A “Ride-Out” Team Braved Hurricane Milton To Keep The 1K Animals At Tampa Zoo Safe

Millions of Floridians spent days preparing for Hurricane Milton. They secured their homes and belongings, and many fled to safety in other states. Severe weather not only hurts people. It also affects the lives of animals. The staff and ZooTampa at Lowry Park take their jobs at the zoo seriously and give tremendous care to the animals there. They closed the doors on October 8 and began preparing for the worst-case scenario.

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According to a statement to People, ZooTampa carried out a “comprehensive hurricane preparedness plan” that included protecting all of its animals. The zoo moved larger animals into its night house and “smaller mammals and birds into ancillary buildings.” 

Much like area hospitals that care for humans, ZooTampa has a dedicated group of staff known as the “ride-out team.” They quite literally ride out the storms with the animals. They make sure they are OK and the facility remains safe.

The zoo earned a “Storm Ready certification” from the National Weather Service, which states that ZooTampa is equipped “to effectively safeguard its guests, staff, animals, and property during extreme weather events.”

After Milton made landfall, ZooTampa updated the community on Facebook. “We are immensely grateful to the dedicated team that rode out the storm at the Zoo. Their initial reports indicate that the Zoo sustained some damage due to the high winds associated with the storm and is currently without power. All 1,000 animals entrusted in our care are safe and will remain in their night houses and hurricane shelter locations. The team will continue to conduct a thorough safety assessment and, once roads are safe to travel, the recovery team will begin clean up and restoration efforts.”

The zoo plans to reopen once everything is safe for animals and guests.  

This story’s featured image is by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images.