Lake Superior Zoo hopes "Boo" event will scare up a brighter future

DULUTH - There are new tombstones at a cemetery, pumpkins hanging from trees, and a huge black spider sitting in its web out in the open. 

That's the scene awaiting anyone who dares to visit the Lake Superior Zoo the next two Saturdays.  It part of the "Boo at the Zoo" event, which organizers say will help the zoo move towards getting a distinction it lost 3 years ago.

It's the time of year when the zoo tries to ensnare thousands of visitors into its web.

Volunteers set a huge black spider on a cobweb at the zoo.  "It looks really good you guys," one says.  The volunteers are students at St. Scholastica, who put aside their natural fears to help dress up the zoo for the event.

"I don't like spiders," said Annelisa Frederick, a volunteer.

Standing not too far away from the graves of a temporary cemetery, zoo officials explain why this is a favorite event for the staff and animals.

"We get thousands of people that come through the gate," said Anita Johnson, marketing director for the Lake Superior Zoo. 

How do the animals react?

"They love it; they're part of the Halloween fun, too," Johnson said. "We actually give the animals pumpkin treats, so we may have a jack–o–lantern that's carved out and stuffed with the animal's favorite treats."

The goal for the event is to raise $60,000, to move the zoo toward a much larger goal: regaining accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which it lost in 2006.

"Everything we do now is focused on getting our accreditation back and fixing up the zoo," Johnson said. She points to some big improvement projects underway, including repairing the surface of the tiger observation deck and replacing the filtration system at the Polar Shores exhibit.

Meanwhile, managers are working on a master plan to lay out the plan to regain accreditation. 

"We still have a ways to go," said Johnson.  But for this event, zoo staff hope visitors look past the repair work and enjoy the animals, as they wander around trick–or–treating.

"We've got over 30 places for them to stop," Johnson said. "It's a safe place for kids to be. They come in, they're trick–or–treating and gives them a couple extra chances to wear their costume, which is fun."

"Boo at the Zoo" goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 17. Tickets cost $8 in advance, $9 at the gate.  You can get them at the zoo, or at Little Stores and Wells Fargo banks.