Winter kind of snuck up on us this week and right now looks like it is here to stay for a while. Unfortunately, that does not slow things down across the Zoo’s campus and if anything makes it even busier. The admissions will slow down, but the animal care team begins to step it up as we prepare for the cold days and even colder nights. And now with the cold upon us, the Zoo is continuing to move forward with animal transfers that have been waiting for confirmations and transportation to get them done.

This next week alone, staff is closely watching the weather as the Boo at the Zoo event draws near. Forecasts at the time of writing this article are for a high of 24-degrees on Sunday, Oct. 29. Last year’s event welcomed over 4,900 guests on a sunny 69-degree Sunday.

As we began meeting for this year’s event, we focused on addressing those unexpected areas with the previous crowd. With the drastic change in the weather, I am a bit more concerned about the event overall. Just as I worry more about the keepers than the animals during this type of weather, I am concerned for our vendors who have volunteered their time and resources to help support the zoo and creating a safe, family-oriented, trick-or-treat experience. As mentioned right now everything is going on as scheduled, but if changes are made, contact us.

Once we get past Sunday’s event, the staff will begin to prepare for loading the zebras for their upcoming transfer to the North Carolina Zoo. The hardest part will be keeping staff from trying to tag along in search of warmer weather. While we all may be envious of their moving south, it has been part of a plan for some time as we prepare for the impending flood mitigation project. Along the same lines, staff will be bidding farewell to the bongo who will also be headed south once everything is in place for her transfer. Both moves will make more sense next spring as work begins on the new African Plains Building and the giraffes make their move into the current zebra exhibit. The bongo exhibit will be used to stage the construction that should be completed by the fall of next year creating a space for the giraffes to spend their days once the flood wall project moves into the zoo in 2025.

One thing we have learned about the project is that it is very fluid and the best we can do is try to make the right choices to stay a step ahead of it. For today, we deal with what is in front of us. We clear the snow, make sure the animals are safe and warm, while keeping one eye on the weather and what is yet to come.