Gulker said they normally don't worry about losing animals during the winter. Electrical power outages that prevent the buildings from being heated are a problem. Gulker said each facility has a system to warn zoo staff if the electricity fails. The animals at the zoo receive constant care. This includes clean facilities and food, said Nicole Caraway, junior in pre-veterinary medicine.
Caraway is also a docent at the zoo.
A docent is a volunteer who works with the animals that are used for educational purposes. Docents visit schools to display animals and talk about what happens at the zoo. Their jobs do not focus on taking care of the animals, but they are an extension of the zoo's educational department. The animals must stay warm and should not be bothered by the weather. Some of the animals have their feeding rations increased during the winter season, Gulker said.