Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 79 A S FAR BACK AS SHE CAN REMEMBER, ALLYSON DREDLA HAS FELT A DEEP PASSION TO WORK WITH EXOTIC ANIMALS. With her degree in Exotic Animal Training and Management from Moor- park College in California, she moved on to working with ambassador animals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park after a brief stint training dogs for a television show. From tigers to tamarin monkeys, alligators to American badgers, she's built some skills she'd never thought she'd have. Cur- rently, Allyson is the Lead Wetlands Keeper, and Training and Enrichment Coordinator at ZooMontana in Billings. Here's a glimpse into the largely behind-the-scenes world of her zookeeper life. 5:15 AM My alarm tells me it's time to wake up and get ready for the gym before work. It might be a surprise, but zookeeping is as much a physically demanding job as it is emotionally demanding. It's a major help to keep myself in tip-top shape and warm up for the day. I grab my lunch and whatever delicious breakfast my boyfriend has pre- made for me and head out. 7:50 AM The most routine thing about zookeeping is not being able to have a true routine, because animals' moods, and schedules, vary day to day. I arrive a few minutes early to gather what I need to begin my day: my assigned two-way radio, work gloves, Leatherman, space-pen, chap stick, box clicker, ring of zoo keys, bait bag (an ammo/ tool/chalk pouch to carry animal treats/tools in for train- ing), water bottle, and a healthy snack. I crack a sarcastic joke at Zoo Director Jeff as he walks by and touch base quickly with my five-man team on the happenings of the day, scheduling animal training sessions, veterinary exams, meetings, etc. As everyone disperses to their as- signed areas, I hop onto my work vehicle of choice for the day: a donated four-wheeler. 8:00 AM Positive checks are first and foremost! I ride throughout the empty zoo checking on the animals in my assigned area, Wetlands, and ensure that there are no an- imal accidents or human break-ins, and that each animal is BAR (bright, alert, responsive). I relish this time, as the zoo has a beautifully calming, serene nature to it in these early fall mornings. We've just begun our winter hours and must arrive earlier than in the summertime; I'm glad I went to the gym before work to get my body temperature up and ready to go for this frosty morning. I hear the bald eagles, Emilio and Tokata, calling to me as I zoom by. Our swan geese honk and call loudly to the world as they splash into their pond, preening. Our badger Uki is ready to go, as always, and stares at me with her stoic black and white striped face as I check on her through the window. I see our three river otters, Ben, Mia, and Sam, velvety-dry and snuggled up together in their pink kiddie pool full of blankets. I have the urge to get in there and snuggle with them as their little heads pop out from the cuddle-puddle, but then I remember the fury of velociraptor teeth that would meet me if I tried. I say hello to each of our birds of prey: ZOOKEEPER A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A by ALLYSON DREDLA

• Cover