12/29/2023 0 Comments My zoo banger berndIt's an affordable and convenient way to teach your child about new and exciting animals, in a fun and engaging way. Overall, I would highly recommend My ZOO Box to any parent with young children. It's clear that they are passionate about helping children learn and develop a passion for animals and the world. What really sets My ZOO Box apart, however, is the attention to detail and customer service. My son was particularly taken with the soft and cuddly plush animal that was included in our box, and he has been carrying it around with her everywhere he goes. The box arrived promptly and was filled with a variety of high-quality toys and activities that kept my little one engaged and entertained for hours. “We need the Legislature to fund the public institutions that make Minnesota great.I recently subscribed to My ZOO Box for my toddler and I couldn't be more thrilled with the experience. We do not accept coupons from outside organizations, including Groupon, and we do not offer free or reduced admission for holders of MI Bridges cards. “AFSCME members serve Minnesotans by providing access that few other places have – not just at Como Zoo, but across the state,” said Jill. Discounts Military: 50 discount with military ID AAA Member: 10 discount with ID. Minnesota needs a budget that honors and preserves our historic commitment to these institutions. The DFL-controlled House passed a budget that adequately funds the institutions and services Minnesota deserves, while the GOP-controlled Senate’s bill would gut them.įunding state and local government isn’t just about the institutions it serves: it’s about making Minnesota a better, brighter, more prosperous place – for all of us. Right now, the Minnesota Legislature is debating the State and Local Government Omnibus Bill in conference committee. But without sustained, committed funding, we could lose our zoos – and the hundreds of other state-funded institutions that make Minnesota one of the best places in America to raise a family. They don’t have a Como Zoo in Tanzania.”ĭecades of investment gives Minnesotans access to a priceless treasure: an understanding of the world around them. “Even in countries where these animals are native, regular people can’t afford entrance into the nature preserves where the animals live. “Kids around the world don’t have what we have,” she said. After a decade of work in the field, Jill knows how rare a free, publicly funded zoo is. Nearly thirty kids crowded close and squealed as one of the zoo’s prime attractions, a giraffe named Skeeter, ate a head of romaine lettuce from Jill’s hand.įor Jill, this is what makes Como Zoo unique – all families, regardless of their ability to pay, can visit. On the first sunny day of the season, Jill weaved through dozens of families as she made her usual rounds through the hoof barns. Both zoos depend on investments from millions of taxpaying Minnesotans who keep the doors open – for free, in Como Zoo’s case. Minnesota has two of the most prestigious, and high-paying, zoos in the county: the Minnesota Zoo, and the Como Zoo. I feel like a weight is off my shoulders, and I can focus on why I’m here.” “I’m not exhausted, which means I’m safer. I can put all of my energy into my zoo work,” said Jill. Jill made enough money to finally make zookeeping her primary focus. Life changed for Jill when she was hired at the place where her passion for zookeeping started – Como Zoo. “Our most important role as zookeepers is teaching kids about animals and being their ambassadors to the natural world.” “The best thing is seeing a kid’s eyes light up the first time they get to feed a giraffe – it’s incredible,” said Jill. Needless to say, dealing with lions and tigers on less than three hours of sleep is not ideal.īut through the difficult times, Jill’s love for animals, and the families who came to visit them, kept her working in the field. “I used to work as a bartender – I’d close down the bar at 4 am, then I’d open the zoo at 8 the next morning.” At the time, Jill worked with large cats. This meant she had to work two, sometimes three jobs to pay her bills while pursuing her passion. In Jill’s case, even taking a top job as a supervisor only netted $30,000 a year. The average salary for a zookeeper in the US is just $28,000 a year. She took zookeeper jobs around the country but struggled to make ends meet. “I knew this was what I wanted to do.”Īfter graduating, though, making that dream a reality was a challenge. She considered becoming a veterinarian, and was studying animal health in college before she took an internship at Como Zoo. Her coworkers are giraffes, bison, reindeer, kudu, zebra, and other hooved animals of all shapes and sizes. Jill Erzar is a zookeeper at Como Zoo in St Paul. Some people have wild stories about their coworkers.
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