Fallen Trees into Furniture

By Jaime Wilson, Zoo Blog Keeper

When the weather is stormy Zoo staff are still working, hoping the power stays on and that the trees stay upright! In rare cases, like today when the winds are gusting up to 45 mph, we close the Zoo to visitors for safety reasons. This only happens a couple times a year - but today one of those days!

Our Zoo keepers and maintenance department are tirelessly working on clearing debris and making sure the animals are safe and comfy. What is that saying? "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Well, in the zoo world it should be "When storms give you fallen trees, make furniture!"

This tree went down in front of the White-faced saki exhibit (the exhibit was unharmed), and as soon as the radio call was out the Zoo keepers were scrambling to get a piece of it! Ungulates will use the leafy parts for browse to feed to the hoof stock, the Vets will use some branches as furniture for a bird enclosure - you get the idea!

Every piece will be used so even though we are less one tree, we have gained some good, useful items!