By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The temperatures are dropping closer to the 80s in central Kansas as we approach September, , but the staff at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo has put in
a lot of work this summer to keep the animals cool and comfortable.
Zoo Curator Ashley Burdick said while many of the animals have been in Great
Bend a while and are getting used to the summer’s heat, the extreme
temperatures caused the zoo staff to keep a watchful eye on their
residents.
"There were days when it was really hot, and it was not cooling down at night," said Burdick. "That's when we get into a danger zone with our animals. We gave them sprinklers, misters, access to go back into their building, fans and some of them have air conditioning."
The animals received many ice treats this summer, where staff gave piles of ice
to the animals.
Burdick added a few of the animals even have air conditioning in their
shelters. The zoo curator said the bison and arctic foxes are the animals most
affected by the heat.