Membership

Donate

Tickets

Membership

Donate

Tickets

Category: Uncategorized

The Importance of Maintaining an Elephant Plasma Bank

Posted on by Jaiya Astacio

Elephant conservation doesn’t only happen in the field—it happens in the lab, in the hospital, and in the moments before a crisis. EEHV remains one of the leading causes of death in Asian elephants in North America and Europe, but preparation saves lives. That’s why Seneca Park Zoo maintains an elephant plasma bank, ensuring that when a herd needs help, plasma is readily available.

Why We Maintain an Elephant Plasma Bank

At Seneca Park Zoo, conservation and care are key tenets of our mission. That’s why we maintain an elephant plasma bank in our Animal Hospital. Caring for elephants means preparing for every possibility, including rare but serious illnesses. That’s where our plasma bank can help.

The plasma bank exists to help treat elephants affected by a disease called Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus, or EEHV. This virus is one of the leading causes of death in Asian elephants in North America and Europe and has also been an issue for elephants in their natural range.

There are several different strains of EEHV, and most elephants carry at least one of them in a dormant form. Young elephants are born with antibodies they receive from their mothers, but those antibodies fade as the calf grows. If a young elephant loses these antibodies before their own immune system has fully developed and is then exposed to EEHV, they can develop EEHV Hemorrhagic Disease, a severe and often deadly illness.

This disease causes the virus to attack the cells that line blood vessels. When those blood vessels are damaged, fluid leaks into surrounding tissues, causing swelling and internal bleeding. If not treated quickly, the condition can lead to sepsis, shock, and heart failure.

When a young elephant becomes sick with EEHV, treatment involves intensive care. Veterinarians use antiviral medications, fluids, and plasma transfusions to help the elephant’s body fight the infection and stay stable.

Plasma transfusions are especially important because plasma contains antibodies and proteins that help the immune system respond to the virus. By having a plasma bank ready, we can send plasma from healthy elephants to any zoo in need, providing lifesaving support during a crisis.

How We Collect and Store Elephant Plasma

Collecting plasma from an elephant is a carefully planned process. The elephants voluntarily enter a special chute designed to keep them comfortable and secure while our animal care team works. Throughout the process, they enjoy hay and their favorite treats to keep them calm and content.

A small catheter is placed in a vein located on the back of the ear, and blood flows through it into a collection bag. Once enough blood has been collected, the elephant returns to their habitat to rejoin the herd.

Our veterinary technicians, Robin and Tammy, then separate the red blood cells from the plasma. The plasma is frozen and stored safely until it’s needed.

How Plasma Helps

By working with other AZA-accredited zoos and Species Survival Plan programs and sharing resources like plasma, we help ensure that elephants everywhere receive the best possible medical care. Maintaining an elephant plasma bank is one of the many ways zoos like ours contribute to conservation care, protecting animals not only through habitat preservation and research but also through direct, hands-on health care.

How You Can Help

Elephants’ lives are full of challenges, from disease to habitat loss. At Seneca Park Zoo, we take proactive steps, like our plasma bank, to ensure these animals have the best possible chance at long, healthy lives. By supporting elephants here, you help support conservation care worldwide!

More ways to get involved!

Together, we can help elephants survive and thrive, for generations to come!

Written by Jaiya Astacio, Communications Coordinator. 

Head of the Herd 2025

Posted on by Beth LaPierre

Head of the Herd and Forever Wild Society members are Seneca Park Zoo’s most devoted supporters, and by coming out in the rain last Wednesday night you proved it!  

It was so wonderful to be among so many friends who all share a lasting love of your Zoo. Thank you for hanging out with us, bringing guests, and enjoying a unique evening. 

For those of you who couldn’t make it, we appreciate you too! Next time you are visiting be sure to swing by the Member Entrance to say hello and add the 2025 Member Pin to your collection.  

Welcome again to our newest Forever Wild Society inductees, Jozef Kuzmkowski, John Littwitz, and Laurel Pace. 

Anyone interested in joining this illustrious group, our Chief Philanthropy Officer Chuck Levengood would love to talk to you about what your Zoo legacy could look like. You can reach him at [email protected] or 585.336.7205. 

Thanks for leading the way – see you again next year. 

Saving the Panamanian Golden Frog: Seneca Park Zoo’s Vital Role in Global Amphibian Conservation

Posted on by Beth LaPierre

In the lush cloud forests of Panama, a small, bright-yellow amphibian once danced along riverbanks and stream beds—a symbol of biodiversity, cultural pride, and ecological health. Today, the Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki) is considered functionally extinct in the wild, its numbers decimated by habitat loss and the deadly chytrid fungus. But thanks to committed international partnerships, including the critical work being done by Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY, hope for this striking species lives on.

A Frog On the Brink

The Panamanian golden frog isn’t just Panama’s national animal—it’s a cultural icon, appearing in folklore, festivals, and even currency. But like many amphibians around the world, it has fallen victim to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a fast-spreading fungal disease that has wiped out dozens of species and devastated populations across Central and South America.

Recognizing the urgency of the crisis, conservationists acted quickly to establish captive assurance colonies—safe breeding populations in protected environments where golden frogs could survive and, eventually, help restore wild populations.

 

A Global Partnership: SPZ & EVACC

Seneca Park Zoo has played a key role in that effort, forming a deep and lasting partnership with the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC) in Panama. EVACC is one of the most advanced amphibian conservation facilities in the world and a critical lifeline for Panama’s disappearing amphibians, including the golden frog.

Through its “Coins for Conservation” program and other fundraising initiatives, Seneca Park Zoo supports EVACC’s work on the ground—funding habitat restoration, research, and care for golden frog breeding colonies. Zoo staff also collaborate with EVACC scientists, sharing knowledge and resources to improve husbandry practices and advance scientific understanding of chytrid resistance and amphibian resilience.

 

Conservation in Action at Seneca Park Zoo

At home in Rochester, Seneca Park Zoo’s conservation programming, education efforts, and guest experiences all help bring attention to the plight of the Panamanian golden frog—and to the larger global amphibian crisis. The Zoo maintains its own breeding population of golden frogs as part of an AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP), ensuring genetic diversity and long-term species viability.

Visitors can learn about golden frogs through interactive exhibits, keeper chats, and special events like Golden Frog Day, held each August. These experiences don’t just raise awareness—they also inspire real action, connecting guests with the idea that conservation isn’t just happening “somewhere else”—it’s a shared global responsibility.

 

Why Amphibians Matter

Amphibians like the Panamanian golden frog are vital to the health of ecosystems. They help control insect populations, serve as prey for other animals, and act as environmental indicators—warning us when ecosystems are in trouble. Saving them means preserving the balance of entire habitats.

Seneca Park Zoo’s work, both in Rochester and in collaboration with international partners like EVACC, is a model of modern conservation—science-based, globally minded, and rooted in education and community engagement.

How You Can Help

  • Visit the Zoo and support programs that protect endangered species.
  • Donate to conservation funds like Coins for Conservation.
  • Celebrate Golden Frog Day (August 16–17, 2025!).
  • Reduce pesticide use and support local amphibian habitats.
  • Share the story of the Panamanian golden frog and why it matters.

Together, we can make sure the Panamanian golden frog’s story doesn’t end in extinction—but in survival and hope.

Jungle Jog 2025: In Photos

Posted on by Beth LaPierre

Ensuring a Strong Future for River Otters

Posted on by Beth LaPierre

David Hamilton, General Curator at Seneca Park Zoo, has been involved in otter conservation for decades. David is a leading expert on North American river otters and has been the studbook keeper
for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums North American river otter SSP (Species Survival Plans®) and Small Carnivore TAG for more than 25 years. An Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) focuses on understanding the
conservation and care needs of specific groups of animals. They provide advice on how to manage and protect these animals in zoos, aquariums, and in their natural range. Think of it as Match.com for otters.

Each TAG helps plan and monitor programs that support animal populations and conservation efforts. They work with the Animal Population Management (APM) Committee and oversee programs like Species Survival Plans® (SSP) and Studbooks, which track animal populations. TAGs also collaborate with other organizations around the world to promote and support animal conservation and research. 

The purpose of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Regional Studbook is to document the genetics and entire demographic history of each animal within a managed population among AZA member institutions. These collective histories, compiled and maintained by AZA Regional Studbook Keeper, like David, are known as the population’s genetic and demographic identity and are valuable tools to track and manage populations. The current North American river otter studbook was started by Hamilton in 1999, and otter populations can be traced back to the 1880s. Historically done on paper, studbooks are now modernized and use software to manage.

The goal of all this work is to ensure that the population of North American river otters in AZA zoos is genetically and demographically diverse. This is extremely important to guarantee a strong future for the species. To put it simply, if all otters shared
the same genetics they are essentially copies or close to copies of themselves. And if those genes carried traits that were not advantageous, such as poor
eyesight or susceptibility to a virus, all those
otters would then have the same physiological
adaptations, putting the entire population
at risk.

So how do we determine that the otters that
were reintroduced to Western New York are
genetically diverse and not related? Their
genomes are sequenced. When the River
Otter Project was active in the mid-nineties,
genetic testing was wildly expensive and took
years, making it out-of-reach for most zoos
and conservation organizations. When the
280 otters from the Adirondacks and the
Catskills were relocated to Western New York,
scientists were hopeful the population had
enough genetic diversity to create a healthy
and population.

In the following two decades, genetic testing costs plummeted, and sequencing could be completed in days if not hours, making sequencing accessible to conservation organizations and academic institutions. In late 2018, David Hamilton, along with Larry Buckley, RIT Senior Associate Dean, College of Science, set out to determine the genetic diversity of the North American river otter populations in Western New York and throughout AZA zoos. For Western New York, otter DNA was taken from road carrion, bycatch, and conservation capture, and then
sequenced. What we learned is that the population is quite diverse, even thirty years after reintroduction. This is likely the third generation of otters who originally came from those 280 reintroduced to our region. Hamilton and Buckley’s work recently expanded to include multiple natural ranges and AZA zoo locations across the country.

It appears this healthy, genetically diverse North American river otter population is here to stay.

Written by Beth LaPierre, Director of Communications and Engagement. 

Conservation Impact in our community & around the world

Posted on by Beth LaPierre

Seneca Park Zoo is our region’s largest conservation organization, reaching more than 600,000 individuals each year through our conservation education and action programs. The Zoo is also involved heavily in species survival, raising critical funds and awareness for the many threatened species whose continued existence is relying on positive, collective human action.  

African Penguin

Africa’s sole native penguin species has been officially classified as critically endangered in a recent assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the mid-1950s, an estimated 141,000 breeding pairs—or approximately 282,000 mature individuals—were primarily found on small islands off the coasts of Namibia and South Africa. By 2023, this number had plummeted by 93%, leaving only about 9,900 breeding pairs, or 19,800 individuals. 

As of the IUCN’s latest assessment in July 2024, the population is estimated at just 1,200 breeding pairs in Namibia and 8,750 pairs in South Africa. The IUCN warns that this downward trend “shows no sign of reversing” and emphasizes the urgent need for immediate conservation efforts. 

Many of the extreme events we’ve witnessed in recent years—such as droughts, wildfires, and extreme heat waves—are directly linked to climate change, with projections indicating they will only become more frequent and severe. These changes are reshaping ecosystems, including the marine environments of Africa.   

 

The report spotlights African penguins as a stark example of a species deeply affected by climate change. These iconic birds face mounting challenges as their food sources dwindle due to reduced fish stocks, shifts in ocean temperatures and currents, and intense competition with fisheries. Rising sea levels and storm surges are threatening their breeding habitats, while extreme heat and powerful storms endanger their eggs and chicks. 

 

African penguin populations have plummeted by 69% over the past two decades. Today, only an estimated 15,800 breeding pairs remain in the wild—10,000 of them in South Africa. In response, The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) rallies its member institutions to champion the fight for African penguin survival. These efforts include building artificial nests to boost penguin populations, developing disaster response plans for oil spills, and tackling critical threats like overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution.  

 

In partnership with global allies, AZA institutions including Seneca Park Zoo are driving the mission to Save Animals from Extinction (SAFE) into action.  At the heart of this mission is the SAFE African Penguin program—a comprehensive effort to halt the species’ decline. With much of the focus centered in South Africa, where access to penguin colonies is more feasible, the program is addressing the most pressing challenges to these incredible birds’ survival. From equipping first responders with essential tools to stabilizing and rehabilitating penguins, to setting up specialized disaster plans, support is sent right to the field.  

 

Together, AZA and Seneca Park Zoo are rewriting the future for African penguins, blending science, passion, and global teamwork to ensure these charming seabirds thrive for generations to come. Seneca Park Zoo is working toward saving African penguins from extinction right here at the Zoo. The Zoo has been a prolific breeding facility, having bred 115 penguins since 1999.  

 

You can support African penguins just by visiting the Zoo. Funds are raised at the gate and the Zoo Society donates to the orphan chick programs and other parts of the AZA SAFE program. Seneca Park Zoo also supports the Southern African Foundation for Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). SANCCOB’s mission is to reverse the decline of seabird populations through rescue, rehabilitation, and release of ill, injured, abandoned, and oiled seabirds like the African penguin. 

Sandhill Crane

At the Zoo, guests can view and learn about another avian species, sandhill cranes. Sandhill cranes are a migratory bird species that are facing increasing environmental pressures. They historically have spent spring breeding season and summer in the northern regions and fly south for the winter. During migration, cranes will assemble at established staging areas and stopover points, the largest location is the Platte River in the valleys of Nebraska, which hosts an estimated ¾ of the sandhill cranes that breed from Alaska and the Canadian planes. Research suggests that the roosting habitat of the Platte River valley is declining and the migration patterns of sandhill cranes have been adjusted as a response to climate change. We are even seeing this species in our region as they look for new roosting habitat. You can now see these gorgeous birds at Montezuma or even Rochester during migratory periods. 
 

Sandhill cranes are vulnerable to changing precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, erratic weather, wetland drainage, food loss, as well as the conversion of wetland habitat into areas used by humans. Reports of sandhill cranes arriving at their spring migration sites have occurred progressively earlier in recent years. This change in pattern could lead to competition for resources with other migratory waterfowl species in habitats that are being diminished by the effects of climate change. The National Audubon Society projects that the wintering range of sandhill cranes will decline by 58% by 2080 due to climate change. Protecting and restoring wetlands is essential for both humans and wildlife. Wetlands improve water quality by naturally filtering pollutants, control floodwaters, protect from erosion, and store large amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Restoring these habitats will help the beloved sandhill crane but also the future of our planet. 

Polar Bear

Climate change is also impacting the Arctic where polar bears at Churchill, Canada end their summer fast by venturing out on sea ice to hunt and eat seals. As of November 2024, no sea ice had formed in the Hudson Bay region, meaning the bears were still on the shore waiting to end their fast. Churchill’s mayor remarked that the bay had never iced over this late. In 2024, polar bears had been off sea ice for more than 100 days. The fasting season for polar bears, the time spent off the shore and away from seal prey, has lengthened substantially in the past decade. An important fasting threshold is around 180 days, the limit at which up to 21% of adult males and 63% of cubs could starve to death. 

 

Seneca Park Zoo has donated more than $30,000 to Polar Bears International (PBI), a non-profit dedicated to help secure a future for polar bears across the Arctic, through our yearly Defend the Ice partnership with the Rochester Americans. Zoo naturalists and volunteers staff tables in Blue Cross Arena, educating fans on PBI, artic sea ice loss, and what they can do to help.

Seneca Park Zoo Supports Firefighting Efforts to Protect Ranomafana National Park’s Unique Biodiversity

Posted on by Beth LaPierre

Ranomafana National Park, located in southeastern Madagascar, is one of the most biologically diverse and ecologically significant areas in the world. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana, the park plays a critical role in protecting Madagascar’s unique flora and fauna, much of which is found nowhere else on Earth. Home to critically endangered species like the golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus), the park serves as a vital refuge for wildlife threatened by habitat loss, deforestation, and climate change. Its lush rainforests and complex ecosystems also contribute significantly to global biodiversity, offering unparalleled opportunities for research, conservation, and education. Beyond its ecological importance, Ranomafana National Park is integral to the local economy, providing jobs through eco-tourism and research initiatives while fostering a sense of stewardship among surrounding communities.

The Seneca Park Zoo has a long-standing and deeply impactful relationship with Dr. Patricia Wright, the renowned primatologist who was instrumental in the creation of Ranomafana National Park. As a long-time partner in conservation, the zoo has supported Dr. Wright’s efforts to protect Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, particularly through research and public engagement. Dr. Wright’s groundbreaking discovery of the golden bamboo lemur in 1986 catalyzed international attention and led to the establishment of Ranomafana as a protected area in 1991. Since then, her work has inspired countless conservation initiatives worldwide, including programs with the Seneca Park Zoo that emphasize the importance of protecting Madagascar’s fragile ecosystems.

 

The formation of Centre ValBio, a state-of-the-art research facility at the edge of Ranomafana National Park, is one of the most significant outcomes of Dr. Wright’s work. Founded in 2003, the center has become a hub for conservation science, education, and community engagement. It provides a base for researchers from around the globe to study Madagascar’s biodiversity and develop strategies for its preservation. The Seneca Park Zoo has been a proud supporter of Centre ValBio, contributing to its mission by funding research, fostering collaborations, and raising awareness about Madagascar’s conservation challenges. Through this partnership, the Zoo has helped bridge the gap between local communities and global conservation efforts, demonstrating the power of collaboration in protecting our planet’s most extraordinary habitats.

A devastating wildfire continues to threaten the area west of Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar, particularly the village of Vohiparara, a community with which Centre ValBio and its partners, including the Seneca Park Zoo, have worked closely for years. Despite the presence of a cyclone in the north of Madagascar, much-needed rains have not reached the southern regions, allowing the fire to spread further. The destruction has been heart-wrenching, with reports of scorched endemic wildlife such as Brookesia chameleons, land snails, frogs, and even displaced dwarf lemurs fleeing the flames.

 

In response, Centre ValBio and Madagascar National Parks are leading a collaborative firefighting effort, mobilizing over 500 people, including local community groups from Ifanadiana, Kelilalina, Ranomafana, Ambatovaky, Vohiparara, and Amboditanimena, along with park rangers, gendarmes, and military personnel. Volunteers are working tirelessly in challenging conditions, and local women are preparing meals for firefighters deep in the forest. To support these critical efforts, the Seneca Park Zoo has just sent $10,000 to assist with firefighting resources, food supplies, and community support. This funding is helping sustain the volunteers as they battle to protect the people, wildlife, and ecosystems that make Ranomafana a globally important conservation area.

 

Written by Director of Programming & Conservation Action, Tom Snyder

Recognized by the Rochester Business Journal: Pamela Reed-Sanchez’s Vision for Environmental Equity and Conservation Impact

Posted on by Beth LaPierre

Pamela Reed-Sanchez: A Rochester Business Journal Environmental Leader

We’re proud to share that Pamela Reed-Sanchez, CEO and President of the Seneca Park Zoo Society, has been recognized on the Rochester Business Journal’s Power List for Environmental Leaders!

Pamela highlights the Zoo Society’s commitment to improving our local ecosystem through impactful programs like our Urban Ecologist Workforce Development Program, native pollinator habitat restoration, community cleanups, and plastic pollution prevention.

Her vision for the future centers around equity in access to nature. Pamela emphasized the importance of addressing environmental injustice through meaningful municipal investments in tree canopies, green spaces, and projects like the new High Falls State Park. Her belief: connecting ALL people to nature is key to building healthier communities and solving environmental challenges together.

To learn more about Pamela’s leadership and the incredible work happening behind the scenes, check out her feature in the Rochester Business Journal here.

Thriving Together: Seneca Park Zoo’s Butterfly Beltway Blossoms as a Community Conservation Model

Posted on by Beth LaPierre

Seneca Park Zoo is our region’s largest conservation organization,
reaching more than 600,000 individuals each year through our
conservation education and action programs. The Zoo is also heavily
involved heavily in species survival, raising critical funds and awareness
for the many threatened species whose continued existence relies on
positive, collective human action. 

Monarch Butterfly The Butterfly Beltway is a cornerstone project for Seneca Park Zoo, embodying our commitment to species conservation and habitat preservation. Beyond its ecological impact, this initiative serves as a vital platform for fostering scientific inquiry and sustainable practices. We believe that healthy ecosystems are integral to healthy communities, and our public gardens in Corn Hill along the Genesee River and the Tyshaun Cauldwell Memorial Garden offer welcoming spaces for community scientists and those seeking a serene connection with nature. Over the past year, the project has made significant strides in habitat restoration. Seeded restoration efforts have expanded to include up to 5 acres in SUNY Brockport and another 5 acres at RIT, where these habitats are part of a long-term study exploring pollinator networks, public health benefits, ecosystem services, and the efficacy of different seeding methods.

Since its inception in 2002, the Butterfly Beltway has rehabilitated and restored over 125 acres of habitats and 350 gardens. Our expanded native seed offerings now include 10 specialized mixes tailored for specific conditions, such as soil challenges, grow height preferences, and deer resistance, ensuring accessibility and effectiveness for various landscapes.
In 2024, we enhanced our community outreach through pollinator focused programming at our onsite Nature Cart. Over the summer, we engaged with more than 10,000 guests in meaningful conversations,
distributing nearly 1,000 flower seed packets to empower individuals to act in their own backyards.
This ongoing work exemplifies the Zoo’s mission to inspire our community to connect with, care for, and conserve wildlife and wild places. Through innovative partnerships, impactful education, and a shared vision for sustainability, the Butterfly Beltway continues to
thrive as a model for conservation leadership.
To learn more visit senecaparkzoo.org/butterflybeltway

 

You can get involved!

Seneca Park Zoo’s Butterfly Beltway program allows individuals to purchase and plant native pollinator gardens. Your Zoo offers a variety of seed mixes. Unlike the seed mixes you see in box stores, our mixes are carefully chosen and geographically focused to our rea. We take great care to include native species that are best suited to thrive in our local environment, ensuring the highest chances of success.

By choosing our seed mixes, you can help support the conservation of local wildlife and create a beautiful, sustainable landscape, as well as supporting our Butterfly Beltway project with sales proceeds. 

Written by Beth LaPierre

Using eDNA to Tell the Story of a Watershed

Posted on by Beth LaPierre

The Genesee River is a cornerstone of the Rochester Community. On the brink of collapse in the 1970s, parts of the river were put on an EPA Area of Concern listing to help mitigate issues with human use of the river (swimming, drinking, and eating fish from). Since being listed, the river has reversed course and is now considered a healthier ecosystem. In 2015, the Zoo conducted a biosurvey to look at the small things in the river, discovering a variety of resilient diverse wildlife.

Continuing to tell the story of the Genesee through the wildlife found there, the Zoo’s Urban Ecologists, a 2-year workforce development program in partnership with the City of Rochester, spent time this summer using eDNA technology to test the river and its tributaries to look for the elusive North American river otter. The Zoo has long been involved in North American river otter conservation, starting in the 1980s assisting with translocating otters, which were regionally extinct. The current eDNA project builds on more than thirty years of work saving otters. The river otter is a bioindicator. Their presence in a river or tributary can help gauge ecosystem health. By using this cutting-edge technology, the Zoo’s Urban Ecologists can blend traditional scientific techniques to target waterways to test. Using a water sample, scientists will look for remnants of otters, helping us provide vital science on the success of the otter reintroduction campaign the zoo was a part of in the 1990s.

Environmental DNA, or eDNA for short, is a tool for scientists who want to know what animals are living in places like rivers, lakes, or forests without seeing them. Imagine every time an animal swims in the water, walks on the ground, or flies in the air, it leaves tiny bits of itself behind, like scales, feathers, or even just bits of skin. These tiny bits contain DNA, which is like a special code that tells us which animal it came from. Scientists can collect water from a river or soil from the ground, or even air with a vacuum and use special tools to identify DNA in it. They then match the DNA to different animals, kind of like solving a puzzle, to figure out what animals are living there. It’s a way to learn about animals that are hard to find or see, and it helps us know how to protect them and their homes. This works because every animal has its own unique DNA code, so scientists can tell exactly which animals have been in that area, just from those tiny bits they left behind!

 

In 2023, Seneca Park Zoo’s Urban Ecologists learned about the ecology of local river otters and the conservation efforts that brought them back from extinction locally, returning them to the watersheds of Western NY and our own Genesee River. This research led to interest in the study and observation of their current presence. The Urban Ecologists wanted to learn where river otters are living and traveling to. To achieve this, camera traps were deployed around Rochester. No evidence of river otters was seen on our cameras, so the Zoo has begun employing eDNA technology to study them. Environmental DNA (or eDNA) to analyze for otter species present in our waterways. This past winter, the Urban Ecologists met Conservation Biologist Mai Fahmy, who spoke to them about her research that is centered on the use of eDNA for applications in conservation. Over the summer, Urban Ecologists were tasked with going to local waterways, collecting samples of water with eDNA kits that were created specifically to detect river otter DNA, then send the kits off for discovery. Members of the Great Lakes Action Agenda Workgroup were asked to nominate sites where otters were observed.

In August 2024, Urban Ecologists traveled to Finger Lakes Community Colleges’ Muller Field Station, located on a 48 acre property at the end of Honeoye Lake. It sits upon the traditional lands and waters of the Seneca Nation, next to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Honeoye Lake Wildlife Management Area. The Honeoye Lake watershed is a mosaic of 40 natural communities and a home to over 1,200 species of trees, plants, fish, amphibians, insects, birds, and mammals.

 

Urban Ecologists toured the field station, learning about the work FLCC does. They then took canoes out onto the swamp and sampled the water using JonahWater eDNA kits with the goal of identifying the presence of North American river otters. The data that is found will now be shared with conservation partners like the DEC. For most of our young Urban Ecologists, this was their first experience with field work and data collection. If the study is successful, this could give our UE’s the potential to be involved in future studies and published research. This work provides hands on experience UEs will share with the public through presentations to local recreation centers and to Zoo guests through our nature cart.

By Beth LaPierre, Director of Marketing and Communications