John Ball Zoo

We couldn't do it without YOU We’re thrilled to share that John Ball Zoo has been voted Best Large-Scale Attraction in the 2024 Annual Best of the West Revue Readers Poll! 🎉 A huge thank you to the readers and our community for your support and recognition. Together, we’re making strides in conserving Wildlife and Wild Places.

We have some very exciting and adorable news! Canada lynxes, Becca and Thor, are the proud parents of three new kits after Becca gave birth on May 23. The birth went smoothly, and Becca and her three kits will be behind the scenes as she cares for her offspring over the next several weeks. It is typical for newborn lynxes to not open their eyes until they are about two weeks old, and not become active outside of their den until they are about five weeks old. John Ball Zoo's animal care team is closely monitoring Becca and her kits as she cares for her litter during their first few weeks of life. Animal care supervisor, Jaime, says that Becca has been an extremely attentive and natural mom. Becca is three years old and is a first-time mom, and Thor is 11 years old and the father of another female lynx that was born at the Zoo in 2020. Becca and Thor are a matched breeding pair through the Species Survival Plan Program by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, in which experts collaborate to maximize genetic diversity and manage the demographic distribution and sustainability of species, which aligns with the Zoo’s mission of saving wildlife and wild places. The Canada lynx is a federally threatened species in the U.S. Thor has been at John Ball Zoo since 2018, and he and Becca quickly became comfortable with each other when she joined the Zoo in 2023. Becca’s animal care team has been keeping a close eye on her following the observed breeding in March. As her birth window approached, the team kept up with Becca’s weight changes to ensure she was getting all the support needed to have a healthy pregnancy. On May 23, Becca’s care team noticed she was exhibiting signs of labor, so she was brought inside with access to her den while the Zoo’s veterinary team monitored her progress closely. By midday, Becca was in labor and having contractions, and by the early afternoon she had successfully given birth.

Did you hear? The Bissell Tree House was voted the best wedding venue in Grand Rapids by the Grand Rapids Magazine. We strive to give our guests the best possible experience for their wedding, graduation, or any other special occasion. Thank you to everyone who voted for the Bissell Treehouse! Find out more about the article: https://lnkd.in/df-r4KDe

We're #hiring a new Food Service Manager in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We're #hiring a new Aquarium Project Coordinator in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We're #hiring a new Food Service Manager in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Meet Jackson, a woman in STEM, Zookeeper, and our final feature in this series! ❓ Who are your favorite JBZ animals? 💬 Twig, the Two Toed Sloth and Pumpkin, the Dwarf Highland Cow. ❓ How did you gain an interest in STEM? 💬 I have been interested in STEM pretty much since I can remember. I love watching animals become engineers by creating their own nests and hides, problem solving enrichment, and using their unique adaptations to help them navigate the world. This has inspired and encouraged me to use my own adaptations to create specialized perching, furniture, and enrichment for the animals in my care at John Ball Zoo. ❓ Do you have any advice you would give to young women interested in STEM? 💬 My advice to anyone looking to get into STEM is to never give up. Sometimes the best laid plans do not work out, and sometimes mistakes turn out to be better than what you had planned. Just because your original idea failed, does not mean that your next one will too. STEM is about using all of your abilities to create something amazing! #WomeninSTEM #WomensHistoryMonth

Meet Stacy, a woman in STEM, and senior Zookeeper! ❓ Who is your favorite JBZ animal? 💬 Penelope, the pygmy hippo. ❓ How did you gain an interest in STEM? 💬 I have been captivated by science and nature since I was a kid. The natural world is the most amazing thing ever, and there is no end to my fascination with it! ❓ Do you have any advice you would give to young women interested in STEM? 💬 I would tell them a quote by Rachel Carson that says, "the more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction." Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone to follow your dreams! #WomenInSTEM #WomensHistoryMonth

Meet Anne, a woman in STEM, and senior Zookeeper. ❓ Who are your favorite JBZ animals? 💬 My favorites are all primates, but especially the chimpanzees. ❓ How did you gain an interest in STEM? 💬 I have always been interested in science and nature since as long as I can remember. I have had many different animals over the years from birds to horses, most have been rescues. I started working at the zoo almost 32 years ago and have worked with almost every animal in the zoo. Over the last 22 years, I have been working with the chimpanzees and I feel this is what I am meant to be doing. ❓ Do you have any advice you would give to young women interested in STEM? 💬 Years ago, I have had the honor of meeting Jane Goodall and she told me to follow my heart. Take the plunge on following your dream. There will probably be roadblocks along the way but don't let that deter you. Choose a path your passionate about- the hard work is worth it. Over the last 30 years I learned zoo-keeping can be hard and tiring but I don't regret it one bit. It is the most rewarding career I could have ever chosen. #WomenInSTEM #WomensHistoryMonth

Meet Jackie, a woman in STEM, and Zookeeper! ❓ Who are your favorite JBZ animals? 💬 Pumpkin, Abena, Norman, and the magnificent tree frogs. ❓ How did you gain an interest in STEM? 💬 My first STEM job was working for the Center for Freshwater Research and Education at LSSU. In addition to helping rear Atlantic salmon in the hatchery, I spent the summer working on six different research and conservation-based projects. My favorites were using telemetry to track adult lake sturgeon in the St. Mary’s River system and sea lamprey trapping with the USFWS! I have a vivid memory of arriving at the boat launch during my first week, and my supervisors asking who could back the boat trailer into the water. I was terrified when they chose me, the only person there who did not know how to back up a trailer, to do it! I will never forget the confidence they had in me and my abilities as they coached me through it. They made sure I had a seat at the table that summer and continued to encourage me throughout my undergraduate degree and beyond to explore my interests. I have since had the opportunity to work in veterinary medicine, agricultural research conducted by MSU, and in animal care at several AZA institutions. ❓ Do you have any advice you would give to young women interested in STEM? 💬 Don't underestimate yourself! Your voice and contributions are valuable! Growth is uncomfortable, but the more you practice speaking up and stepping out of your comfort zone, the easier it will get. #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInSTEM