Archive for the ‘Keepers’ Category
Jul
12
Meet the Staff: Phyllis Pietrucha-Mays
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Section: Commissary- Commissary Supervisor
Quote: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”-Charles Darwin.
Special Interests/ Hobbies:
Anything outside. I like being active, working out and hiking around our property looking for herps.
Interesting Facts:
In the 1980’s I had a job where I’d dress up in costume and go to grocery stores to hand out free samples. I’ve dressed up as a lobster, Mr. Keebler, Twinkie the Kid and the Cookie Monster. I even dressed as a Gorilla once for Zoo Ball.
Section: Commissary- Commissary Supervisor
Quote: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”-Charles Darwin.
Special Interests/ Hobbies:
Anything outside. I like being active, working out and hiking around our property looking for herps.
Interesting Facts:
In the 1980’s I had a job where I’d dress up in costume and go to grocery stores to hand out free samples. I’ve dressed up as a lobster, Mr. Keebler, Twinkie the Kid and the Cookie Monster. I even dressed as a Gorilla once for Zoo Ball.
Favorite Animal:
Turtles and tortoises, I have about 30 at my house. One of my favorites was named Tank, a Sulcata tortoise. Someone had found him at the Galena Park dump and we brought him home.
How long have you worked at the Houston Zoo?
I have been here 26 years! I worked as a docent volunteer before I became a keeper. When I was hired on, I worked in animal departments for 5 years including the Reptile building, Hoofstock, Primates and the Small Mammal building (now Natural Encounters). I worked on the Houston Toad Project when it was first established in the early 1980’s. I have now worked in the commissary 21 years.
Phyllis loads grain in one of the zoo's expansive walk in freezers.
What made you want to become a zookeeper?
As a child I had an interest in anything having to do with animals and I was always picking up strays. After working as a keeper for awhile, I moved on to the commissary and really got to see the business side of the zoo.
How would you describe your job duties?
I am in charge of the staff that prepares food for the animals. I order food for all the animals from our vendors and also have to drive to various places to pick up special food items. I also manage the diet changes for the animals to make sure we have enough food in stock.
What is a typical day like working in the commissary?
Each day is different. The animals eat different things every day, so the diet preparation changes every day.
What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?
I have a 2 year certification from Houston Community College’s Veterinary Technician program.
What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?
Start as a volunteer, even as a teenager. I have hired a lot of former volunteers.
What is your favorite animal story?
When the zoo used to have koalas our supplier for eucalyptus was in Phoenix, Arizona. Usually the eucalyptus was flown to the zoo. Soon after September 11, 2001 all flights were grounded, but the koalas needed their eucalyptus! Our supplier was kind enough to meet us halfway, so I drove to El Paso, TX to pick it up! That was the longest drive I have had to take to pick up food for our animals.
To learn more about volunteering at the Houston Zoo visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/volunteer/!
There are numerous career paths to choose from at the Houston Zoo! To learn more about non-keeper careers, visit Leigh’s blog or the Houston Zoo’s Career page!
Jul
08
Meet the Staff: Judy McAuliffe
It is easy to see that this office belongs to a primate keeper! Judy is surrounded by orangutan paintings in her office.
Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Section: Primates- Chimpanzee Supervisor
Quote: “Never believe anything you read.”
Special Interests/ Hobbies:
Horseback riding and reading.
Interesting Facts:
I’ve know nearly 200 chimps during my career and lived in 6 different states in 4 different time zones.
What made you want to become a zookeeper?
I spent summers with my aunt, uncle and cousins, and they took us to the Sealife park in Galveston when I was 13 years old. I used to want to be a dolphin trainer, but then I saw my first chimp and it was all over.
What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?
I started volunteering at the Santa Barbara Zoo in 1988. I attended Moorpark College for Exotic Animal Training and Management, graduating in 1991. I have worked at the Primate Foundation of Arizona and the Riverside Zoo in Nebraska caring for chimpanzees. I also worked at Disney with primates and elephants, and in Bastrop, Texas at MD Anderson caring for their chimpanzees. I have been here at the Houston Zoo since this April.
What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?
Be prepared to do anything. Volunteer and be patient. Don’t expect to get your dream job right away. You might have to work with animals that aren’t on the top of your list before you can work with animals that are your first choice.
What is your favorite animal story?
My favorite chimp I ever worked with was named Pani. Pani was 36 years old and had never had a baby of her own, although she had been an “auntie” a few times and really liked babies and young chimps. Riverside Zoo (where I was working at the time) took in an orphaned infant chimp from Sedgewick County Zoo named Imara. We introduced Imara to Pani and Pani was unbelievably patient and kind and soon won over Imara (he had been scared of her at first) and she became his mother for the next 6 years.
To see the latest update on the Chimp building construction, visit the Official Houston Zoo Blog.
To learn more about Chimpanzees visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/chimpanzee/
Jun
30
Meet the Staff: Jennifer Stevenson
Jenn shows off Miles, a Texas Tortoise, who is a resident animal at the ClinicHometown: Corpus Christi, TXSection: Clinic- Clinic KeeperSpecial Interests/ Hobbies:Anything outdoors, 4-wheeling in Goliad, TX and fishing.Interesting Fact:I have an identical twin sister.What made you want to become a zookeeper?I've always loved animals . I originally started volunteering in elephants and then was hired as a keeper there. I then transferred to the clinic so I could work with a greater variety of animals.How would you describe your job duties?As clinic keepers we are mainly in charge of daily husbandry. That means we clean, feed, medicate, and observe clinic “patients”. We also assist vets with treatments of the animals.We also maintain quarantine, and its animals. Zoo quarantine is not for sick animals, it is used to keep all incoming animals separate from the zoo collection until thoroughly examined and free of illnesses.Jenn assists the Zoo's Vets and Vet Techs with many procedures. Here she secures a dove while Vet Tech Ryanne tube feeds him.
What is a typical day like working in the clinic?
Every day is different, you never know what it will hold.
What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?
I have a one year certification from HCC as a veterinary paramedic.
What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?
Start volunteering and stick with it. It is a great way to get the experience zoos require and you have a greater chance of getting hired on when you have been a volunteer.
What is your favorite animal story?
My great-grandparents had a ranch in Goliad, TX where I spent a lot of time as a child. When I was about 10 I tried to get the goats and cows to like me and to approach me willingly. Finally, 2 bulls approached me and I was able to hand-feed them. All the time afterwards that they lived on my great-grandparent’s ranch, I could walk up to the fence and call them over and they would come running to me. That was my first big animal experience.
Jun
14
Meet the Keeper: Suzanne Jurek
Suzanne shows off a bat skeleton to Zoo guests.
Hometown:Born in Memphis, TN but now a naturalized Texan!
Section: Children’s Zoo – Primary: Desert/Prairie
Quote: “Science without religion is lame; Religion without science is blind.” –Albert Einstein
Special Interests/Hobbies:
Reading, time with my family, anything related to bats, active in church.
Interesting Facts:
Population manager for Jamaican Fruit Bats, Certified Interpretive Guide, and once named All City Supreme Princess – of course I was only 4 at the time!
What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?
Some college – 10 years volunteering at the Houston Zoo and on the job.
Suzanne introduces Trixie to Saint Nick during "Breakfast with Santa"
What animals do you train, and what is your favorite section in the Children’s Zoo?
I train the foxes in our Desert/Prairie section of the Children’s Zoo, which is also my favorite section!
What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?
Science, science, science.
What is your favorite animal story?
Too many to pick from! We work with the most amazing creatures! I have seen such intelligence and such determination in them. They bring tears to my eyes on a regular basis – mostly in awe of them.
If you have any questions or comments for Suzanne, feel free to post it in the comment section!
Jun
11
Meet the Keeper: David M. Suttinger
David with our Brown Pelicans
Hometown: Martinez, GA
Section: Children’s Zoo – Primary: Coastal/Mews
Special Interests/Hobbies:
Video games, golf, & skeet shooting
Interesting Facts:
While living alone on the GA coast, I was a naturalist for the Sea Island Company. The company owned a 5 star hotel, and I had to relocate eastern diamondback rattlesnakes from the premises.
What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?
Georgia Southern University 2002, BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry.
David works heavily with birds of prey.
What animals do you train, and what is your favorite section in the Children’s Zoo?
I train a Nigerian Dwarf Goat named Domino, a Harris Hawk named Clint, a parrot named Picasso, and our porcupine named Ernie. My favorite section is Coastal/Mews.
What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?
It helps to do an internship at a zoo before attempting to get a job in the field.
What is your favorite animal story?
I was a naturalist for the Sea Island Company, which owns a private island along the GA coast. While working there, part of my job was to monitor their loggerhead sea turtle nest. During a night patrol for sea turtles, I came across 8 nests that hatched that night. By the end of the night, I had seen around 800 baby sea turtles!
If you have any questions or comments for David, feel free to post it in the comment section!
May
18
Meet the Keeper – Brittany Martin
Brittany with our Giant Flemish Rabbit, Andre!
Brittany Martin
Hometown: Austin, TX
Section: Children’s Zoo – Primary: Silvers
Quote: “Don’t sit upon the shoreline and say you’re satisfied, choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.” –Garth Brooks
Special Interests/Hobbies:
I love animal training, and I love to travel. I also love to write and hope to write a book someday!
What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?
I received a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in Wildlife Sciences – Natural Resource Collection & Management with a minor in spanish. I also worked for Walt Disney World College Program – Animal Kingdom and at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.
What animals do you train, and what is your favorite section in the Children’s Zoo?
I train the porcupines, a miniature zebu steer, and a Nigerian dwarf goat. My favorite section is silvers, which is the name of the area with birds and mammals that we use for handling and sending out on educational programs.
What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?
Make sure to get lots of experience working with animals through volunteering and internships. Your animal care experience will count more than your education when you are getting started.
What is your favorite animal story?
This one is a sad but endearing story. When I was in high school, I raised goats for 4H and FFA shows. I spent a lot of time with the first goat I raised. I would train and exercise him every day for months before the show. After the final show, you are required to walk your goat into a giant pen and remove their collar and leave them with hundreds of other goats. I was crying as I said good-bye and left my goat in the massive herd. Several hours went by and I decided to return to the fence to see if I could catch one last glimpse of my goat. I stood at the fence for a few minutes and couldn’t pick him out of the crowd. I was about to give up. Then, out of nowhere, my goat jumped up right in my face. He had picked me out of all the people standing along the fence-line and came to say goodbye. It is stories and experiences like this one that make me want to work with animals!
