Ochsner Park Zoo

07/27/2025

Don’t forget about our event happening this Tuesday, please help us spread the word!

We are partnering with the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin for a sensory-friendly experience! The Zoo will close down early to the general public and be open to Autistic individuals, their parents, and caregivers to explore at their leisure.

Tuesday, July 29th. 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM.

For more details and to RSVP, visit: https://autismsouthcentral.org/event/ochsner-park-zoo/

07/25/2025

Wrapping up National Zookeeper Week, we have our Zoo Specialist Rebecca! Rebecca started at Ochsner in May of this year!

• If you could swap lives with one animal in the park for a day, who would it be and why?
It would have to be the otters. Every time I walk by and see them splashing around in the pool, I can’t help but wish I could dive in too—especially on hot days! They’re always full of energy and curiosity, whether they’re swimming, playing together, or checking out every corner of their space. Watching them never gets old.

• What's one thing the animals do that makes you laugh or brings joy to your day?
I really like to watch the animals interact with their enrichment. It’s fun to see the ways they problem solve and watch the wheels turn in their head. I think I get as excited as they do when they figure out a complex puzzle feeder and start to get the snacks out of it.

• What's a surprising or fun fact about your favorite species to work with?
I found it really fascinating to learn that prairie dogs are a keystone species. That means they’re a species that heavily impacts the structure and function of their entire ecosystem, far more than you’d expect based on their size or population alone. A decline in a keystone species' population could cause the entire ecosystem to collapse.

• If the animals had a talent show , which one would steal the spotlight and what would they do?
It would definitely be our donkey Goliath because he gets jealous and tries to steal the spotlight as is. He would really excel in a treat eating competition.

• What is your favorite thing about being a zookeeper?
I enjoy engaging with the public and inspiring them to make positive changes in their own lives to help protect wildlife and their habitats.

• What's a piece of advice you'd give to an aspiring zookeeper or something you didn't realize about keeping until you started?
Always be prepared to pivot. You might start your day with a clear plan, but animals don’t always cooperate, and one unexpected situation can change everything. Flexibility and quick thinking are key to handling whatever comes your way in this job.

07/24/2025

Meet Katie! Katie is the Zoo Manager and has been at the zoo for 10 years!

• If you could swap lives with one animal in the park for a day, who would it be and why?
The otters. They swim, eat, and sleep. People tell them everyday they are cute and laugh at their silly behaviors. Seems pretty easy 🙂

• What's one thing the animals do that makes you laugh or brings joy to your day?
Taglu. He is a big boy that loves to engage with enrichment and his roommates. He loves to splash in the pool and swing on his hammock. He is a goofy, sweet boy.

• What's a surprising or fun fact about your favorite species to work with?
My favorite fact is why do Otter's have whiskers? Whiskers help them detect movement in the water and aids in their hunting.

• If the animals had a talent show , which one would steal the spotlight and what would they do?
Apollo-because he will do just about anything to for attention.

• What is your favorite thing about being a zookeeper?
I love being a jack of all trades. Work hard-cleaning, being creative with enrichment, teaching the public, problem solving with issues that arise, medical skill for medical issues that arise, training building a bond with the animals, and more.

• What's a piece of advice you'd give to an aspiring zookeeper or something you didn't realize about keeping until you started?
Be prepared to work hard. It isn't easy, but it is very rewarding

Thank you Katie for keeping the zoo running smoothly, always putting the animals first, and supporting the team every step of the way!

07/23/2025

Next up we have Maddie! Maddie is another one of our Animal Care Interns for the summer!

If I could swap lives with any animal in the park for a day, I would swap lives with Taglu, our black bear. I'd love to spend the day with friends of a different species, enjoy a diet full of fruits and vegetables, and dive into the pool whenever I want!

One thing the animals do that brings joy to my day is spending time with Luna, one of our arctic foxes, during exhibit servicing. She always puts a smile on my face.

My favorite species to work with is definitely the otters! A fun fact about them: they can swim up to 8 miles per hour!

If the animals had a talent show, Clover, our sulcata tortoise, would absolutely steal the spotlight with her impressive hole-digging skills!

My favorite thing about being a zookeeper is seeing the joy and excitement on visitors' faces when they connect with the animals during their time at the zoo.

A piece of advice I'd give to aspiring zookeeper is to make as many connections as possible-whether that's with other aspiring professionals, by visiting different zoos, or by learning from your coworkers, mentors, and of course, the animals themselves.

Thank you maddie for all your hard work this summer, keep it up!

07/22/2025

Kicking off our National Zookeeper Week celebration—say hello to Kate! She’s one of our Animal Care Interns joining us for the summer.

• If you could swap lives with one animal in the park for a day, who would it be and why?
It would be Clover. She gets to relax all day. She also has all the snacks that she can eat around her. She has one of the best views in the zoo where she can watch Gary, the Emus or Luna all day long.

• What's one thing the animals do that makes you laugh or brings joy to your day?
One thing that brings me joy is when the animals look like they are having fun. It could be Luna running around and chasing after Apollo or Taglu, or when the goats go running when they see someone coming with food.

• What's a surprising/fun fact about your favorite species to work with?
I really like the Canadian lynx at our zoo. The lynx have large paws with furry bottoms that act as snowshoes in the winter. It allows them to run and chase down prey in the snow.

• If the animals had a talent show , which one would steal the spotlight and what would they do?
If the animals had a talent show, I think the beavers might steal the spotlight. They are incredibly efficient workers. They can cut down trees overnight with just their teeth and build large dams to blocks rivers and streams. They also have excellent hearing. Their ear cavities are larger than a human’s, and they can hear better underwater in order to locate flowing water from far away.

• What is your favorite thing about being a zookeeper?
My favorite thing about being a zookeeper is being able to work with animals all day. I feel like I learn something new about them everyday. Then I can tell other people about all the cool stuff that I learned. I also enjoy seeing my work have a positive impact on the animals’ wellbeing.

• What's a piece of advice you'd give to an aspiring zookeeper or something you didn't realize about keeping until you started?
One piece of advice I would give is that you always need to be present and paying attention. You need to be able to recognize small changes in an animal’s behavior. You also need to be aware of your surroundings to ensure everyone’s safety.

Thank you Kate for all you do here at Ochsner Park Zoo!

07/21/2025

This National Zookeeper Week, we’re celebrating the amazing dedication and hard work of our zookeepers! Each day this week, we’ll spotlight one of our amazing zookeepers so you can get to know the passionate people behind the scenes.

Being a keeper takes early mornings, late nights, a strong back, a big heart, and a deep commitment to animal care, conservation, and education. From feeding routines and habitat maintenance to building bonds with animals and inspiring guests, our keepers do it all.

Thank you to our incredible team for your passion, care, and commitment to the animals every single day! 👏🐻🐷🦉🦅🐍🦨🦫🦦🦜🐓🐈🐐🫏🦆🐺🦢

07/20/2025

Thanks to this group of hard working gentlemen this corner of the park got a much needed makeover! We pulled out some spiny bushes and they revamped the space by creating a rock garden and replanting beautiful flowers!

07/17/2025

We're Hiring a Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Director!

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for parks, recreation, and community spaces? Baraboo Parks, Recreation, & Forestry is looking for our next Director to help shape the future of outdoor fun, community wellness, and environmental stewardship.

Apply online now:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/baraboowi/jobs/5010318/parks-recreation-forestry-director

Help lead the way in making Baraboo an even better place to live, play, and grow!

07/16/2025

Back in May we let you know Murphy was off for bigger adventures. We’re happy to update you and see that he is settling nicely into his new home! 🦦

07/15/2025

The upper zoo is now open! Come say hello 👋

Edit: upper zoo is now open!
Poppy is just poppin’ in to tell you the upper zoo will be closed until next week due to some concrete work being done. The restrooms, Little birds, opossum, and deer yard lookout will be inaccessible.

07/14/2025

Clover is working on a new burrow in her yard. Who needs a shovel when you’ve got determination and some seriously strong legs! A sulcata tortoise can dig burrows over 10 feet deep and 30 feet long! They do this to help them stay cool, for nesting purposes, and to hide from predators.