Zoo Manager’s Heroic Efforts During Blizzard Ensure Animals’ Safety
March 21, 2026
As a massive blizzard engulfed Wildwood Zoo in Marshfield, Wisconsin, with over two feet of snow, the dedicated manager, Kyle Kirk, took extraordinary measures to safeguard the animals under his care. Kirk remained at the zoo for three consecutive nights, prioritizing the well-being of the facility’s 27 species amid the harsh conditions.
Kyle Kirk / WSAW NewsChannel 7
The intensity of the snowstorm was unprecedented for Kirk. “This is the most snow I think I’ve ever seen in my whole life,” he stated, reflecting on the storm’s severity. The situation became so dire at one point that Kirk found himself trapped inside the staff building, unable to assist the animals. “There was a solid hour that I really couldn’t help really anybody because I was completely snowed in,” he recounted.
Once conditions improved slightly, Kirk sprang into action, beginning with the rescue of smaller animals such as quails, prairie dogs, and skunks that had been buried by the snow. “I was able to dig them out… our skunks were completely snowed in,” he shared in an interview. Attempting to lighten the mood amid the chaos, Kirk noted, “It was kind of comical because I think our skunks thought that I brought the snow… they were stomping at me and saying, ‘Oh, you can take away the snow now.’”
Kirk meticulously carved out pathways through enclosures, ensuring animals like porcupines and skunks could regain mobility. He also took care to provide warmth for the foxes, who were unprepared for the sudden freeze, having already shed their winter coats.
In contrast, some of the larger animals showed remarkable resilience. The Kodiak bears appeared unfazed, lounging comfortably, while the lynx navigated the deep snow adeptly. “It was really fun to see him walking on top of the snow with his great big paws,” Kirk remarked, adding, “He could have went for another two feet for sure.” However, not all animals managed so well; Kirk had to physically extricate sandhill cranes that had become stuck in the snow.
Kirk’s devotion to the animals was unwavering. “A lot of other people can call in sick or get snowed in, but simply, I can’t,” he emphasized. “There’s really no reason to have these animals if we’re not going to care for them in the best possible way at our disposal.”
