Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo preparing for winter

Winter preparations are underway at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo.

Many animals are getting ready for colder temperatures by adding weight, growing their winter fur to deal with the harsh conditions, or by starting to hide more in their dens.

“It’s a really neat time to watch the animals go through their natural behaviours,” said zoo manager Jeff Mitchell. “It’s a really neat time to learn about some of the animals and their adaptations to the wild.”

Both the prairie dogs and the grizzly bears will hunker down, while animals like the zebras are moved inside to warmer conditions, according to Mitchell.

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Prairie dogs and bears do not exactly hiberate, rather they enter a state of torpor when their heartbeat, breathing, body temperature and metabolism slow down. They need fewer calories and sleep more but rest more lightly than hibernating animals, and can still get up to eat a snack or eliminate waste.

The staff at the forestry farm are also busy helping with preparations and other duties throughout the winter.

“When it gets down to minus 20, minus 10, minus 30 we add on more food — whether it be hay or our specially formatted pellets,” said Mitchell. “It’s really a very intricate dance that we do.”

Each animal also has the opportunity for an indoor habitat year round, according to Mitchell.

One exhibit that is closing however and that is the butterflies.

Mitchell said this happens every year, and most butterflies have a life span of three to eight days.

“There’s a few species that can live up to three or four weeks,” said Mitchell. “We let the butterflies live out their entire life and then we take the top off the butterfly exhibit and we let it freeze over the winter.”

Mitchell said in the spring they replant it all and set it back up again, and new butterflies are shipped from Costa Rica.

The zoo also turns to admission by donation from Nov. 1 to March 31.

“We open up the zoo to anybody who wants to come,” said Mitchell. “We encourage a donation but we absolutely do not have anyone looking or watching you donate.”

Despite the temperatures nearing zero, Mitchell said that hasn’t stopped people from coming out.

“We have families come out with moms pulling kids on sleds, dads pushing kids around in a wagon,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell said it’s still a good time for many families to come to the zoo and see animals in the snowy conditions.

— with files from 650 CKOM News

Read more:

• Severe bat infestation drives Spiritwood family out of their home
• Around 100 snow geese found shot and left to waste east of Tuxford