I grew up in a small town in northern Ontario where not much happens and there is not much to do except go outside to play. My first memories are with my dad catching garter snakes, looking under rocks to find salamanders and making friends with the neighborhood chipmunk. My dream was to work with animals and so my goal was to become a zoologist. I worked for a polar bear rehabilitation facility called The Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village in my home town of Cochrane, ON. There I worked with 3 beautiful polar bears and on developing educational programs for the public on Polar Bears. Some of the best times of my life were playing “hide and seek” with the young bears and watching the old male bear Nanook playing in the water. All the while I was studying in Zoology at the University of Guelph and my dream of becoming a zoologist came true June 2008.
I was lucky when I quite randomly was told about Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo and moved to Ottawa to pursue a career with reptiles. Working for the zoo never has a dull moment. Learning to handle snakes and tarantulas, being able to wrangle a caiman on my own are just some of the things I’ve learned here at the zoo. My job at the zoo is primarily in the Outreach Program as a Wildlife Educator, going to schools, birthday parties and fairs teaching the public about reptiles but all the while having fun. I get to play with kids and animals all day… really what better job is there?
As much as I miss the polar bears back home, I was nicknamed almost immediately “Polar Bear” at the zoo and so in way they are always with me!
When I’m not working you can usually find me outside taking pictures, exploring a new park or museum or sketching away on whatever piece of paper I can find.
I have a love of all animals in every Class whether it’s birds, bugs, mammals, amphibians or reptiles. Who knows what the future has in store for me but as long as I can spread a message of conservation and share my passion of the natural world I’ll be a happy girl!
- Polar Bear Meghan