Featured Staff Member: Katy Strobl, Manager of Animal Care
What made you want to become a zoo keeper; was there a particular experience that helped you make this decision?
Since I was a child I have wanted to work with animals. The hard part for me was deciding what exactly I wanted to do with animals. I’ve found that a zoo keeper gets to do a little bit of everything… one minute I am feeding alligators and the next I get to train a Black Bear.
What was the craziest thing that has ever happened to you at Gatorland?
One time we were moving some alligators to a new pool when I slipped and fell face first into the pool of gators. I couldn’t get my footing to get out so my coworker had to pull me out of the pool. It was pretty scary at the time, but once I was out and safe, we couldn’t stop laughing! Good thing it was a hot day ’cause I was dripping wet from head to toe.
What is your favorite animal at Gatorland and why?
I can’t choose just one favorite animal here, but I can at least narrow it down to four. Orwell Roscoe Pancake III, the striped skunk, because he is so cute and loves to cuddle, Babe, the Jacobs Four-Horned Sheep, she is such a sweetheart, Judy the Florida Black Bear, a true gentle giant, and finally, Harley the harlequin macaw because he is a beautiful bird with a big mouth and a serious attitude; but I love him.
If you had a choice to travel anywhere in the world to study animals, where would you go and what animal would you study?
I would love to travel on a research vessel and study marine mammals; specifically whales and dolphins.
What is the best part of working here at Gatorland?
The best thing about working at Gatorland is the amazing animals I get to work with.
Have you ever had any close calls working with alligators or any other animal here at Gatorland?
I have had several bites from macaws and a small bite from an Eastern Indigo snake; luckily none of them were very serious.
What made you decide to work with alligators?
I want to work with any and all animals at some point in my life so alligators are another animal I can check off my list!
What kind of pets do you have at home?
I have a 2 cats named Harley and Bitsy, a German Shepherd named Tank, and a ferret named Napoleon. I would love a zoo at my house, but right now they are all I have time for.
What kind of hobbies do you have?
My husband and I love to ride motorcycles and I also love scuba diving.
Do you have any special talents?
I am actually pretty musically inclined. I can play the bass guitar, the standing bass and the trombone.
Do you have someone who inspired you to get in to this field?
Jane Goodall has been an inspiration to me. Her work with animals, and her understanding of them, just amazes me. Closer to home though is my Dad; animals just seem to love him and I probably got my passion for animals from him.