Pueblo Zoo uses cold weather protocols to take care of animals during winter

As the temperatures become frigid, the Pueblo Zoo goes through its cold weather protocols for animals.

Each animal is taken care differently when it is freezing.

When the temperature falls below 32 degrees, animals such as the apes and lemurs have to stay inside.

“The best thing about winter is we always know it’s coming so we can prepare for it. Usually in middle to late fall we start prepping. We make sure all the heaters are working. We start bedding down shelters even more give the animals a nice, warm place to sleep,” Ashley Bowen said. She is the general curator of the zoo.

If it is between 32 and 50 degrees, animals have the choice to either stay inside where it is warm or they can be outside.

Animals such as the lynx and or birds like the owl adapt to the winter conditions.

When it is above 50 degrees, all the animals are free to roam their outdoor habitat.

Zoo workers are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week to care of the animals.