Fall 2012 Alumni Magazine - Lake Erie College

Alumni Spotlight
Alumna’s summer job turns into
full-time career
by Katie Staats ’09, MBA ‘11
Adele Dodge ’87 came to Lake Erie
College to embark on a journey filled with
opportunities. After a suggestion from
Linelle Smith ’84, Dodge decided to apply
for a job at the Columbus Zoo in Powell,
Ohio, as she thought it would be fun for
the summer. This summer job turned into
a career.
Dodge started at the Columbus Zoo and
Aquarium in the summer of 1985. She
traveled to Australia for her academic
term abroad from August
1985-June 1986. Before
going back to Lake Erie
College for her senior
year, she worked at the
zoo again. In 1993, Dodge
became head keeper in
the Australian area and
has been there ever since.
At the Columbus Zoo,
Dodge supervises a
department of nine
full-time keepers, various
seasonal keepers and
interns. There is a wide variety of animals;
three aviaries including an African Forest,
an Australasian and a Lorikeet walk-thru;
and a nocturnal building with kiwi birds,
fishing cats, tiger quolls, feathertail
gliders; koalas, kangaroos, small-clawed
otters, gibbons and Siamangs, just to
name a few.
Dodge’s main responsibilities include
feeding, cleaning, training, enrichment,
contrafeeding (providing different means
of feeding animals), hand-rearing (raised
by the keepers instead of the mother),
horticulture work, keeper talks and
observations. Dodge and her department
work closely with the veterinarians to
prevent any problems since animals
react differently in certain situations. The
veterinarians rely heavily on the keepers
to inform them if an animal is not reacting
normally. Interactions with the public and
bystanders occur quite often.
A typical day consists of checking all the
animals first. Medications are given, the
viewing and public areas are cleaned. The
animals must be back in their areas by the
time the zoo opens. Much time is spent
giving enrichment and contrafeeding.
People skills are a must, as Dodge spends
a lot of time interacting with the public.
Life at the zoo is constantly busy for
Dodge, but there are many rewarding
experiences. Her most memorable
moment was working with the gorillas.
Bridget, a female gorilla, raised an infant
with her mate Bongo. Bridget died from
peritonitis (inflammation of the abdomen),
and Bongo raised the infant Fossey, who
was only seven months old at the time.
Bongo was very gentle and nurturing with
Fossey, which he didn’t have to be when
Bridget was around. Fossey is now a welladjusted
silverback gorilla with a family of
his own.
In the Australasia area,
Dodge’s department
raised its first koala joeys
(newborns) and hand-raised
fishing cat kittens.
“We also helped with kiwi
chicks. We had three chicks
from one pair of adults last
year, which was a first for a
North American zoo,”
said Dodge.
Dodge’s experience at
Lake Erie College was a
memorable one. She was secretary of
the Student Government Association,
member of the women’s basketball and
softball teams, part of the stage crew
for a play and competitor in the Prix de
Villes. Dodge also had an internship
with the Cleveland Museum of Natural
History and worked on campus. She
graduated with a bachelor of arts
degree with a major in biology.
LAKE ERIE | FALL ‘12 21