Toledo Zoo changes animal care routines as cold temps return

TOLEDO, Ohio — As winter weather settles into northwest Ohio, residents are digging out their heavy coats and turning up the thermostats.

But at the Toledo Zoo, preparing for the cold is a complex operation that varies wildly depending on whether the resident is an Amur tiger or a tortoise.

According to Bev Clinton, the zoo's curator of mammals, the strategy for winter care is not one-size-fits-all. While some animals retreat indoors, others thrive in the freezing temperatures due to unique biological adaptations.

For species like the Amur tiger, the Ohio winter is mild compared to their native climate.

"They naturally come from areas that can drop down to -40 degrees and so they are adapted to handle those colder temperatures," Clinton said.

To support these animals, the zoo employs