How do you cope when the weather is bitterly cold? Do you relish hot showers or baths, walk around in the sunshine when possible, do puzzles to keep your mind sharp and enjoy favorite snacks?
You probably have a lot more in common with the denizens of Dickerson Park Zoo than you realize. The zoo is open to visitors all year; however, it does close when Springfield experiences weather that could be dangerous to humans and animals.
When the cold isn’t quite so bitter, many animals are given free rein to stay inside their enclosures or to curl up near a heat source, according to Ken Harmon, general curator for Dickerson Park Zoo.
Keeping animals comfortable, no matter the weather
All enclosures at the zoo have air-conditioning and heating, Harmon said, allowing for animals to stay comfortable and safe all year.
The zoo puts measures in place to keep the animals safe when weather gets cold. There are generators for each enclosure, ensuring that if power goes out, the zoo’s residents are still safe.
Giraffe mom Emma and her calf, Gelner, stayed cozy inside their enclosure during the recent chill thanks to propane heaters and fans that keep warm air circulating.
When the News-Leader visited Jan. 3, many animals were taking full advantage of the sunshine despite the day’s high topping out just above freezing.
Lions lounged on rocks in the sun, capybaras roamed the yard and Chilean flamingos congregated around outdoor heating lamps. Some zoo residents enjoy being outside no matter the weather.
“The otters don’t care if it’s 10 (degrees) or 100 (degrees),” said Joey Powell, zoo spokesperson, with a laugh.
Of course, not every animal enjoys being outside when it’s frosty. The zoo’s Aldabra giant tortoises much prefer to stay in their 80 degree enclosure, said Brian Tarabula, lead reptile keeper. The cutoff for them to come outside, Tarabula said, is about 60 degrees. But even then, it’s not a guarantee that they will come outside. Being tortoises, they move a bit slowly.
To bring the tortoises in from “their big yard outside, it takes about an hour, an hour and a half,” Tarabula said. “If we don’t have to resort to carrying (them), which is fun for them, but not fun for us.”
Some may be surprised to know that the zoo’s alligator, Rico, is spending the winter outside thanks to a heated pond.
“He now has, basically, a hot tub, a heated pool. He can stay out, we’re hoping, year-round,” Harmon said.
The “hot tub” is a relatively recent addition. Tarabula helped design the pool after attending “croc school” — the crocodilian biology and management course at The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. The course is currently in its 21st year and features experts from universities, zoos, aquariums and private conservation programs.
“One of the things we learned at croc school is what alligators can actually withstand winter-wise, because a lot of people took them inside like we used to do,” Tarabula said. “As it turns out, as long as you keep their pool warm enough, you can keep them outside indefinitely.”
A lot of practices have changed as knowledge improves, said Harmon, who has been in the profession for 30 years.
For example, more places are incorporating sand into African elephants’ indoor enclosures, as its better for the animals’ joints, Harmon said.
Rico isn’t the only one who enjoys hot water during the cold weather. In the winter, Patience the African elephant gets warm showers with a fire hose in the morning to help soothe her arthritis.
Staving off boredom with indoor activities
Dickerson Park Zoo offers the elephants time outdoors as well as the ability to be inside, where they have heated floors, radiant heat and activities to keep them occupied, such as barrels suspended from the ceiling from which the elephants can pull hay.
Each animal has various kinds of enrichment activities, something that both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums as well as the United States Agriculture Department requires. Much like humans, animals get bored, especially in the winter when the weather keeps them inside.
While inside, the keepers ensure that there are things to keep the animals occupied. In the tortoises’ case, this includes mirrors that mimic a sense of community, as well as food enrichment like patches of grass or pumpkins.
“We’re trying to keep them as entertained as possible, just like every (animal) around the zoo,” Tarabula said. “All the indoor spaces are decked out with enrichment right now. We’re trying to keep them physically and mentally stimulated during this time.”
In areas where guests are able to walk through and there aren’t doors, the zoo hangs freezer strips to keep the warm air in the enclosures, though those are more for humans, according to Powell.
Powell also added that while visitors may see drained ponds during the winter, they shouldn’t panic. The ponds guests see are mainly for aesthetic purposes and not the animals’ source of drinking water. Often, drinking water sources are out of sight, but are always available for the animals.
Missouri’s weather also plays a role in determining how to best keep animals safe — especially when it comes to which animals can stay at Dickerson Park Zoo.
“Most zoos are (considering the climate) now. We’ll never have polar bears, because it’s just not the right climate,” Harmon said.
SPRINGFIELD NEWS-LEADER