FOX – Zoo Expansion + February Break Week

Good Day Rochester’s Ashley Doerzbacher spent the morning at the Zoo learning about the Zoo’s upcoming expansion from Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and Zoo Director Larry Sorel, as well as Polar Bear Awareness Day and other February Break activities from Zoo Society Executive Director Pamela Reed Sanchez.

Check out the video below and see the full story here.

What has Aurora the polar bear been up to?

Many people wonder where Aurora the polar bear goes in the colder months, when they don’t see her outside as much as they do in the summer season. The answer is that she is doing what most female polar bears do during this time of year: denning.

Aurora recently came out of the denning season. A polar bear’s appetite decreases drastically during this time, and it becomes very picky about what it chooses to eat. During the fall, Aurora does not appear interested in bear chow, fat or lard, meat, and even the fresh salmon fillets that she usually enjoys. Polar bears rest and sleep a lot during denning season, choosing a quiet and private place away from all the hustle and bustle. Aurora tends to use her inside room or her cubbing den, which is away from where people can see her.

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As it gets colder, polar bears in their natural range wait for the ice to reform so they can once again hunt for seals to eat. Polar bears are ambush predators, so they lay on the ice for hours waiting for a seal to pop up in their breathing holes; they then grab the seal and sit on the ice some more to eat it.

Polar bears naturally try to conserve as much energy as they can. So, as much fun as it is to watch a polar bear swimming, it is not a behavior that happens very frequently. Aurora tends to swim less frequently when it’s cold, possibly because the water is typically warmer than the air, so taking a dip in the pool is not as refreshing as it would be in the summer.

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Now that it’s winter, the best time to see Aurora is first thing in the morning, right as the Zoo is opening for the day. Another great time to watch Aurora is at 1:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays when we usually feed her. I can answer any questions you may have during that time as well. We do this year round. In the fall and winter it lasts for about 10 to 20 minutes, but in the summer it can last for as long as 30 to 45 minutes. You can see her best from the outside overlooks or, if you would rather be inside, you can view her from the Rocky Coasts Gallery.

Aurora also receives 4 to 5 additional small feedings each day so that people have multiple chances to see her. These feedings are scheduled randomly because it is more enriching for her when she doesn’t know when to expect it.

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Aurora does spend more time outside now that denning season is over. She likes to wander in and out of the separate areas of her habitat, and we always give her the choice of where she wants to be, so if you don’t see her right away, give it a few minutes! As anyone who has experienced a visit with Aurora can attest, it’s always worth the wait.– Heidi Beifus, Zoo Keeper

Join us for Polar Bear Awareness Day on Saturday, February 25!

Learn More

#BecauseICare

Take action to help to conserve our Earth’s ecosystems and save species from extinction. Small actions add up to create enormous impacts.

Join Seneca Park Zoo’s Because I Care movement and show us how you are taking action to make your pledge count for conservation.Because I care, I will:Turn off the lights when I leave a room. Every time.Turn the thermostat down two degrees in the winter.Ride my bike to work once a month.Tell us about your pledge below!JTNDY2VudGVyJTNFJTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZ2V0ZmVlZGJhY2suY29tJTJGZSUyRkJ2Zk80aDQ5JTNGZ2ZfZm9vdGVyX2JhY2tncm91bmRfb2ZmJTIyJTIwc3R5bGUlM0QlMjJib3JkZXIlM0ElMjAwJTNCJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGaWZyYW1lJTNFJTNDJTJGY2VudGVyJTNF

D&C — Rochester’s zoo will undergo ambitious renovation

The Democrat and Chronicle featured a front page story on Phase 1 of the 10-year master plan project included in Monroe County’s overall 2017 Capital Budget.

Watch the video below and read the full story here.

Working in the Frog Room

Hanna-Comstock-2016-Walter-BrooksThe Zoo is home to a variety of species of frogs and toads, and snowy winter days are perfect for a stop into visit these fascinating amphibians.

You may have walked right past the frog room in the Main Building during your last visit, but Hannah Comstock, one of the zoo keepers who keeps this area of the Zoo running, thinks it’s worth a second look. We talked with her about what she loves about working with frogs, and what makes them so special.Where is the frog room at the Zoo? How many and what types of species are housed there?

The frog room is located in the Main Building near the Aviary. We have three habitats with multiple species of frogs: Panamanian Golden Frogs (Atelopus zeteki) and Green and Black Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates auratus) located in the hallway near the snakes and the Rotunda with the Pied Tamarins; Nominate Dyeing Poison Dart Frogs, Green Dyeing Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates Tinctorius), and Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates leucornelas) in the entry way to the Aviary; and Vietnamese Mossy Frogs (Theloderma corticale) in another tank.

What is the most important duty of yours as a keeper in this area of the Zoo?

Maintaining the tanks is a big part of my job in the frog room. When I work there, I make sure to mist every tank daily.  Some tanks also have fog machines that I turn out periodically throughout the day. I remove dead leaves, clean off plants of any waste, and once a week every tank gets a complete water change.  We don’t use plain tap water for the tanks; we have a special filtration system to make the water habitable for the frogs. Occasionally, we will hear the frogs calling and see them enter amplexus, which is how they mate. At this point, I make sure to keep an eye out for any eggs or tadpoles so we can pull them out and raise them separately from the adults.  We also breed fruit flies to feed them, which is a big part of working in the frog room.  Making sure we have enough food for them and making new fly cultures is a weekly task.

Photo by Jackie Kolb

What was your training and experience before becoming a zoo keeper?

I have a very long history with Seneca Park Zoo. When I was younger, I was a camper here at the Zoo. Soon after that, I was part of a program called Zoo Explorers where we learned more about what it takes to be a zoo keeper. After that, I decided to join the ZooTeen program and participated in that for four years. I went to college at SUNY- ESF, or College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where I received a bachelor’s degree in conservation biology.  While attending college, I had an internship with the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, where I worked two days a week with their seven Asian Elephants. I continued to volunteer with Seneca Park Zoo staff for a year after graduating, before being hired as a zoo keeper.

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What is the first thing you do each day to care for the species in the frog room? The last thing each day?

The first thing I do every day is make sure everyone is accounted for and doing well. Next, I make sure the tanks are clean and everyone gets a good misting. The last thing I do is feed every frog and make sure the tanks are securely closed before heading home.

What is one thing someone can do individually to help save frogs in their natural range or provide a better environment for them?

One thing we all can do is reduce, reuse, and recycle!  Buying items with less packaging and buying items we can use over and over again is a great way to cut down on waste, but on the occasions when it can’t be avoided, try buying something recyclable so it doesn’t end up in a landfill.  Keeping our environment healthy and our waterways clear will help amphibian species survive better alongside us.

What is something about frogs that most people probably don’t know?

Poison dart frogs derive their toxins from the food that they eat in their natural range. This is different from poisonous toads, which have something called a parotid gland behind their eye that secretes the toxins that they produce themselves. Amphibians in general also have very sensitive skin that is permeable to water. If you ever come to the Zoo and see a keeper wearing rubber gloves while handling the frogs or while they are cleaning, it is to protect the frogs from anything we may have on our hands.

What has been the most surprising thing you’ve learned about frogs?

Despite their size, they all have such personalities!  We have some that will always hide from you when you open the tank and some that will sit there without any problem. Some climb walls, some swim, some are easy to catch, and some are extremely difficult. To a guest, they may all look exactly the same, but to me they are all unique. I can tell them apart from the spots on their back or the way the lines on their legs are shaped. Spend enough time with the frogs at the Zoo, and you will see they are all individuals and all very special creatures.Hannah Comstock, Zoo Keeper