California Budget Crisis Effecting Micke Grove Zoo

[cherylgilman]

With the budget crisis, California has seen a lot of cuts being made to major programs and human services. But now the budget crisis is becoming a crisis for my little zoo in Lodi, CA. We're a county run facility so any cuts in the county budget affects us dramatically. Our new snow leopard and otter exhibit have been stopped right in the middle of construction and there has been no indication of it starting back up. We lost our veterinarian, whom we loved very much, because of financial set backs, and all of our major projects have been put on hold. We are also having to make staff changes. My hours went from 40 per week to 16, and there will probably be a good chance that they will only be able to pay my salary through June 2010.

Are there any other zoos experiencing these same set backs?
Are there any zoos that are not having financial problems that may need a keeper with 3 years experience, loves her job and willing to relocate?

 

[Arizona Docent]

Are there any other zoos experiencing these same set backs?
Are there any zoos that are not having financial problems

That is a good question. The zoo where I volunteer (Reid Park Zoo) is city owned and the city of Tucson is facing severe cutbacks like everywhere else. This brings up an interesting discussion topic, though, and that is are privately run zoos in better shape right now than zoos financed by city, county, state? Our biggest problem at Reid Park is a hiring freeze so that as people retire they cannot be replaced.

As for your own job prospects Cheryl, there seem to always be a long list of openings on the AZA website. Of course the problem is you have no way of knowing if those positions will be at a zoo that will go through similar cutbacks and then you are back on the job search trail...