We welcome Steve Yzerman the director of the Minnesota Zoological Garden Nancy gives men Nancy Gibson the public information spokeswoman for the zoo the woman you probably hear most often when there is a question arising about the zoo business attendance figures events what not to spend the next 59 minutes or so talking with Steve and Nancy about events at the zoo. And of course history here is instructive because the zoo is not unfamiliar with controversy not the least of which is the appointment at nine months ago of Steve. Yzerman is the new director replacing head cone who left under a cloud. I suppose some people would say even though he presided over what can only be described as a tumultuous time at the zoo of growing time. Now, you're the new man on the Block and how are the finances at the zoo is is everything to your satisfaction straightened out.Well, I think I think some of the finances at the zoo or our kind of a holdover from 5 years ago. The zoo was over build both in it and how large it was going to be and also the fact it was going to be self-sufficient. The zoo wasn't going to be self-sufficient the other zoos around the country, especially Northern zoos are good indicator that we're probably in pretty good shape. So from my standpoint, although I'm very interested increasing attendance at the zoo and consequently the revenues. I think that the zoo is approximately 50% self-sufficient, which is a good number if it's compared to other zoos of similar a layout. So about 50% of your operating budget comes from the people who passed through the gate and the other 50% comes from various other activities, including the Minnesota Legislature rappers who writes about half of it comes from the general fund of the legislature, right and the budget for fiscal 1983. Do you know the figure well, of course the verdicts not in on that yet. I were looking at the governor'sRelations about 5 and 1/2 million dollars a year, so we will know in the next week or so by the time the legislature does that represent a contour of status quo pretty much a status call some increases in our marketing budget, but pretty much all the zoos attendance. I think had been predicted to be what a million people per year at one time. The zoo's attendance was anywhere from a million 8 to 2.3 Macy. So we are we went with a million eight figure back in 1978 when we opened. We ended up getting about a million and a half million 67,000 that year. We're currently out about the 900,000 level. And what trend do you see taking place in terms of attendance while I think we bought them doubt. There is a certain natural decline. You're going to get that we knew the millions 67 would be a higher. We weren't sure how long it would take out the bottom out. It looks as if this year maybe we'll come in somewhere around 9 or a thousand andLooking at it as being the bottom and hopefully can start moving up. You were out reported by people in the media as being the man who would bring peace to Labor Relations at the zoo because you were Insider you were reported as being respected by Zoo employees. Unfortunately most Zoo employees with the exception of Nancy Gibson aren't here to comment on how how well you've done have have you brought peace to Labor Relations at the zoo to your satisfaction. Well, it's always something to work on those who is unique. It's a very small organization in terms of employees yet the variety of philosophies that will happen quite complex. I'm happy with the way it is. Now. It's certainly for most of my mind has been one of the major issues. I tried to deal with since I've become director. Alright Nancy, I won't put you on the spot. I'm not with your boss. Anyway, we have telephone numbers that you can call to ask questions of Steve Yzerman.The director of the Minnesota Zoological garden and Nancy Gibson the public information officer for the zoo call us in the Twin Cities at 227-6207 6000 listeners outside. The Twin Cities can call us toll-free. There's no charge if you call one 800-652-9700 1 800-652-9700 or 227-6000 in the Twin Cities calling area. What about the birthday party is scheduled for a week from tomorrow to start this Thursday, right? It's May 19th through the 22nd year old birthday party Labor Day and we're going to have a four-day celebration. As I said on the 19th. It's a senior citizens day. They get special discounts and we have senior citizen entertainment and on Friday its Community Day.We will be open until 8. We'll have special whalebird and dolphin shows on Saturday. It's our members day. It's when we take a day off and appreciate the members of the support of the zoo throughout the year. And on Sunday. We have the our actual birthday will be lots of birthday cake and the illustrious to first annual Zoo do it is a sort of athletic event. Probably. All right, if you have questions about the zoo, do you can wonder about it and that perhaps cold is who to ask to 276 thousand in the Twin Cities area. If you have a question for Steve Yzerman and Nancy Gibson attendance, I imagine has been principally from the Twin Cities area, but I think the zoo was billed as an institution it would draw from people coming to the Twin Cities from all over to visit and not just from Minnesota, but from around the region, is that right?In the colder months the majority of our attendance comes from the metro area. But in the summer season about half of that attendance comes from either out of state or out State attendance on any given day in the summer. We can find license plates from 33 different states. We are the top major attraction in the state. We have draw the Twins and Vikings and University sports. That's not unlike other zoos in the country. Well, we have some callers on the line and in case the questionnaires don't get to these issues will certainly be talking later about the zoos endangered species program the status of the Minnesota Zoological Society as compared to your new membership Endeavors and so on but right now will get to the questioners. So go ahead we're listening for your question Place both like to ride bicycles and I was wondering if there was any facilities or Arrangements at the zoo for bikingYes, there are we have pens all the way to the zoo on Johnnycake Ridge Road. And then at the zoo there are places to park your bicycles. And I will get to the next questioner right now. Good afternoon. We're listening for your question. membership where you pay once a year, and then you limited admissions to the zoo We currently have that with our Minnesota Zoo or program. We have categories of four individuals for Companions and also for household where you pay a flat rate at the the time you buy a membership that entitles you to free admission throughout the year to ask about the issue between the Zoological Garden as an organization in your group of supporters former group of supporters. I suppose we might say the the society the Minnesota Zoo Society. There was a rift. What was the cause of the rift? What are the original agreement between the was called the reciprocity agreement between the Minnesota Zoological Society and the zoo was that the society would sell their memberships because me and their members would then be allowed free admission to the zoo for the year in return the society would provide us with volunteers who would put a certain number of hours in the hours would offset the admissions. That particular document was up for renegotiation back in 1981 for various reasons. There was an inability to reach agreement between the Minnesota Zoological board in the Minnesota Zoological Society. And the room was terminated did most of the people who belong to the society have they now become new members of your of your membership Endeavor within the zoo itself. We're aware that a number of them are we've not had access to the societies list for us to be able to cross checking, but we are aware we done some surveys with our members to find out if they were previously members of the Minnesota Zoological Society in there are a good number of them are. All right. We're talking with Steve Yzerman the executive director of the Minnesota Zoological garden and Nancy Gibson the public information officer. You can call us at 227-6000 in the Twin Cities if you have a question to 276 thousand. Listeners outside the Twin Cities within Minnesota can call toll-free 1-800 65290 701-806-5297 now about the endangered species program for the zoo's effort to protect certain species of animal most recently. I think a cougar has been the object of some know I may have that incorrect. I'm not sure if it's a cougar or a spotted or a clouded clouded leopard. There you go. Thanks for correcting me. What's the status of the clouded leopard program the international stud book for the clouded leopards and that's a very fancy word that was taken after a domestic animals. And what we basically do we are in charge of taking care of a certain line of animals in the if you want to find a mate for 1083 clouded leopard than you can check with our study books and find out who has good Bloodlines and we helped pair them up. I think people may not appreciate the international scope of this. Program maybe not so much just for the clouded leopard. Although I'm sure that exists but but other species as well, why don't you describe the the international Network that is maintained for this while we have at the zoo a system called Isis which stands for international species inventory system. And that is really the world's Bank of animal dating and it's I know that's a soft word. But it really that's really basically what it is. And if you want to pair up a certain species, you can call Isis or you can get these readouts from them and they will help pair you up with an animal and on those sheets. They have the history of the Sexes the parents where they have been their number so that you can pair them up with some good good genetics stock. It's very important since endangered species is such a worldwide problem and there were losing species private turn the Centre about one a day that we become good storage areas for some of these animals so that there if there ever is a chance for us to reintroduce them into the Cuz we'll have the good captive breeding stock to do so breeding stock or are you also talking about Frozen sperm? So you maintain the Frozen sperm banks as well to help with the University of Minnesota that has a frozen sperm bank questionnaire right now. Good afternoon. We're listening. Thank you take my time and watch all of beautiful animals and things that there are to see at the zoo the question about the bikers maybe Wonder are they now being allowed on the same path as the Walker? Do they have separate paths? Noah night when I was talking about that. I meant just to the zoo not at the zoo site. No biking at the zoo's like that roller skating nor skateboarding just walking riding the monorail or riding the camels program. All right, we'll get to that bit later. We'll take the next caller right now. Good afternoon. You're on the air for a dog exhibit will be opened in June. We certainly have quite extensive plan for addition to the exhibit to the zoo. Unfortunately. They take quite a bit of money. We're currently in the process of putting together a fundraising strategy and we hope that by the Fall would be able to put together a successful successful campaign and be able within the next couple years to add some major exhibits to the zoo along primarily one the doors and trailed. Have you maintained the philosophy Steve that the zoo will generally show animals or exhibits? I should say that are more or less indigenous to this climate area wealth and capital completion plan. The first phase is to complete our Northern track which in fact are the animals that Northern Hemisphere animals, we have however in our plan a section of the tropics building to be expanded where we would be able to get some of the Asian large mammals elephant. And so we're trying to complete the northern track which would be the Northern Hemisphere animals, but we are also planning to have some more warm weather animals. All right, we have other colors waiting will get to the next question right now. Good afternoon. We're listening cost of an annual family membership at the zoo now. $30 would be the annual family membership. And of course, it's kind of a scale isn't there. I mean there are a variety of programs that you offer for enticing people to the zoo by the individual would be $15 companion which would be for two individuals would be $20 and $30 for the for the household membership. What does the notion of membership do for you is that this I give you a chunk of cash you can count on is that the principal what does a couple of things that did one meets a need? There's a certain amount of visitors out there that use those who heavily they come many times during the year that was proven when the society had their membership program. So an infected does meet the needs of getting those people access to the zoo at a season pass rate. So to speak it also does provide as money goes towards some of that goes towards our operating budget which offsets the subsidy or the tax money that that goes into the zoo other funding is available for us to enhance or to a door to expand exhibits out there. So it it serves a variety of purposes and it's currently Pro. In 5000 membership level which would represent about 15,000 individuals and we're quite were quite happy with the success of it and it gives a good support for the zoo. A moment will love return to questions with the Steve Yzerman and Nancy Gibson from the Minnesota Zoo to 276 thousand in the Twin Cities. If you have a question one 800-652-9700 is the toll free number for those of you outside the Twin Cities within Minnesota one 800-652-9700 caller with a question. Good afternoon. You're on the air. Hello. I want to know how your condos are doing are condors. Okay, we don't have any of the Condors at the Minnesota Zoo Angeles and San Diego zoo's are the ones that are taking care of the the breeding captive breeding of the California condor and they are doing quite well, they've had to hatching so far. Turn on the acquisition committee Veta sure. I think the California condor would be great to have at the zoo but there are so few in captivity and even while a few more in the wild but it's a species that really needs a lot of delicate breeding right now and not not an exhibition species client is the central issue. I suppose an acquisition other zoos don't simply loan free of charge. I mentioned a loan with strings attached in some cases are money attached surprisingly the value you have tied up in your animal collection from a dollar and sense standpoint is relatively low in comparison to the zoo or its operating budget in there is there's quite a bit alone breeding loan that goes on throughout the zoo world. So And it's a good way for us to work together. I mean, they are endangered species and that way we can spread out the gene pool. Hi. I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about the volunteer program. How how would I get into it? And once into it? What does it involve? Okay, the volunteer program at the zoo is a 32-hour course and it is a college credit course and right now at the zoo we have about 250 active volunteers and they either spend from 1 to 2 days a week to one or two days a month and it's a wonderful program for us at the zoo. I really don't think we could run the zoo without them. They help out with her our school groups that are very big this time of year and they were behind the visitor Services area. They work with her animals and do it the animal demonstrations. They really are the go-between between these are the administration and the visitors. They really are Goodwill ambassadors. I think that the volunteers provide a service that we could never afford to have that interface between the public and and I I have to agree with Nancy. It's it's such a wonderful program to see those people that to give up their time like that is just is tremendous. There are classes a couple times a year and you do have to come out and play by and be accepted into the program. Once you're really sweet of up to you if you want to spend two days a week or one hour a month that we like to keep them somewhat active and there are certain benefits to him and I only did they get to get an inside look at the zoo. But we have a volunteer recognition dinner. It's a wonderful program and you meet some very fine. People will get to the next question or good afternoon. You're on the air because if there's not another xuewen city. I was curious how much cooperation there is between the two zoos. Well, I want to apologize if we were before we were a fearing is a for sliding to the Como Zoo or ignoring it to call Melissa finds. Ooh, we have quite a bit of cooperation with the John Fletcher in the Como Zoo. We have some animals breeding loans between the two of Siberian tigers. I know and I was out there just a couple months ago and I got a tour of the the new facility that come with putting up and we cooperate with the with a Como Zoo. I think to a degree that you would expect between two zeros in a metropolitan area do different purposes. I presume between the Como Zoo and of the Minnesota Zoological Garden you or you're doing different things in a way. That's the Como Zoo is is is primarily exhibition. Como Zoo is a smaller Zoo free zoo has a park attached to it. It's it's a it's a total Recreation educational area and Fart more convenient to the majority people in Twin Cities. So I think we I think to zoos create more interest in zoos. And from that standpoint. I don't look at them as primarily competition. They may in fact be generating the two of us may be generating more interest in zoos, then one could all right, babe of the colors on the line will get to the next one. Good afternoon. We're listening with your question, please I've been wondering if you could clarify exactly what the cost is of a membership and season pass on a family basis or is that one in the same charge the same charge a household membership is $30 a companion membership, which is for two does North have to be the same to is 20 and an individual is 15, so they are one in the same the family membership. The annual pass is the same thing. All right. Thanks for calling ahead with your question, please. I was wondering if you would be acquiring any of the animals like kangaroos are giraffes or Elephants or anything like that in the near future and the other question or is more of a, we stay out to the zoo several times and it's a beautiful facility but several times and were there you you know, the mules are there in those large pasture areas as soon as you can stand there for an hour and we'll see any of them. Is there something that can be better. I know what the color is referring to I've stood on that path to and waited for those tires to show and I'm sure you have to not think that to answer the first question you had in the near future next year. No, we won't have any the animals you you talked about again. I indicated earlier that part of our long-term planning is to have a sum of the Asian large mammals the elephant rhinoceros orangutan those kind of animals and I would hope that with a successful fundraising that we're not talking about the next Century that were talking about somewhat nearer term than that. I think the the issue on those specially in the northern track of visibility of animals, of course is one of the controversial aspects of the zoo that's been there since we opened but we do a variety of things to provide visibility for the animals. We we tend to feed them in certain areas. We we we want to get the animals down with a more visible, but we also want to give the animals a certain amount of area tours. We like that the herd aspect of the animals whether it be the the wild horses or or the Bison of the Wapiti. We want to give that particular view of the animal. That's one of the philosophies of the zoo where we're aware of that and we're constantly working on on getting the animals more visible, but we can't guarantee it to 100% of the time. It's just that much space. We can't guarantee that any time during the day that they're going to be up close and the idea of being I recall correctly that you want the animals to feel good. You want them to be able to roam around a bit? I believe that we lack the neurotic animals at some zoos might have we let them we love them to do all their natural behaviors the case of the tiger they're used to roaming in 100 square miles to do their hunting. Obviously. We only have four and a half acres at the zoo for the Tigers, but it does give them a sense of being out in the wild and I think when people see these animals and see The Tigers running across in the snow or or stocking something else. They really get an appreciation for that animal even with the size of the devil of a time trying to keep the pastures from becoming Baron even with that size of a pasture for the animal with the intense use of it is a real challenge to keep it keep it green 44 minutes after 12. We're talking with Steve Yzerman the director of the Minnesota Zoo and Nancy Gibson the public information officer. You can call us in the Twin Cities at 227 6207 6000 listeners outside the Twin Cities with in Minnesota can call toll-free 1-800 652 9701 865 to 9700 what should a shih tzu be something for the public to observe caged animals, or should it be a scientific? So to speak or is there a fine line somewhere in between a combination is what's really important? I think being a public supported institution and being a place where it's extremely popular. I has Universal appeal. We have to have the recreation aspect. I also think that people should come away from the zoo learning something about the animals and I also feel that the zoo should be interested in conservation because Zeus have had to do that. There are no longer the consumers of wildlife. They have to be the preservers entertainment to theme park ideas at changing my moving to the open landscaped naturalistic sort of exhibits and it seems to really be the trend has now I mean just with Como is doing also they are changing from the traditional caged to some wonderful exhibit that they have out there. And I think you can you can fit that combination in it's tough one though. Guess it's a delicate balance between the zoo for the Arts who has four major purposes in the education conservation Recreation and research they're all fine goals, but to find the balance between those goals I think is a is a is a constant issue that needs to be addressed. It's a it's a Charming addition to the zoo. I've always found the petting zoo a bit of a strange thing, even though it's the first thing our family goes to almost When we arrive at the zoo, but having a petting zoo farmyard animals seems a little bit out of place with all of the other endeavors you have with endangered species. What's what's the goal with the petting zoo? I think the girl with the the children's who was we call it is to meet those needs. There's a certain segment of the visitor, especially the young visitor that has called in earlier that has trouble seeing the animals on the Northern track. He wants to have an up-close experience. We have Tzu lab for that where you can go in and up very close. You can look at the animals. You can touch the animals we all I have the the children's over we have reindeer llama and a variety of other animals in there where they can actually pet them. They can come get them experience. I think that a totally different from the rest is who I don't think they're incompatible. I think that one complements the other and did I remember correctly that you wanted to expand the Children's Zoo maybe that expansion is already taken place, Yes, we've we've expanded it. Actually what we've done is taken the existing facilities out there and repopulated him again, we had for a variety of reasons by deterring otherwise, I'd gotten down to a very small Barnyard type of approach out there and we actually just taken the facilities at where they are done some minor Remodeling and repopulated the facilities. All right, baby caller on the line with the question. Good afternoon. You're on the air. My question is what animal babies are there for viewing now that we could see. We have had some Japanese snow monkeys born and we've had several Birds born. I know the spring we still are expecting that the majority of our animals that seem to come towards the end of May and I'm at roller derby foxes. I did not see we're having fevers and links and probably some cougars it moves Canto. Yes, we've had seven camels so far. That's right. And we've had an explosion horses horses and one musk ox. And so things are starting to pop this is spring. It depends some of the animals we do keep cuz we need to make our exhibits in the inhabitants in them larger and some of them we sell to other zoos or trade with hoses or loaner. Whatever rows are depends upon the species. Is that the source of funding the breeding and sale of animals, or is that a marginal source of income? It's pretty much a self-supporting thing that we we get enough for the animals to than by the ones we want to buy. It's not a money maker at this point with other colors with questions will get to the next one. Good afternoon. You're on the air tank. If I was wondering if that's a question about the disability of the animals again, if there's some reason for the good of the animals or something where is secondary pants are provided a person can walk to see where the animals are. walking walking up to a tiger for example in the I see what you're saying. I see what you're saying. because it's after Beyond Vision in Pasadena rolling areas from the path That's that's a good idea. But it's going to cost money. And I know I've heard talk about it with our tiger exhibit but things like that or are very expensive one way to treat me right in the case of the Tigers. I know when we first open the zoo. We had one very large area and then we try section that off and then we put a heat underneath the rocks to bring them in to view or will try to feed them down near the pelvic area. So we have tried some of these things and in some cases are there they've been working in some cases. They haven't been with the program. We haven't winter ideally that we've been something built into the zoo where we would have the pads the walking path in skiing pass parallel each other and but again that wasn't something that was built in and constantly are ski passes are totally different than our guy walking paths other colors with questions. We get to the next one. Good afternoon. You're on the air. That you received some help or you cooperate with the university and also that you work with the other zoos. Do you ever interact with industry or calling in for help? We do quite a number of Cooperative efforts with the with industry. I don't know if you're talking about the eye from a scientific standpoint or just from a general Cooperative standpoint where we tie in with a private concern for of special promotion or an advertisement or a new exhibit. We do quite a bit of that. We get a lot of my printing variety of things done by Private Industry in exchange for tying together with him in the scientific go world. I don't believe we've we've had much interaction with Private Industry that hasn't been defined as a strategy then to go to a brewer or a bread company and have them sponsor up an exam. Why has been done the red red panda exhibit? I was partially built by funds from the Dayton's Corporation and our prairie dog exhibit has been done is being done in cooperation with A&W the Children's Zoo was renovated with the Cub Food. So we are trying to stretch our marketing dollars as much as possible and we can give them very good demographics because we have such Universal appeal at the zoo and we'll put the plaques up and all that. So we are trying that method but I don't know if he was talking about the fundraising in the corporation corporate world, and we do have is a logical Foundation that has raise some funds for us as far as actually Built or let's say since 1973 when the zoo construction began about 3 million dollars has been raised from the private sector most of that being raised by the Minnesota Zoological Garden foundation. So what we're trying to do is this fall by this fall as to put together a you a campaign we can get out and get the funding necessary to expand the zoo other colors with questions will get to the next one. Good afternoon. We're listening and then I don't feel like to see if you could someday have a brush wolf exhibit side by side of the East Timberwolves for people could see the differences many people think that what we have planned at the zoo is a wolf Caribou exhibit. It's a predator-prey relationship. That would have the timber wolf in the exhibit as it stands right now. That's one of the next exhibits we're going to be working on and it will be located out in the Northern Trail has become available the interesting thing about the Caribou. It's a program that we are going to be trying to reintroduce the carabao back into Northern Minnesota and cooperation with the DNR in the Safari Club still on the line. You mentioned the rush wolf to that I catch then that's what you said the rush wolf. I don't think that color is on the line in. Oh, you are still there of the rush wolf you mentioned what's the distinction between the rush wolf in the timber wolf? I'm not aware of him. I'm sorry. I'm still getting over my cold, which is now in my ear. So I can't hear everything that is said to me a brush wolf. Well, thanks for that call with other colors waiting with questions will get to the next one. Good afternoon. We're listening. Yes, are you going to expand the Aquatic exhibits in the future like particularly the whales and the and the Dolphins that you have there? Why are our expansion as we see it in in those areas are to provide additional seating? We do have a problem in the sense that we've we've got a wonderful beluga whale exhibit how are we do not have good viewing for the for the feedings for shows. We have the same problem in the in the dolphin exhibit. What we're going to be looking at are some ways given some of the realities of constraints to try to provide more seating more viewing so that people can enjoy these these behavioral shows that we put on as far as expansion. We're looking at the are smaller tanks down there to look at what we should do be stocking them with we have a difficulty with those tanks show various regions of the world and we have a difficulty finding her having a good supplier of those of those types of fish. It's it's not hard if you're on the Atlantic coast to just get out they go out and just and capture him. We can't do that. We have to fight. Supplier and so from that standpoint we're looking at that we don't have any major expansions for the beluga whale or the those types of exhibits way back way on. The drawing board is an ocean of a freshwater aquarium, but that would be quite a ways into the future baby belugas. It's they've been able to breathe and have birth live birth in captivity, but never successful at raising of them. So we think we have a pretty good chance. We have also have a large holding pool that is out of you from the public that were hoping will enhance our possibilities of breeding in captivity Nancy Gibson from the Minnesota Zoological Garden. If you'd like to call 227-6282 276 thousand one 800-652-9700 is the toll free number one 806-5290. 700 you deal I assume with perfectly reputable people who capture animals you do not have to worry about Black Market or anything like that. Why don't you talk about that though and explain some of the problems associated with the capture and purchase of animals, you mentioned fish. For example, what we do have to worry about that. It's it is difficult for us to tell Andrew Minnesota who's actually acquiring some of the animals for us, but we have certain dealers and certain zoos that we will deal with if we find a zoo or an animal dealer to be disreputable. We won't we won't deal with them. And that's. And there are certain guidelines that we go by and there is Talbot only by federal government state government and we have to go along with us, especially when you're talkin about traffic of endangered species Temptation. Go for a zoo must be considerable. Somebody comes along with an animal that you would like for one of your exhibits that you may be completing. You hope they're reputable but I suppose you it's difficult to tell a week we go through quite a lengthy process to make sure I don't see it as a being a Temptation the ethics of and certainly are zoo and many others who was in fact the professional association of the American Association of Zoological Parks aquarium have their own rule of Ethics. There's a good Network there to determine the reputation of of dealers and suppliers. And I think that if anything we are airing on the side of of making doggone sure that these people are in fact not trafficking in illegal animals. I think it's the private sector that really gets into that problem. If the Temptations of trafficking of endangered animals talk about that in a moment, perhaps your colors right now, good afternoon. We're listening to your question in the past and visiting places like Lion Country Safari in this world and the animal runs crepe. When and where feeding times of seems to be one of the best ways to view animals and Deals select when and where you can buy all the animals need or do you try to integrate that with the viewing public? It depends upon the animals such as animals like on the Northern Trail we entice them with food at the end of the day to get them into their holding areas for the night on the case the beluga whales and the Dolphins and some of the birds we feed during public hours. In fact mean courage it something it's new in our Discovery Center that we opened up in April is a Azu either a zookeeper Eatery and where we have the zookeeper's feed the animals prepare the diets have Diet card set up. So people can see what the animals eat and then we feed the animals during public hours. I think it's very interesting in the public certainly seems to like it. All right, babe other callers will get to the next question or good afternoon your on the are my only have from it cuz we have children and he'll it's very important especially with the Children's Zoo and the zoo lap but one thing that has bothered me and listening is a lot of people that have been calling and complaining because they have a hard time. I seen the animals sometimes when I go there I think a lot of people just don't realize that if they want that type of thing they're going to be seeing animals in a cage very neurotic and this way at the Minnesota Zoo would serve halfway in between they don't have the thousands of miles to Rome but they have an awful lot more than just just a cage and if they go they're they're going to to see something but they might not see everything every time. That's that's a great testimonial. Thank you and I can do to my PR staff because I think you're right. I were not a quick-fix zoo. You don't go in and see an animal in a cage. It's a discovery session and I will encourage people to come out and spend three to four hours visiting the zoo and don't run through it. You're not you're not going to say everything every time and but they'll keep it coming back and that's what you want. What you see is the way they live not the way we expect to see them stereotype from zoos in picture books. That's what I was talking about earlier. I want people to leave Isuzu Having learned something Having learned that the tigers are not warm other animals. I can romp in the snow and I do a wonderful job without her seeing the beavers cut down a tree or the Otters catch a minnow. It's wonderful. Where are the colors with question? I'll get to the next one right now. Good afternoon. You're on the air. We going out half a dozen times in a couple years and we just love to go out there and what we do when we plan our day, we plan to go to the northern track at least twice right when we get out there in the morning because when it's hot outside a lot of the animal kind of crawled up into the shade and then when it gets warmer, and so they're out in the morning and then we go through again in the afternoon in case we missed some the first time around and then we go out frequently in that way you get to see him all and so we love is it will go out as often as we get the opportunity. Thank you. I think that's a good method to the philosophy of love going to the zoo for a visit to as Nancy said earlier. It's not a quick-fix and we certainly I don't think of the zoo is someplace where you go once and never come back again. That's what do you see all you could see all the animals go back a week later and see them all again and maybe be a totally different experience. Call how to change in their coat changes and is really interesting. And that's why I I agree people to also come in the cold winter months because some of those animals are running around quite a bit more. Just trying to keep warm at the beginning of a day as a lady in the can I get to the next one. Good afternoon. You're on the air Badger. We did try a badger and it was unsuccessful. We don't have a pine marten, but we do have a fissure a close relative future hard to say that will certainly take your consideration and taking into consideration. See if we can do it's usually when we have a species in this close relative exhibited the likelihood of us doing another one close by was probably not going to happen. You don't try to serve as a catalog sort of zoo than of every species I supposed to list is well quite long. Stamp zoos and that's something that we don't really want to get into and I think you'll find a lot of zoos that it's worth taking that Trend. They have fewer numbers of different types of species and more specimens if they choose the white-coated weasel that maybe it for weasels. In other words that right. There's a the trendiest towards a few word species for your animals and in our case of everything that approach we have Northern Hemisphere animals. We have won a Tropics building. We have a a trail that's all Minnesota animals and that's becoming more and more of the case throughout Seuss. We have a caller on the line a reminder that till you can call with your questions for Steve Yzerman and Nancy Gibson about the Minnesota Zoo to 276 thousand to 276 thousand listeners outside the Twin Cities with in Minnesota can call us toll-free 1-800 652 9701 806 5 to $9,700 with a question. Good afternoon. You're on the air. Good afternoon program for high school students, and I'm not sure that the general public is aware of it knows the high quality about that program. Yes, we do have a great program for all ages. We have won three national awards. That's far from the National Zoo Association one is for the first time in 1979 a year after we are open was just for institutional commitment to education in 1980. We got an award for our preschool program called Beluga bunch and a 1982. We got an award for Zoo school, which is the program you're talking about. It's for gifted students in the Twin Cities two of our first year students are now in Albuquerque competing in international competition for their work that they did at the zoo one to the computer and the other one was studying the behavior of hornbills. So our educational commitment to to the state of Minnesota is very very strong. And we also now have a zoo camp that's going on that starts out. We have several different sessions going on and if any of you were interested in the preschool program the zoo camp or any of our Behavior classes to please call the zoo hits their wonderful programs. I wish I Young again. I can take them some time left on the line will get to the next one. Good afternoon. You're on the air. Our presidents are named just love the zoo. But we're we're having a problem and to push the wheelchairs up the ramp into the tropical belly. And I mean ever being a possibility if we let you know, we're coming in that we could maybe have given to people helping or are there volunteers your own tears of a miserly think of you if you're running into problems like that before you do come to give a call out there. I I can't commit to any particular day of how many volunteers or staff be available for that. But certainly if that ramp is the problem in the fat couple people could do could be of help for that for that. Of time. I think that certainly would we try in every way we can to get within reason to help out the group to say, but again, I can't commit any particular day you have to call ahead of time. Whatever our grandchildren were here from the Philippines and the youngest one just love that couldn't get out of there again on your farm animals. I think I'd like to thank you very much. I will get to the next caller right now. Good afternoon your on the it. Where you calling from? Oh, yes, we know where Jackson is. What's the temperature there right now? We have no choice in the matter. I just want to know what your hours are for Sunday visitors. We have visited we're looking forward to coming in a couple of Sundays here and we don't know when you open on Sunday every day of the year. We open at 9:30 until Memorial weekend. We're open until 5 and throughout the summer. We're open until 6, but since you're coming on Sunday, I'll give it a secret come early the crowd start coming in about 2 noon to 1 but if you come early you practically have the suit yourself. What we used to open at 9 and we get some pressure on opening earlier and then staying open later and we end up with not being able to cover the hours with our employees at 9:30 seems to work real. Well, Tom was busy on Sunday. If you really want to morning the animals are active if you want to do it yourself Sunday morning come out at 9:30 and you'll you'll get the other colors with questions will get to the next one. Good afternoon. You're on the air. I was wondering if if children can volunteer to help to the zoo how we don't have a volunteer program for children, but we did start one for teenagers this year as it stands right now. We just we we can't use your bow. Wish we could but he'll older and let us know right now is that alright other colors with questions will take the next one. Good afternoon. You're on the air. I'm calling I have a visitor from California with a 16 month old child. I'm wondering I have never been to your so I would like to go with the mother and I should like to know how long it take to go through the zoo. Is it the kind of a ramp where you can push a cart the child in it comfortably without getting tired. Do you have a dining room or place to eat? etcetera Tell me we'll start with that. It is 350 for adults 17 and over those 12 to 16 is a dollar 75 and seniors are also dollar 7506 211 are dollar 25 and 5 and under are free. Now. That's it before. I really do recommend a 3-2 for our visit and all of the walkways are ramped for so that you can take a stroller long is one of them. But if it's a nice day, you can also eat outside in the Bears picnic areas around the site, right? You can bring up lunch in a sack. You can buy your lunch there you covered the attendance fee you covered the accessibility issue, which all all exhibits are accessible 3 to 4 hours is not too terribly long stay at the zoo to see a lot of things but they're the point being that there are lots of places to stop and relax. That's just really viewing time. I think people do need to take a break to and between on the air. I would like to compliment the zoo management and what they've done so far have noted. However, we are lack of information about the animals that I do see I see an animal and I have a name and maybe a little bit of information on a plaque, but I want to know what is it related to What family is it in I think it would be very useful to the general public to lift. What particular adaptations this animal exhibits what sort of behaviors might expect to observe that you spend some time watching it and maybe what these behaviors me. I think there's a really great opportunity to educate the public about animals in general about their priorities and don't feel about Evolution. But I don't think that the zoo is really followed up on this at least for the general public as they walk through and cruise animals. I would hope that maybe in the future with some simple plaques detailing some information and what to look for if maybe this could situation could be improved. Well, that's one of the problems that we've identified in. We've never really been satisfied with our interpretive Graphics. You're very correct in saying that there are even some exhibits where other doesn't even defy the animal. We're working quite diligently on that now I would hopefully by the end of the summer we would have all the animal interpretive Graphics up. I'm not sure we could go into detail that that you're you're talking about. But certainly we believe that the design of our Graphics in the content of them that we have on the boards right now will give the general public good educational overview of the animal where it's from in some relational aspects to other animals and and those types of things. So I just wanna let you know that that that particular a shortfall that we do have is not been overlooked by by the zoo was produced after myself and that we are working on that currently. Earlier you talk to Steve about the issue of the capture of animals and your zoo as both of you have pointed out to use try to operate a very reputable operation New View check out the backgrounds of people who sell animals did refer however to a private private for-profit operations. I assume so so cold game Parks or game farms that sort of thing are there places in the country. I guess I assumed there are places in the country. They're not so reputable in terms of how they gained animals to accept to the public that's called at Wayside roadside zoos Wayside zoos. Summer game farms, the unfortunately the laws for keeping endangered species in keeping animals in general. There are laws, but very few Marin forest and it is a real problem and I I can see not only did many animals are in these Wayside do some people want to take them home or not exhibited properly. They may not be given the proper. And they really caused a lot of problems and they give a bad name to the two others who's who does not have a foster program or does it have an animal sponsorship program and were the people can give up to certain amount of money starts a 15 goes all the way up to 5000. They can sponsor a certain animal at the zoo Lucky in that are naturalistic exhibits. We've been able to have very a lot of natural rearing and so we don't have the problem. We take them home. Good afternoon. You're on the air. I like to follow up on the inquiry by the zoologist caller. 3 years ago, I was there as part of a graduate class in Zoology and was given an educational tour through the zoo and and was enlightened with a very creative program of positioning exhibits to bring out the natural behaviors of the animals such as the leopard cages allow them to watch over the given because of it. The bears bears are honey berries that are displayed in a way that they speak for honey. That's hidden by the attendance in the various parts of the exhibit so that they do seeking and carry out those behaviors that information itself. I thought was very interesting and enlightening and something like that would be very valuable Incorporated with General evolutionary or animal grouping you're suggesting if I understand you correctly that that could be on a plaque to printed could be purchased or somehow made available to people who were interested in that kind of information cuz I think the zoo is elegant in that regard and that information just is not generally available to visit in public. It's one of the real assets at the zoo. No, thank you. We do have a new album that we had upon opening. Now that particular album does not answer the concern that you have or they suggest you have. We are the way the point now where we going to have to be looking at the new Zoo album or a zoo a book a souvenir book that people can buy in our gift store and take home and certainly those kinds of things. Why does he was laid out the way it is the the whole Zoe Geographic aspects of the zoo the would be laid out in that and certainly what you just brought up about the position exhibits in the way that there's a sequence throughout the the various trials is is information. That should be in some that's such a publication is that we also have audio tours that we've just first developed or one for the Minnesota Trail and we are looking into developing one for the tropics the Northern Trail you can purchase those audio tours and they will give you some information that you were talking about. Good afternoon. Where you calling from? How's the how's the weather in Bemidji? Hey, you're right. It's going to be out of town PR another paper such as division paper some of the out-of-town papers like that. I think that probably couldn't resist. The feeling is that we try our best. I have a press release program and I do send it to the de Medici paper within us at their discretion where they use or not. I myself have traveled to Bemidji and have done some radio shows and whether you listen to I guess you just didn't listen but I try to do several a state tours during the year. I do feel at the zoo is a state facility and it should be enjoyed by all people in a minute in Minnesota. So I do try to make a point of tearing up their summer. We are taking our a new zoomobile program on the road so to speak and we will be hitting various county fairs and Special days at cities have as many as we can throughout the summer. So hopefully we will be in in that area but is anyone knows who's associated with tourism or attracting people? It's expensive like stick animals with us and help finding a hotel room if you were Angela. All right and to Gibson Steve Yzerman, thank you very much for coming to talk with us about the zoo the birthday party begins Thursday and continues through Sunday Sunday, right that's weekend for today. We thank you all for calling with your questions. Thanks to Dorothy Hanford for talking to you on the other end of the phone when you called and thanks to read Olson for bringing you up on the faders when you wanted to get on the air.