Saskatoon Zoo welcomes new manager and two baby mouflon sheep

It’s been an exciting time at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm and Zoo lately, even if it is closed to the public right now.

Over the last few weeks, not only has new manager Jeff Mitchell been hired, but two baby mouflon sheep were born.

Mitchell says they’re thrilled with the new additions.

“The sheep are from the mid-east, near Iraq and the Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan)…they are on the endangered list – starting down that lane. We had a boy and a girl born at the end of March. Mom’s taking great care of them.”

The zoo’s bears are also starting to come out of their “torpor,” or lengthy period of lethargy similar to hibernation, but not as deep a sleep. The bears’ heart rates decrease, but their temperatures stay higher.

“Last week, the bears got up and started being a little bit active, and so we gave them some access outside when it was nicer out,” explained Mitchell. “When the temperatures dropped, they went in for what we like to call a second nap. That’s what they’ll kind of do for the next few weeks.”

Other than that, he says day to day operations remain mostly the same. Workers can’t feed the animals in pairs like before, and other chores may take longer.

Mitchell says he’s happy to take charge of operations and loves being in Saskatoon.

“I was the director at the Henson Robinson Zoo in Springfield, Illinois, then I moved up here. Before that, I was at the Brookfield Zoo (Chicago), and the Cincinnati Zoo.”

His first day was March 17, and he looks forward to getting to know the city.

“This zoo and this facility and this city have welcomed me with open arms.”