Keeping Zoo Animals Cool on Hot Summer Days

How Lake Superior Zoo Helps Cold-Weather Animals Battle Through Heat

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If you’ve struggled to beat the heat in the Northland lately, think about how a 900 lb. brown bear at the Lake Superior Zoo must feel!

To keep the bear cool on hot summer days, zookeepers toss him things like frozen fruit, veggies, fish, and ice cubes, while constantly checking for signs of overheating.

“If we notice that they are open–mouth breathing or laying in one spot for a long period of time we know that they’re getting pretty hot, so that’s when we’ll start bringing things out, like a hose, spray some water on them, get them to have a little bit of fun,” explained Zookeeper Lizzy Larson at the Lake Superior Zoo.

The brown bear and snow leopard are the zoo’s animals most bothered by the heat, while the African lions, kangaroos, and wallabies love to sunbathe.