Last Friday’s rain created an interesting twist for the zoo staff and many of the animals.  After enduring a long winter and doing a great job watching over the animals through thick and thin, we were more than ready for winter to be over.  It was great to see the animals outside and the crowds filling the pathways.  The sounds of the school groups drowned out the honking of the nesting Canada geese.  Life in the zoo was moving in the right direction for man and beast alike.  Then came the rain.

Friday’s rain started early in the morning and the forecast called for rain throughout the day.  Sure, we expected the rain to continue, but I don’t think anyone thought it would continue to come down hard all day long.  By early afternoon, it was apparent that it was not going to let up.  Staff cleared storm drains to no avail because the lines were just too full to take any more water.  As keepers continued checking on the animals there were those that were enjoying the rain and flooded enclosures. 

The tiger cubs had a field day as the water rose across their enclosure. They chased and tackled each other in the flooded habitat.  It was warm, wet, and an immersed playground for them to romp and run.  Zoya and Viktor were not as impressed with the continuous rain, but like human parents, it is hard to see the world as our kids do.  Across the zoo’s campus everyone from the otters and camels on the northside to the bears on the southside reveled in the ongoing rain.  

But as some were reveling in the continuous rain, others were not as enthusiastic.  For Milo the rabbit, the water encroached into his barn space, so staff moved him to a space inside the Outreach building until water began seeping into that space.  She was eventually moved to the auditorium in the visitor center.  Yes, Milo is a girl.  

The only other animals that had to be relocated were the ground hornbills as ground space in their enclosure continued to shrink.  Throughout the day, rain-soaked staff continued to watch over the animals, pumping water from enclosures in danger of flooding and making sure animals confined to their holding areas had everything they needed.  It wasn’t like last year’s blizzard but could have been just as serious.

On Mother’s Day, the sun came out brightly along with the animals and guests.  As a farming community rain is nearly always a welcomed change, but perhaps in smaller doses.  The zoo will certainly be thankful for rain once the sod is laid in the new Amur Leopard Forest exhibit.  With so much construction in the future, you can bet that staff will be keeping an eye on the sky as summer approaches because before we know it, winter will become their main concern again.  But until then, we will make hay while the sun shines and do everything possible to live up to the expectations of the animals and our guests.