Week 3: August 28 - September 3, 2011

This week was also fairly uneventful, more time in the class room learning. At first it was kind of annoying but we really were learning a lot and in a couple of weeks we would appreciate all of the learning that we got.

On Monday I got to see a carnivore switch. Let me explain this to you. We have a large arena inside of the carnivore area, each of our large carns gets to go into the arena a couple of times a week. When a carn comes out of their enclosure and into the arena, or vice versa leaving the arena and going back into their enclosure, this is called a switch. It is a very detailed process that involves at least 3 people and I got to watch this for the first time. I also spent some time doing volunteer hours around the zoo. It was a hard working day for me.

Tuesday was the day of doing our falcon knot for a test. Once we did the knot on the fence we then did it on an actual bird. I was in line to do my knot on Alba, the barn owl. Well, let's just say that Alba was not in a good mood and kept trying to foot me in the face. This means that she kept jumping off of the glove and at one point had her large talons coming towards my face. Somehow I never overreacted and Cassie was able to get Alba back under control. I was bummed that I didn't get to hold the owl yet, but I know there is time in the future. I also practiced my knot on Arrow the red-tailed hawk.


This is when Alba was about to try to foot me in the face.

Once we left the falcon knot testing a small group of us accidentally walked up on our mountain lion who was out on a walk. He had gotten very spooked and was in no mood for more people around. We slowly backed up and let him pass before continuing back to class. Later on I helped some second year classmates (including Bubs) fix a bedroom box in the capuchin behlen.

Saturday was my first time doing All Day Area at the zoo. This is when you get to the zoo before 10 AM and are there until 5 PM. Each hour you rotate to a different area of the zoo to do watches on specific areas or answer phones or sell tickets. The day goes by fairly fast, I was surprised by this, and you have lots of interaction with the public.

Week 2: August 21 - 27, 2011

This was the first week of actually being in the program. However, not much was done, aside from lots of classes, lectures, and talks.

However, on Tuesday, I was able to manage to go on a walk with Spitz the serval, Gus & Tucker the New Guinea Singing Dogs, and a Nigerian Pygmy Goat. I also got some time in on the Butterfly project. Currently we are trying to breed Lang's Metalark butterflies. I actually found 1 that had eclosed (came out of it's enclosure)and moved 2 larvae.


Spitz the Serval

Wednesday brought about a walk with Nick the miniature horse and I got to learn to clean out his hooves. It's exciting because I have never really worked with horses at all. I also spent some more time in with the butterflies and got to watch them feed for the first time and then built some new feeding boxes.


Nick, the miniature horse

The rest of the week was fairly uneventful. At this time I have some free time and I know that it won't last long, so I am making sure to enjoy it.

Tami & the EATM program

Week 1:

So, our blog is now going to be a focus of me over the next 2 years, during my school program.

To start off.....what is EATM? EATM stands for Exotic Animal Training & Management, and it is a program that only exists in Moorpark, CA. Greg and I moved back from London directly to California so I could try to get into this program. Initially, my goal was to train dolphins and other marine mammals. At this point I think I still want to work with marine mammals, but I am also learning so much about other animals that I think I might change my mind and just be very open to other animals, including primates.

I had taken lots of classes already, and then didn't get into the program in 2010 so I worked full time at General Motors for nearly a year. On Friday, April 29, 2011, I got THE call. I had finally been accepted into the program and was going to start in August.

That brings us up to today. Monday was the first day of orientation, but only in the sense that we had to get all of our shots and physical out of the way. Tuesday was the first real day of orientation. This week has been spent learning practices, procedures, rules, the ground, animals, and so much more. I think my head is going to explode at this point. Tomorrow (Friday) is an all day work area. I got assigned to weeding...yay!!!! (not!)

Will give more details next week, just know that I am super excited to be starting to work with animals....something I have always wanted to do :)