Zoo gets calls on April Fools’ Day

MINOT, N.D. – It’s happened for many years when April Fools’ Day comes around some unsuspecting person gets a message to call Mr. Lyon or perhaps ask for another name. But when they make that call they find out they are calling Minot’s Roosevelt Park Zoo and asking for one of its inhabitants.

“We do get calls,” said Jennifer Kleen, executive director of the Greater Minot Zoological Society. She said they get around “a handful of calls but it’s the signature of the day.”

Besides Mr. Lyon she said they’ve had calls for Mr. Don Key, Mr. Al Gator and Mr. Baer.

Some have called, asking for Harry (Hairy), a name that can lead to various animals, Kleen said.

In years past, callers have also asked for Mr. Fox, Mr. G. Raffe, Mr. Wolf, Mrs. Ella Phant, and Mrs. Teresa Llama.

She said all zoo staff members answer the phone saying, “Roosevelt Park Zoo,” so often people figure out right away that they’ve been fooled.

When a staff member answers such a call, she said it is easy to tell by the look on their face it is a caller asking for one of the zoo’s animals.

April Fools’ Day was early this year for one person from a local business who called the zoo recently and asked for Mr. Lyon. Another person called this week and asked for Harry.

One of the years with the highest number of April Fools’ Day calls was in 1982 when the zoo received 196 such calls.

Zoo gets calls on April Fools’ Day

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

Trending Slider

Gov. Kelly Armstrong directs flags to half-staff to honor U.S. Rep. David Scott

Bismarck Police Department issued warning after reports of scam text claiming traffic violations in North Dakota

North Dakota authorities initiated shelter-in-place after man armed himself with pistol stating intent to harm himself on south side of Capitol grounds, later arrested

65-year-old woman charged in decades-old cold case after newborn baby was found dead with plastic covering her face, told investigators, “Maybe it was me”

Bismarck Citizen Academy concludes with recognition ceremony after 12-week program

Bismarck Public Works provides update on curb stop repairs and reporting process

Follow us on News Break

Categories

Zoo gets calls on April Fools’ Day

Related posts

She was 36 weeks pregnant when her husband abandoned her, ‘then saw something in the oven and bursted in tears’!

10-year-oId kept arriving Iate and tìred to schooI, poIice checked dad’s vehicIe and made dìsturbing dìscovery!

He noticed strange pattern on a lake, but ‘what experts pulled from it is nothing short of absolutely amazing’!

Woman discovered that she’s the only passenger on the flight, then the pilots did this!

12-year-oId girI gave bỉrth to 24-year-oId man’s baby, but her mom’s excuse shọcked everyone!

Retiring advocate sees growing need to address kids’ mental health

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

Gov. Kelly Armstrong directs flags to half-staff to honor U.S. Rep. David Scott

Bismarck Police Department issued warning after reports of scam text claiming traffic violations in North Dakota

North Dakota authorities initiated shelter-in-place after man armed himself with pistol stating intent to harm himself on south side of Capitol grounds, later arrested

65-year-old woman charged in decades-old cold case after newborn baby was found dead with plastic covering her face, told investigators, “Maybe it was me”

Bismarck Citizen Academy concludes with recognition ceremony after 12-week program

Bismarck Public Works provides update on curb stop repairs and reporting process