Maryland Zoo Prepares Animals For The Big Chill

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- If you've been following WJZ's First Warning Weather team you know bitter cold will be here this weekend.

At the Maryland Zoo, they're getting ready, too.

Ron Matz reports on the preparations for protecting all the animals.

On the frozen tundra of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore where the eagle has landed, even the warm weather penguins from South Africa are feeling the big chill.

"Luckily we know this is something to expect in Baltimore," said Margaret Innes, assistant curator at the zoo. " We do have temperature guidelines for all of our animals."

The zoo is well-prepared to care for their animals during the expected bitter cold.

"We monitor them very closely." Innes said. " Any animals that are not going to do well in the cold are going to stay inside when it gets this chilly. For the animals that can go outside we make additional preparations. We make sure they have access to dens or they have additional heat they can use."

Of course the polar bears and the zoo's new arctic foxes are feeling right at home.

"The new arctic foxes are well adapted to this weather so they will be out all weekend," she said. "They put on extra weight in the winter. They also have a very thick coat and they have very short ears so their ears don't get frostbitten."

And as you prepare for this frigid weekend the folks here at the Maryland Zoo remind you to please take car of your pets.

"Bring them indoors," Innes said. "If they are animals that live outside make sure they have adequate food and shelter and make sure they have a water source that doesn't freeze over."

The zoo cares for about 1,500 animals.