. Well really 3 if you count Diet Preparation/Quarantine, but visitors can't go there. Most of the large Carnivores i.e. Tigers, Mexican Wolves, Boar etc are in North Trek. Core has the Primates and the Reptiles and Amphibians, so all in all we have a decent collection for being a medium size Zoo. I'll work on getting some pics posted soon. I have to get them off my camera first.

My fellow Keepers are all really cool. I fit in well with them. Almost too well it seems. It was scary how easily I meshed with them. Just proves that they are just as sick and twisted as I am, but don't let that scare you off of visiting us. As long as you realize that yes we may bite (usually only when asked but if provoked...) so be careful but by all means feed us. We like our animals respond well to Positive Reinforcement Training. Want us to do something? Offer to buy Pizza and Beer and we're on it. I guess most people are aren't they? Well now you know the scientific term for it.


Eventually I'll get trained in all of the different areas of the Zoo but for now I'm running things down in Children's Zoo. It's a lot of raking though currently with Interns I don't do as much which is a nice break, but we also have most of the Zoo's current babies. We have baby goats and baby rabbits currently with more kid goats on the way. So while my area may not have all the cool exotics I have the babies. Who can resist a baby animal? If you can you have no heart and should die a horrible slow death. Ok maybe not but you're weird.

There's lots to do in a day at my Zoo, hey that rhymed! Lots more than what I was doing at my old Zoo. Much love for my old Zoo back in Chicagoland but it can't compare to the opportunities here. You could almost put my old Zoo into the space that the Children's Zoo takes up. It was a shock to see how big my area was. The first few days while I was being trained I kept thinking "I'm supposed to do all this in one day?! By myself?!" Even still I don't miss "walking the path" at my old Zoo functioning more as a security guard than a Keeper. Sorry Randy it had to be said. So this move was an upgrade for sure even our Keeper car that we use to haul stuff around our areas is bigger than what I was used to. If you're reading this Randy or any of the PPZ Zew Croo, My new Keeper Car could kick your Keeper Car's ass! Yes Randy even yours. Bring it on! The first time I drove the Keeper Car I liked having some power and speed.

So that's the skinny on my new Zoo. Pics to come just as soon as I find my camera cord. Still have a random box or two left to unpack. It must be in there somewhere.