City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/306909
ITS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO GET LARGE ENOUGH DEBRIS TO STOP A DETERMINED GRIZZLY BEAR 5SUALLY OUR EXHIBITS ARE FIXED IN SIZE SO EXCLUDING ENTIRE AREAS PERMANENTLY IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST OPTION FOR THE BEARS )N THOSE SITUATIONS WE USE HOT WIRE AND HOT GRASS PREVENTIVELY DURING PERIODS OF HIGH DENNING POTENTIAL ±+BLF 1PPM )PSUJDVMUVSJTU"SCPSJTU 4QFDJBMJTU $FSUJGJFE"SCPSJTU/PSUIXFTU5SFL8JMEMJGF 1BSL&BUPOWJMMF8BTIJOHUPO 6 ISITED BY MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY THE 3AN $IEGO :OO ACRE HA IS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS BOTANICAL COLLECTIONS AND LANDSCAPED EXHIBITS -AINTAINING TREES WITHIN EXHIBITS AND AROUND PUBLIC GATHERING POINTS TAKES PLANNING AND COORDINA TION AMONG A VARIETY OF STAFF /UR EMPLOYEES START WORK AROUND AM AND VISITORS ENTER AS EARLY AS AM GIVING US ONLY ABOUT THREE HOURS TO PERFORM REGULAR TREE WORK )N OUR ZOO MANY OF THE POPULAR AREAS CANNOT BE CLOSED AND ANIMALS CAN NOT BE SECURED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME )N ADDITION ROAD CLOSURES ARE NECESSARY FOR THINGS LIKE CRANE PLACEMENT TO REACH INTO EXHIBITS FOR PLANTING LARGE BOXED TREES BUT ROAD CLOSURES ARE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THEY AFFECT DELIVERIES FOR OTHER DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS 7E TRY TO SCHEDULE MUCH OF THIS TYPE OF WORK FOR MIDWEEK DURING WINTER MONTHS THAT HAVE LESS ATTENDANCE 7HEN EXHIBITS BECOME EMPTY FOR VARI OUS REASONS WE ADJUST OUR SEASONAL PRUNING SCHEDULES ACCORDINGLY AS THIS MAY BE OUR ONLY CHANCE TO HAVE FULL ACCESS TO AN AREA WITHOUT THE ANI MALS BEING IMPACTED &OR THIS REASON WE MAKE SURE TO HAVE AN EXISTING PLAN OF ACTION THAT CAN BE LAUNCHED WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES .ESTING CYCLES ALSO REQUIRE THERE TO BE NO DISTURBANCES WITHIN THE DESIG NATED AREA &OR EXAMPLE WE NEED TO COMPLETE TREE WORK AT THE FLAMINGO EXHIBIT WELL BEFORE THEIR COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR AND NESTING CYCLE STARTS )N OUR LARGER AVIARIES WE NEED TO AVOID DISTURBING NESTING BIRDS WITH EGGS OR ÀââÞÊLi>ÀÃÊ`Õ}ÊÌÃÊ`iÊÕ`iÀÊ>ÊÎäVÊÇÈV®Ê ÊÕ}>ÃÊvÀÊ*ÃiÕ`ÌÃÕ}>Êi âiîÊÛiÀÊ>Ê«iÀ`ÊvÊiÊÌÊÌÜÊ`>ÞÃ°Ê ÌiÊÌiÊ>LÀ>ÊÀÌÊ}ÀÜÌÊvÀÊÀi«i>Ìi`Ê `i}ÊivvÀÌÃÊÛiÀÊÌiÊÞi>ÀðÊ*ÌÊLÞÊ>iÊ* YOUNG 3OME OF OUR RARE BIRD SPECIES ARE NOT AS PREDICTABLE AS NATIVES WE RELY ON THE AVICULTURISTS TO LET US KNOW WHATS HAPPENING AND WHEN WE CAN PERFORM THE TYPE OF WORK NEEDED 4REES IN OUR GORILLA EXHIBIT ARE PRUNED EVERY YEAR 4HERE ARE ONLY SIX TREES IN IT BUT IT TAKES A WEEK TO COMPLETE THE WORK WHICH INCLUDES REDUCTION PRUNING TO MAINTAIN TREE CLEARANCE FROM EXHIBIT PERIMETERS %ACH DAY FOR OUR THREEHOUR WORK WINDOW WE HAVE ALL THE CLIMBERS IN THE TREES AT ONCE AND EXTRA STAFF LABOR IS SUPPLIED FOR FASTER DEBRIS HAULOUT 7E ARE TASKED WITH MELDING SEASONAL PRUNING CYCLES WITH ANIMAL REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES &OR INSTANCE AN IMPENDING PANDA OR POLAR BEAR BIRTH CAN REQUIRE A ZONE OF SILENCE TO MINIMIZE STRESS IMPACT ON ANIMALS SO THE PRUNING SCHED ULE HAS TO BE ADJUSTED 3OME TREES WE PRUNE SPECIFICALLY TO ENCOURAGE ABUN DANT NEW GROWTH FOR ANIMAL FORAGING #ONVERSELY WE OCCASIONALLY FIND THAT WE EXCEED INDUSTRY PRUNING GUIDELINES FOR CANOPY REMOVAL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SOLAR ACCESS FOR ANIMALS WITHIN AN EXHIBIT 4HIS ALLOWS ANIMALS TO PRODUCE VITAMIN $ AND CAN HELP REDUCE DETRIMENTAL SOIL ORGANISMS )N ADDITION TO PRUNING FOR TREE HEALTH SAFETY AND SIZE CONTROL WE PRUNE FOR SEASONAL FLOWER DISPLAY &OR INSTANCE WE ARE CAREFUL ABOUT THE PRUNING SCHED ULE FOR OUR COLLECTION OF CORAL TREES %RYTHRINA SPP FROM AROUND THE WORLD 4HE LARGEST AND SHOWIEST MEMBERS OF OUR CORAL TREES BLOOM IN WINTER SO WE TRY TO COMPLETE OUR ARTISTIC REDUCTION PRUNING AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR MONTHS BEFORE FLOWERING TIME SO NEW BUDS WILL HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO FORM±%BO4JNQTPO )PSUJDVMUVSF.BOBHFSBOE$FSUJGJFE"SCPSJTU4BO%JFHP;PP4BO%JFHP$BMJGPSOJB ÜÜÜ°ÕÀL>vÀiÃÌÀÞ°V