Education – A Houston Zoo Blog

Look at the GIANT Grizzly Bear

Ever wonder what it might be like to volunteer at the Houston Zoo? One of the volunteer opportunities we offer here at the Zoo is working as a Keeper Aide, where highly trained volunteers work alongside the keepers assisting them in some of their daily tasks. I think what Rochelle Joseph, a Zoo volunteer, had to say about her first day on the job speaks for itself:

I struggled to open the rediculously long, industrial strength plastic bag while wearing protective latex gloves, but I tried my best to mask it. I wanted to impress. This was the moment I’d been working toward, being a Keeper’s Aid, and I was given my first task — shoveling bear poop.   I knew it was a part of the job, but I supressed a chuckle when it was the first thing I was assigned. I wondered if it’s an inside joke among the staff to throw newbies right into it and see what they’re really made of. All I know is, I was determined to make it look like I’d been doing it all my life.

As I scooped up the morning-fresh puddle of gunk, I almost fell over from it’s…fragrance. Between that and the weight of the shovel and my gloves sticking to the bag that just would not stay put, I swung it best I could in the direction of the opening, and dumped. It mostly got on the sides, leaving me no clear spot from which to grab it and shake things down.

The smell made me care a little less about neatness and more about being done so I brought back the second scoop hoping my aim would be better. It was, but I still had to figure out how to carry the mess with me as I tidied the rest of the habitat. At that moment Richard, the very nice carnivore keeper took pity and showed me a way to roll and set the bag so I’ll do better next time. Still, I did all this with a wry smile on my face thinking: for the rest of my life, this will be a fun story to tell.

I admit, I was shaking in my knee high rubber boots when we first entered the enclosure.  I think it crosses everyone’s mind that there can be mistakes (if it doesn’t, you’ve probably done it too long).  Richard told me the bears were properly locked outside of their habitat so I plunged ahead, though it felt like I had ginger ale in my veins.  When I was done collecting carrot remnants and refilling their pool, I watched as he prepared their arthritis medicine. He mixed it with honey in a tupperware bowl, then headed around the corner with me in tow. He squatted down and I stopped short in my tracks. What I didn’t expect was to see a GIANT grizzly right THERE.

A GIANT bear, did I mention that? 

In my interview with the keepers the first 30 minutes were essentially warnings and outlined what I can’t do — for my and the animal’s safety. At the end they asked if I had any questions and I joked, “Um, what can I do?”  Well now, HERE I WAS, up close with my first giant beast!!  He was so big he disappeared into the shadows of the cage. Just his head was fully visible, apart from the general hulk of him — and it was massive, with thick dark fur just making it bigger!  I expected this bear to fling himself against the bars, roaring and swiping at the bowl with those claws as long as my fingers! I imagined we’d have to push the bowl toward him with a stick from a great distance, as if he were Hannibal Lecter.

But the keeper was kneeling close to the bars cooing to the bear, who had his paws curled up under him like a pussy cat. He was sweet and docile, and stuck his tongue way out of his long snout to reach the honey/meds in the bowl.

When the bear was done, the keeper stuck in the spoon and asked the bear softly if he’d like to lick it, which he did. Make no mistake, it was clear these animals are to be fully respected, and I could and should never attempt what a keeper might. They’ve been working with these animals closely for a very long time and know just what they’re doing.

You may know that these are old bears, who were rescued from a terrible former life, who now gratefully soak up the seemingly boundless love and excellent care they receive at the Zoo, and maybe that accounts for it — but this ruddy, masculine keeper’s tenderness toward them was a great example of the effect that animals of all kinds have on people’s hearts.

When I became a volunteer I knew I cared enough to realize that the animals would affect me, but just how much so was yet to be seen…..

To learn more about some of Rochelle’s adventures as a Houston Zoo Volunteer, check out some of her other blog posts.

To become a Houston Zoo Volunteer yourself, check out some of our other volunteer opportunities. We will begin accepting new volunteer applications again by the end of the month.