We're talking to the animals this morning. Do you talk to the animals? I do talk to the animals.
Beth, I do an executive director. The recene zoo is here. You know, we were talking, I know you
are in a program exchanging animals for the survival of the species and recently a rhino,
we had to say goodbye to I couldn't do that. I couldn't once they're there. They're there.
Once you give them a name for the good of the species. I couldn't do it. Of the species, sir.
I couldn't do it. Once I become friends, you know, had dogs all my life. And we took in,
you know, uh, dogs that were kind of sick. We took them and then we return. And now I'm
not returning. I'm just saying this is not a pair of gloves it didn't fit. It's my, it's my pet.
But I understand what you're doing. And rhinos aren't one of those animals. They can,
you know, keep in your bedroom at night. Just went up to Milwaukee,
Coney Zoo. I know you're here with a new female up there. So you can still say hello. You can,
just visit there. Yeah, I think, well, I wouldn't want to see those two made. I can't,
I didn't run on. I know it happens. I just can't imagine it. I make more of your own species.
Just can't pick. I don't want to picture it. All right. So a lot going on at your recene zoo.
A ton of it now today is cyber Monday, but at the zoo, it's cyber Monday. What's this all about?
That is correct. So the Monday after Thanksgiving, traditionally now is cyber Monday where everyone
is probably sitting at work right now and on their computers and buying stuff where all the
specials are and we have the same thing. So we call our cyber Monday because we always have
to have an animal twist to it. And the specials that we have today, if you buy your membership,
you have to midnight tonight. And then as of tomorrow, the specials go away. You get a double
year encounter tickets and receive a plush bear when you buy a zoo membership. So that is one
thing. They make great stocking stuffers. Or for lots of people, they buy a year and year out
for their kids or their grandkids. And that's what you'd be able to get today. Our adopt program,
which is animals depend on people too. You save 10% on all the adoption levels and receive a
plush zoo animal when you adopt at the level of $50 or more. So that's awesome. And then our 39th
season annual annual annual animal crackers concert series for $105 today till midnight. They go
up to 120 as of midnight plus one minute tonight. So those are our three specials that we have going
on for side bear Monday. Get your stuff now. You can be an announcer. That was perfect.
The recovery from that was that you can work here weekends. Well, let's get just started
slowly. Perfect. All right. So yes. And I have my zoo membership. I have to renew. I have the
envelope. And you say, if I do it tomorrow or today, was you do it today? You've got till midnight
tonight. Okay. Today till midnight tonight. I don't live far from the zoo. Right. Go down there
with my shackles and renew the zoo. Yeah, renew your zoo membership. And then you get those
active those things. And that would be added on. So say your membership currently expires on
January 1st. She would just, it would just be in addition. So you'd go from January 1 to
January. So you get a little bit extra. Yeah. Yeah. I'll do that today. All right. We'll do that
today. Giving zoo day. Now tomorrow is giving day charities and nonprofits all over America are
not celebrating, but looking for your help on giving the Tuesdays giving day, including the zoo.
Giving zoo day. It's tomorrow and it's going to happen actually through mid December. So let's
talk about that. Yeah. So giving zoo day. Like you said, this is the time of year where nonprofits
are all out there asking for people to open up their wallets and give to their to support their
organization. We are no different. So ours again, you've got to do a little twist giving zoo day.
And we partner with all the accredited zoos and accrams across the country to support
what zoos and accrams do, engaging visitors to be stewards of the planet.
And so we provide our animals. We have a little over 300 individual creatures, 75 species.
And we've always got to feed the animals. People always go, are you know, there's not much going
on there in December? Well, this is a different type of busy, different type of busy for us.
So we got to feed the animals all the time. They don't just go on hiatus because it's winter
or we just had snow. That's not how it works. Okay, we're locking up. We'll see you guys in March.
Yeah, that's not how it works. And so we highlighted this year on our website. If you go to
recenezoo.org forward slash giving zoo day, you can see some of the different things that we've
talked about. We did a lot of radiographs this year on some of our primates are by having animals
part of their health care. It is so much better for them. We don't have to knock them down in order
to do some activities that we had. So it was really, really great. They built our staff built
a radiograph platform for them. And they were able to help our white handed given who historically
was really not a training participant in that. And she's been able to do radiographs now with that.
As you said, we had to say goodbye to Kianga, who made his way up to Milwaukee County Zoo.
But, but you know, it's part of the species survival plan. So he's able to go up there and make
more of his own kind. And so sometimes you have to do that. I know. I know we had added a zebra,
a Hartman's Mountain zebra. Yes, I saw that. Yes.
To Malthias is the name of our zebra. That was a naming right. And Tim Mason had won the right
to name that animal. So he did. And then we added penguins this year. And so we just keep growing.
And the amount of money it costs to feed our animals. As everyone knows, just think about
the amount of money it's taking you to feed your families at your house that our animals
have the same type of thing. We've got a lot of vet care. All of those things. So anything you can do
is my bookkeeper always says every nickel counts. It is matched this year by Roode Family Foundation
and Educator's Credit Union. Those are two amazing sponsors for the zoo. And they have reached
into their wallet and they are making matches for us. So you have starting today,
all the way through mid-December, forgiving zoo day, help us reach our goals to make sure that we
take care of all of our wonderful animals with their health care, their nutrition,
their 401k. Their enrichment, their four, we're a nonprofit. So it'd be a 403 beast.
They know the animals, the animals you have an IRA in there to worry about.
That would be great, right? So please reach into your heart and we also highlight some of our
education programs, also that are listed on there. So go read about it and then see what you can
do to help us out. And my little Foxy Fox friends are turning white again. Yes, they are because it's
getting to be winter. I was surprised when I went there, we walking during the summer and they were
brown. I said, whoa, whoa, whoa, what happened to my little white foxes? Well, they change.
I didn't know that they could blend in. And I, yes, I was talking to them. They're sitting there in
their little cage higher than me, looking down at me, looking down their nose at me, but yeah,
and that's good. I love those little foxes. They're so cute. They are awesome. They probably bite
me if I stuck my finger in any animal that has teeth has the ability to bite. But you wouldn't
be sticking your fingers in there now. Would you down? No, you can't reach them. We're talking
animals, animals at the scene zoo because it's winter coming, but we have a lot of programs at the
zoo for the month of December. More than you would think. More than you would think. Yeah,
Beth Hildord is your executive director of the zoo. Her and her staff will put together some
really neat programs how to help the animals, how to help the zoo because this is not a profit making
organization we have here. We're not profit. You'll sustain. And that's and that's where they need
your help because animals need to eat. The vets need to get paid too. And this is year round.
And let's say about something fun here. brunch with Santa. It's coming up Saturday.
It's coming up this Saturday, December 6. We have two seedings, one from 9 to 10 30 and the
second one from 11 30 to 1. It's a great brunch. Red onion does the food. The kids get to make
crafts. There's cookie decorating. There's animal ambassadors that they'll get to greet.
They get a write a letter to Santa and Santa Claus who's on my speed dial will be there on Saturday.
He loves coming to the zoo. And it's just a great opportunity. People can come. They get tickets.
They can come to the brunch and then go hang out at the zoo all day. So it works really,
really great. We got member rates. We've got not member rates. They'll be a small bar there too
for some of the adults can have mimosas if they'd like to. Which works out really great for most
everybody. And it's just a really fun way to kick off the holiday spirit with brunch tickets.
We'll stop though. However, on at the end of the day, this Wednesday, because at that point,
we've got to give catering numbers in. We've got to make sure we have all the right amount of
stuff for everyone who's coming to the brunch and for the kids. So get your tickets. It's going to
be cold day, but we're going to be in the castle that day. So come on out. We've got that.
Santa will be in jungle junction. The crafts and the cookie decorating will be in the grill.
And it's like a little Ronald Robin. And who doesn't want to see Santa Claus for
gosh sakes on December 6? Because you still can be on the nice list.
I get wrong. Well, I'm not sure about you, Doc. I'm worth people can feel working. I got a
lot of I'm sorry is to give before I get on that list. You do. You have it in the castle.
I always picture somebody bring on the court jester on the castle. All right. We have a Holly
jolly coming up on Thursday, December 18th. Yeah. This is one of my funnest events. I think people
just love it. And it is almost sold out. So people really, really, really have to get their tickets.
Now Holly jolly jingle and mingle is the Thursday before Christmas. And it works great at six to
nine p.m. It's also in our castle. Santa Claus is also coming back for that because he just loves
our events. So this is an adult only event. People will get a taste some holiday cheer.
They'll be loaded hot chocolate. We will have Moscow mules this year. What's that?
It's a drink. I don't drink. I don't drink a Moscow mule. But the people that do will love this one.
We've got a guest person coming in to make that for us. And then they'll be margaritas,
some wine, some beer, some great food. Santa will be there as I said. And it's just kind of like
before all the family comes and you just want to relax a little bit. This is the event for you.
And it is six to nine p.m. on Thursday, the 18th of December. And again, get your tickets soon
because that will sell out. There's only so many people I can put in the castle at a time.
And when it sold out, sold out. So if you really want to go, get your tickets.
All right. Yes. And Santa will be there.
Santa will be there. Absolutely.
Oh, you're really. You are really monopologing that for me.
I told you he's on my speed dial. What can I say?
The holiday gift guide. I always love these holiday gift guides because if you can't make it to
one of the events, you can give a gift to somebody from the zoo. Absolutely. So again, we have
things of all kinds. So you can, again, we can do an adopt. A lot of people who have everything.
You can ceremoniously adopt an animal. You'll get a plush if you get it today.
You'll get 10% off if you get it today up till midnight. Otherwise, it will be full price
as of midnight. You can give gifts of membership. So think about how often you have used your
membership this year. What a great opportunity to just put it. That is a stocking stuffer.
Everyone needs some stocking stuffers. It's a great opportunity to support the zoo
and give somebody those memories and an experience as opposed to maybe a chachki that they might
not need, but that they could really, you know, get by with that. So memberships are a great
opportunity to support the zoo. Again, we've got animal crackers, season tickets is a great
opportunity. And for those that you're not quite sure what you want to do, just get them a gift
certificate and you can make it of any denomination and you can, you know, from five dollars to
$100, whatever you want to do. And then they can choose how they use their money at the zoo,
which is also a great opportunity. You can even buy somebody a brick. There you go. Look at
your membership card. Look at you go. Oh, look at this. I have the executive membership.
That's not really one plus one. One plus one. Yep. That gets you you and whoever else you want to
bring. I know you always bring your wife, but you could bring your name. Maybe I don't want to
bring you. Just bring you. No, we do. We like to walk there at the zoo.
So there's lots of options for people to support the zoo and give a really great gift to one of
their loved ones. Yeah. And that's a holiday gift guide. And where can you find that?
You're going to go to recinesoo.org. And at the top of the bar, there are, is a green tab that says
support us. If you go down into that area, that is where you're going to find it. And it will say
recinesoo holiday gift guide. It's literally right on our screensaver too. You'll be able to check
on that and go in there and see what you want to do. And then whatever you decide, the link will
take you to that particular space space to buy your tickets. You bring back the snow globes again,
huh? We are. So starting Saturday the 20th of December is when they start and it's Saturdays
and Sundays with select times through Sunday February 1st. So you'll have some opportunities
right now when the wintertime there is kids get to decorate cookies and it's more of a kind of
that festive holiday spirit. Those are also selling out because people are in town. What are you
going to do with everybody every day? They're here. Why not support them? We've got a lot of
grandparents that buy it for their kids and their grandkids every year. And so we everyone's like,
are you going to do it again this year? Yes, we are. So that's going to be a great opportunity for
folks to hang out. It's up to eight people. We've got different times on Saturdays and Sundays.
And it's just a really fun opportunity to be in your own little snow globe. I thought you were
going to say, what are you going to do with those annoying relatives? It won't leave. Hey, bring
up to this. I would never say that. That's what it sounded like. Well, that's where you were going
with it. That's not what you can do with that drunken uncle. What did they bring up to this?
Okay, let's do a quick recap here. A side bear Monday is today. It's today up till midnight. You're
going to be able to get a discount. You're going to be able to double your encounter tickets.
And I get a plush. If you get memberships, if you want to do an adopt, you get 10% off of those
prices. If you adopt at $50 or more, you also get a plush. And animal cracker season tickets are
available at one oh five for four concerts. We have a great lineup. And that is all on our website.
Side Bear Monday ends at midnight tonight. Giving Zoo Day, which is tomorrow, which is tomorrow,
Tuesday, December 2nd. Love that. It's a way to support all of your nonprofits. There's every
nonprofit in the areas asking for money. Please support which ones have very you can. But please
don't forget about the Racine Zoo and our dollars. Your dollars are matched this year with
Roode Family Foundation as well as Educators Credit Union. Brunch with Santa. Brunch with Santa.
Saturday, the 6th of December. We've got two seatings 9 to 10 30 and 11 30 to 1. Get your tickets
now because they will go off sale at the end of the day on Wednesday. So we have time to work with
our caterers. We've got crafts. We've got cookie decorating Santa Claus is going to be there. Kids can
write letters to Santa. They can give him a little idea of what they want for Christmas. And they can
still get on the nice list. You might be on the bubble with that Don, but you know, you just never know.
I was yelling at people this morning on the phone. I had to do my apology tours. Yes, you probably need
to, but that's a great opportunity. Holly Jolly. Holly Jolly Jingle Amingo Thursday December 18th.
It's a Holly Jolly Jingle Amingo. Jingle Amingo. Yeah, it's a great way to do that.
What's up with these alliterations over your place? Well, you're probably looking at one of the people
that's the notorious for that. And that is from 6 to 9 and it's adults only. It's going to be in the
castle Santa Claus is also coming at that because he loves things at the zoo. You'll be able to have
some cocktails. You'll be able to hang out with friends. We have contests going on. We've got a 50-50
raffle. We've got baskets that you can win. And everyone walks out with a prize as well. And
I have some cocktails and hang out with your friends. It's great opportunity to support the zoo.
Okay, now the holiday gift guide. What's the email of the email, the website for that?
Procenezoo.org. And then in the top bar, you're going to go to support us. And then you do the drop
down to the holiday gift guide. And then all of those options are there. And then whatever you decide,
you want to look at, you click on that button and it takes you to that section of our website.
So then you can book yourselves in and finally the snow globe is a great place to stick those
relatives at just won't go home. Absolutely. When your picnic set a snow globe starts on December 20th
and they are select times on Saturdays and Sundays from the 20th of December all the way through
Sunday, February 1st. Okay, you'll find everything at recenezoo.org or you can just listen for
the podcast. We'll podcast this tonight or probably by late tonight at wrjn.com, civic media.us,
apple podcast, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts, it'll be there. Thank you, Beth.
Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. I'll be holidays. Say hello to those foxes. I promise. I'll be seeing them soon.