My move to Anchorage in 2006 with my husband Sean brought me face-to-face with the animals that have changed my life. I have never been as inspired as I have been working as a keeper, handler and trainer at The Alaska Zoo. Since having the opportunity to raise a pack of wolves, wean countless orphaned moose calves, and train an eleven-hundred-pound polar bear, my life-long passion for wildlife has grown immeasurably and continues to develop with each experience. I have been captured by each and every animal I have had the privilege to care for, and am wholeheartedly dedicated to making my enthusiasm for their species conservation contagious among the general public.
Guided by Polar Bears International’s Keeper Leadership Camp, and the information obtained by their research and education, I know I will be equipped with the essential tools to inform and inspire individuals of various demographics to take immediate personal action regarding polar bear conservation. I fully expect to leave the edge of Hudson Bay eager to motivate Alaskan communities about the immediate impact today’s population must have on our environment, if we want polar bears and other Arctic species to persist for future generations.
I know that with my dedication to polar bear survivability and daily close contact with zoo guests and community groups, a substantial difference in the way Alaskans live their lives can be presented and achieved. By influencing individuals to make simple life changes and circulate their gained knowledge and enthusiasm for polar bear conservation, I anticipate that within five years community members and local businesses will be actively participating in the reduction of waste by reusing everyday items.
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