CALM

Here is our Spring Wish List. Please share!

Good afternoon, Kern County! A sure sign that Spring is here is signaled by CALM's Desert tortoises coming out of brumation. Animal Keepers (L-R) Sly and Andrew, returned Sheldon and Muscleman (who is approximately 65 years old), to their enclosure today after a long rest since late October. You may be asking "what is brumation?" The Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines brumation as a state or condition of sluggishness, inactivity, or torpor exhibited by reptiles (such as snakes, lizards or tortoises) during winter or extended periods of low temperature. This subterranean torpor is not a true hibernation but a cold-blooded version of slowing down called brumation.

Our word of the week is ZIMS or Species360 Zoological Information Management Software. Zoo keeping goes beyond daily hands-on with the animals. Record-keeping is vital to any animal-related facility. At CALM, ZIMS is used for professional record-keeping, animal husbandry and veterinary care. Data is entered and can be easily accessed by the Keepers, management and our veterinarian. Curator Sharon is shown using the software. More than 1,100 zoos, aquariums and wildlife insti...tutions in 96 countries use ZIMS (including CALM) to help them achieve best practice animal management and conservation goals. It reflects the expertise of leading aquatic and zoological institutions, and is accepted and preferred by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and other regulatory bodies worldwide. ZIMS animal husbandry and veterinary modules are integrated into a master database, establishing a rich reserve reflecting millions of records on more than 22,000 species and ten million individual animals. We’ve come a long way since our record-keeping was input in spiral notebooks!!

Happy Vernal Equinox! This is a photo of one of our gorgeous redbud trees in bloom. We're open Wednesday-Sunday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. C'mon out, it's a beautiful day!

The California Living Museum is in search of a Registered Veterinary Technician. If you are interested, please apply! If you know an RVT who is interested in a great opportunity, please share. Just click on the link below: https://www.edjoin.org/Home/DistrictJobPosting/1362329

Today’s zoo word is refractometer. A refractometer is a sensitive measuring instrument and used in a variety of industries (medical, food, pharmaceutical, chemical, etc); however, we use a salinity refractometer that measures the dissolved salt in all of our tanks in the Coast Room. Levels too low, or too high, could mean life or death to the sea creatures in our Coast Room, so Animal Keeper Andrew uses the refractometer first thing each morning. He draws a bit of water, drops it in the well and instantly gets the reading. On an interesting side note, the Keepers make seawater here at CALM to fill all of the tanks since we can’t pump it in from Pismo!

As a thank you to the cycling community for sharing your bike path with us during the duration of HolidayLights, Bike Bakersfield has put together a 1 night only, bike through the lights event for tonight, January 3rd. All event info can be found at Bike Bakersfield. Thank you cyclists!!!

Tonight is the last night of CALMs Drive Thru HolidayLights event! We are beyond grateful for the support of Kern County and beyond! Here's to 18 years of tradition and bringing families together!! Thank you!!

Here's to a happy, safe and healthy 2021 from your 4-legged and 2-legged friends at CALM!

It's New Year's Eve and what better way to begin 2021 than to volunteer at HolidayLights at CALM. We REALLY are in need of volunteers tonight through January 2. Please give a call 872-2256 (the office will be closed January 1) OR email [email protected].

Thank you Raising Canes for being an amazing community partner and feeding our HolidayLights staff and volunteers!! @raisingcanes you guys ROCK!!

When your truck matches your Christmas tree, you know you're in for a good time! Thank you Kern County for another fabulous night of HolidayLights!

A big cheer and a hearty "thank you" to everyone who voted in the USA Today poll for the "Best Zoo Light Show in America." HolidayLights at CALM placed 9th in the top 10!! Bravo to Josh and Vicky Barnett who have made the magic happen for 18 seasons. Photo: The Bakersfield Californian--taken approximately 2008

Thank you Kern County for another sold out show tonight and tomorrow! We are so grateful for your support! If you would like to purchase your tickets for a future date, please visit calmzoo.org or any Valley Strong Credit Union. To ensure the best experience for Holiday Lights, all tickets will need to be purchased in advance. We will not be able to accommodate sales at the gate for the show but hope you will come another night!

Huge shout out to Boy Scout Troop 194 for building the awesome retaining wall near our Big Cat Enclosure!! We are so grateful for your creativity and hard work!!! Thank you all!! #CALMZOO #boyscouts #CALMCOMMUNITY

Thank you @kgetnews for spending your sunrise at CALM!

Everyday is Veterans Day at CALM. All U.S. Veterans, with military ID, are never charged admission to the zoo.

HolidayLights at CALM has sold out for tonight's show! We are so grateful for your support! To purchase a ticket for another night's show, please visit calmzoo.org or visit any Valley Strong Credit Union.

Good morning Kern County! We are recruiting volunteers (18 years and older) for HolidayLights at CALM, from 5-10pm, Nov. 28-Jan. 2 (closed Christmas). If you are interested, call 661-871-1822. Please leave your name, and phone number, and we will get you on the schedule!

Have you seen the article from the Bakersfield Californian about San Joaquin Kit Foxes?! Check it out and order your shirt to help CALMs Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and the Endangered Species Recovery Program save the San Joaquin Kit Fox. https://www.bakersfield.com//article_d1bc0d34-1af1-11eb-ae.

"Knock, knock" "Hoooo's there?" "Owl...." "Owl hoooo?" "Owl hope to see you at HolidayLights tonight!"... Visit calmzoo.org for more information! Thank you to all who have supported CALMs 18th year of lights!

Putting those muck boots to muckin' - Today is Shorebird Ponds cleaning day! Huge thanks to our Maintenace and Operations crew at CALM and KCSOS!! #behindthescenes #zoolife #CALMCREW

Today is Halloween you know, so if you're not afraid, climb in and we'll take a little ride to the last day of Howl, Screech and Pumpkin Week at CALM. Who knows what we will see........

Look at all these goodie bags just waiting for all the little ghouls and goblins on the last day of Howl, Screech & Pumpkin Week (Halloween from 9am-3pm). A monstrously BIG shout out of thanks to volunteers Darleen Jehnsen, Mary Alice Means, Christina Rosales and Jacob Rosales who filled up approximately 2,000 bags with sweets and other treats.

"To the Batmobile!" Thanks Batman for visiting our Condors today!

Hunsaker Carnie Corn will be at Howl, Screech and Pumpkin Week again tomorrow. As you can see, it's much more than kettle corn (although it is spooktacularly delicious). They also give a percentage of their proceeds to CALM! However, you are more than welcome to pack your own ghoulish lunch and picnic with the animals!

These beauties will go on sale Wednesday, October 28, at 9am, for $2 each. Hurry!!! They sell quickly! You do have to pay zoo admission to purchase pumpkins.

Good morning Kern County! Look who dropped in to help today...Kern County Superintendent of Schools employees (L-R) Darleen Jehnsen (KCSOS retiree), Christina Rosales and Mary Alice Means. Just coming out for Howl, Screech and Pumpkin Week at CALM to see the costumes is worth your time!!

We're ready....are you? Get those costumes on and prepare to Howl and Screech for Pumpkin Week at CALM!

Who doesn't love a shirt that not only looks cool but promotes saving a federally threatened species?! Look no further! https://www.bonfire.com/save-the-san-joaquin-kit-fox/ CALMs Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (CWRC) works directly with the Endangered Species Recovery Program (ESRP) to help save the federally threatened San Joaquin Kit Fox from sarcoptic mange, a fatal disease. California Central Coast Chapter of The Wildlife Society is holding a fundraiser to keep thes...e efforts going and bring awareness to the SJ Kit Foxes! To learn more about these life saving efforts, check out this video from ESRP! https://youtu.be/-oUS_kD5SvI