CRESTVIEW — Tech. Sgt. Bradford Shanahan huffed Saturday as he and a partner worked an enclosure’s chain-link gate off its hinges. It was rusted in places and took nearly 10 minutes to free.
As a number of animals looked on, about 60 airmen from Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base built exhibits, organized materials and equipment, and helped clean up the former Sasquatch Zoo.
The zoo just east of Crestview is closed while it is being renovated under the direction of the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, which took it over from owner Debbie Mattox several months ago.
View a photo gallery of the zoo. >>
Amanda Wilkerson, executive director of the refuge, estimates the zoo will reopen at the end of April or beginning of May.
Shanahan organized his team’s efforts Saturday. He said he was looking for an opportunity to get airmen involved in projects in north Okaloosa County.
“We want to continue to be involved,” Shanahan said.
For Sgt. Antuan Ray, the work day was a way for airmen and the community to get to know one another.
“We can get out and help be a part of whatever the community needs help with,” Ray said.
The airmen provided not just manpower but skilled manpower, Wilkerson said. Some of the airmen were set to finish an exhibit that normally would have taken several weekends to build.
The zoo’s to-do list is long. Volunteers are still needed to help refurbish buildings, fix up and erect exhibits, and help build an education outpost.
Volunteers also can help after the zoo reopens. It will need docents and people to help care for the animals, Wilkerson said.
“Helping complete this project doesn’t just help the animals at their zoo home, but all the injured or sick animals we treat,” she said.
WANT TO HELP?: To learn about volunteering at the zoo, contact the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge at 650-1880 or Susan Leveille, director of education, at sleveille@ecwildliferefuge.com.
