Minnesota Zoo

Vet Tech Jenny has cared for animals at the Zoo for over 25 years! She credits her long, successful Zoo career to her adaptability. Horses have trotted their way to the top of her list as her favorite animal. ?? | Every day of the year, the Minnesota Zoo Veterinary Technicians give their expert care and huge hearts to nearly 5,000 animals. (Representing almost 500 species!) Each of them has superpowers — and an animal that's the apple of their eye. ?? We hope you'll continue to follow along this week as we introduce you to the MN Zoo Vet Techs!

It’s National Veterinary Technician Week and we’re celebrating our very special vet techs! They bring a big skillset to the Zoo: assisting with numerous procedures and checkups, and providing specialty TLC. They work seamlessly with Zoo veterinarians and animal care staff to provide the best care. Our Director of Animal Health, Dr. Rivas, perfectly explains just how much they mean to us, and the animals here at the Zoo: "Veterinary Technicians are a cornerstone of our Animal Health Team. Their specialized skills, compassion, and commitment are critical to ensuring the best possible care for animals, from corals to dairy cows! Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week gives us an opportunity to thank them for all that they do, and to emphasize their essential role here at the Minnesota Zoo." Follow along this week as we introduce you to our amazing vet techs, and celebrate all that they do!

Join us in welcoming our newest Board Member, Randy Knutson! Randy is a distinguished attorney and a founding partner of Knutson Casey Law Firm, with an impressive career spanning over three decades. Throughout his career, Randy has demonstrated a strong commitment to justice, serving as the Tribal Council Attorney for the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and earning accolades such as Minnesota Super Lawyer and Minnesota Attorney of the Year. Randy’s extensive expertise and dedication to community service will be invaluable to our mission at the Minnesota Zoo. His passion for education and youth development is evident in his roles as a licensed coach and founder of several local triathlon events, fostering a love for wellness and connection to the outdoors within his community. We look forward to seeing the impact he will make as we work together toward our mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife.

We are happy to announce and?introduce one of our newest Board Members, Angie Dean. Angie has been a dedicated supporter of the Minnesota Zoo for many years. After witnessing the Zoo's significant impact on our communities, she became motivated to get?involved. As a first-grade teacher with over two decades of experience?in?education, Angie brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and a deep commitment to community service to our Board. Angie’s passion for education and?instilling a love for nature will be a powerful asset as we continue working to advance our mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife. She expressed her enthusiasm for the role, sharing, “As a life-long visitor to the Minnesota Zoo, I am so excited to be on the Board to continue to make the Zoo an?inviting place where memories can be made. The Zoo’s education and conservation work makes it an?invaluable part of our community and state!” Please join us?in?welcoming Angie Dean. We look forward to her contributions and are excited to have her on board!

Congratulations to our Animal Care and Animal Health teams on this exciting milestone! https://lnkd.in/gMzVex3z

Through a program called SAFE – Saving Animals From Extinction – the Minnesota Zoo and our partners are conducting a shark census to help advance animal care and conservation efforts. And the census is just one way that our aquarists contribute to SAFE Shark and Ray. Read our blog to learn how we’re helping our fellow zoos and aquariums, scientists studying sharks, and sustainable fisheries: https://bit.ly/4dPmH3i

Every summer, biologists at the Zoo prepare the yearling wood turtles raised in our care for their release back into the wild. These young turtles will hopefully help increase Minnesota's threatened and dwindling wood turtle population. Pictured here are the release of a yearling turtle, and turtle conservationist Dr. Tricia Markle and intern Zayd A. examining a turtle fitted with a transponder on its back so they can track its movements. In July, conservation photographer Devon Matthews joined the team to capture the event and the impact of this project. Devon is a visual storyteller based out of Minnesota. He aims to tell stories with photos that will leave you feeling a deeper connection to wildlife and the outdoors, strengthening human and wildlife relations. We are grateful for his time and talent in helping us tell the story and raise awareness of this imperiled species. Learn more about the work being done for freshwater turtles: https://bit.ly/3oBWU6f

Meet Marcie! A rescued pronghorn fawn who came from Washington and quickly found a home in our hearts at the Minnesota Zoo. WSU College of Veterinary Medicine associate professor, Dr. Marcie Logsdon DVM (Pronghorn Maricie's namesake ??) provided the initial care before seeking out a permanent home for the female fawn after it was determined she could not successfully return to the wild. Dr. Logsdon sought a home with experienced pronghorn caregivers. That's where we come in! Our team has over four decades of experience and nationally recognized expertise in caring for and hand-raising pronghorn. Over the next months, she’ll grow by leaps and bounds and be weaned as would naturally occur with a mother. Later, she will be introduced to the pronghorn herd on the Northern Trail. In the meantime, Marcie is receiving lots of care and attention as she grows. ??

It's an active time of year for Minnesota turtles, like the imperiled Blanding's turtle. Adults are on the move as they search out nesting grounds and hatchlings will soon be emerging in search of safe habitat. You can be a wildlife hero by keeping an eye out for turtles crossing roads and leaving the turtles you come across in their natural habitat. Taking a tiny turtle home may be tempting, but it can harm the turtle and negatively impact their natural environment. Leaving hatchlings in the wild allows the next generation of Minnesota turtles to grow and be part of the ongoing conservation efforts around the state, and right here at the Minnesota Zoo! ??: Conservation Field Team

Each year, the Minnesota GreenCorps program places AmeriCorps members with host site organizations around the state (Like here at the Zoo!) to help preserve and protect Minnesota’s environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals. Learn more about how you can join the efforts and apply today! https://bit.ly/3VuDq3R