LisaAnnOKane
Tampa, FL
Female, 32
During my zookeeping and environmental education career, I have interacted and worked with a variety of animals, including brown bears, wolverines, red foxes, moose, camels, mountain goats, dolphins, sea lions, raccoons, porcupines, snakes, raptors and ravens. I am also a young adult author, and my debut novel ESSENCE was released in June 2014 by Strange Chemistry Books. Ask me anything!
Hahaha, absolutely! Many, many species of animals enjoy a gratuitous romp in the hay. As a matter of fact, bonobos (chimp-like primates) revolve almost their entire social structure around sex. They use intercourse (in various, creative forms) to greet each other, to solve disputes, and to make up after fights. They even use sex as currency when bartering for food! In my personal experience, I have worked at facilities that house dolphins, and... man! The things I have seen, particularly with males (and females, and other males, and cones, and toys, and pretty much any other inanimate thing)... Let's just say the Spice Network could take some tips from those guys... ;)
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Thanks for the great question, Great Outdoors... There are so many misconceptions about this that I'm happy to share my knowledge! Many people split bear attacks into two categories: black bear attacks or brown bear attacks. I think, however, that it's infinitely more helpful to split bear attacks into two different categories: DEFENSIVE attacks or PREDATORY attacks. DEFENSIVE attacks are the ones we are FAR more likely to encounter in the wild: we've stumbled upon a bear, startled it, blocked its access or threatened its food, gotten between a sow and her cubs, etc. These attacks are typically not as life-threatening as predatory attacks, because the bears will generally stop attacking us as soon as they feel like we are no longer a threat. (Slightly heartening, I suppose...) Defensive attacks by brown bears are far more common than defensive attacks by black bears, because black bears evolved in habitats with lots of trees. When black bears feel threatened, they typically just scoot up the closest one. Brown bears, on the other hand, evolved in more open areas, so they are more hard-wired to stand their ground. If you ever encounter a startled bear, remain calm and do not run. Here are some tips from BearInfo.org: 1. Speak in a low monotone voice so the bear can identify you as human. 2. A bear may charge in an attempt to intimidate you – usually stopping well short of contact. 3. If contact is made, or about to be made, drop to the ground and play dead. Protect your back by keeping your pack on. 4. Lie on your stomach, clasp your hands behind your neck, and use your elbows and toes to avoid being rolled over. If the bear does roll you over, keep rolling until you land back on your stomach. 5. Remain still and quiet. A defensive bear will stop attacking once it feels the threat has been removed. 6. Do not move until you are absolutely sure the bear has left the area. PREDATORY attacks are incredibly rare, but they are exactly what they sound like: attacks where a bear is purposefully seeking us out and intending to kill and eat us. This is the stuff nightmares are made of, so it's obviously important to react differently. Here are some more tips from BearInfo.org: 1. Any bear that continues to approach, follow, disappear and reappear or displays other stalking behaviors is possibly considering you as prey. Bears that attack you in your tent or confront you aggressively in your campsite or cooking area should also be considered a predatory threat. 2. If the bear does not respond to aggressive actions such as yelling or throwing rocks and sticks, you should be prepared to physically fight back if it attempts to make contact. 3. Try to be intimidating: look as large as possible. If you are in a group, stand close together to give the illusion of size. 4. If you have bear spray, emit a deterring blast, preferably before the bear is within twenty-five feet. This gives the animal time to divert its advance. 5. If the attack escalates and the bear physically contacts you, fight back with anything that is available to you. You are quite literally fighting for your life. (Ironically, black bears are responsible for the majority of predatory attacks, not brown bears. This is why popular wisdom suggests only fighting back during black bear attacks and playing dead during brown bear attacks. Who knew?)
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This is a very difficult question to answer, as the rule of thumb is simply to get the situation under control as quickly as possible while also ensuring the safety of everyone involved. I have been part of escapes that have taken only moments to contain, and I have also had to spend an hour or more corraling an animal down from a tree, out from under a barn, etc.
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A Bactrian camel. Hands-down--and I am kind of embarassed to tell you that, because I feel like I should tell you something with more street cred, like a tiger or a polar bear.
But it's funny... I think we tend to be attracted to animals that we identify with in some way. And maybe I just identify with creatures that are a little awkward and misunderstood, because my top five favorite animals of all time are: a Bactrian camel that slipped when he ran too fast, a rough-toothed dolphin with scoliosis of the spine, a moose that loved to give kisses, a red fox that wagged his tail every time he saw me, and a raccoon that liked to sit on my head.
Also, I would LOOOOVE to work with sloths some day. Or anteaters. Or prehensile-tailed porcupines.
Pretty much the Island of Misfit Toys, over here. ;)
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Certified Nurse Aide
Have you ever seen any 'senior abuse' in your nursing home?
Security / Bodyguard
Have you ever had to disarm an attacker?
School Teacher
How do you see parents failing in their children's education?
Hi Hannah, and thanks so much for your question. You can become a zookeeper with any number of degrees, so I would definitely recommend settling on the one you personally find the most interesting: biology, zoology, chemistry, environmental science, psychology, marine biology, natural resources, etc.
I would also recommend checking out the American Association of Zookeepers' "Zookeeping as a Career" page for tons of links and helpful hints: http://aazk.org/zoo-keeping-as-a-career/
The amount of one-on-one time you get really depends on the species of animal and your experience level. Once you are fully trained, you can count on spending quite a bit of time interacting with your animals--either one-on-on or through some kind of protective barrier.
Best of luck to you!
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Hi Daniel! Specific species assignments vary widely from zoo to zoo, but entry-level keepers generally start by working shifts like the petting zoo, the free-flight aviary, and the easier-to-handle reptiles and amphibians.
More "glamorous" shifts like marine mammals, primates and big cats are generally much more competitive and harder to acquire. You will almost definitely need to "put in your time" and prove yourself as an entry-level keeper before you will be eligible for a promotion to these other species.
Best of luck to you!
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Great question, Melody. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums establishes many guidelines for the care of animals in accredited facilities, and these guidelines include ideal temperature conditions. This information helps regulate which animals should be housed in which geographical areas and climates.
The guidelines vary quite a bit in depth from species to species, of course, but here is an example of the depth of information given to polar bear care: "Though polar bears originate from an arctic environment, most are tolerant of fluctuating temperatures, as summers in Churchill, Manitoba can average 64°F (17.8°C), but can reach more than 79°F (26°C) degrees.
"... The orientation of and features within the exhibit can affect the range of temperatures the bears will experience. Hills, trees, shrubs, branches, rocks, and stumps are good pieces of habitat furniture that can be used to provide shade throughout the day. Institutions in warmer climates should consider how to provide cooler areas for their bears using approaches such as free-access to air-conditioned spaces, chilled water, or ice piles. Artificial shade structures that can also incorporate sprinklers and misters, and wind generating fans, are approaches that have also been used. It is important that several cooling areas be made available if multiple bears are on exhibit together. If these features are not available, access to temperature regulated indoor holding areas is recommended."
As you can see, the information presented is very specific. This ensures the polar bears receive the best care and housing possible.
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