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

Vehicle collides with train in Richland County, driver uninjured

Bismarck fire department responds to early morning structure fire at 400 West Avenue C, no injuries reported

Bismarck Citizen Academy visits airport to learn about operations

North Dakota Highway Patrol honors bloodhound program volunteer with Colonel’s Award

Bismarck seeks public input for 2026 sidewalk gaps project

Bismarck Historical Society hosts program on memoir of prison warden

Follow us on News Break

Categories

Zoo gets calls on April Fools’ Day

Related posts

Mother saw her ‘two-headed baby’ and faințed, but what the docțors did was unbeIievable!

Give me your vaccination selfies, loud and proud

Mom had no idea why doctors ask dad to leave, ‘then mom realized what they’ve done’!

Someone You Should Know: Using passions to pursue career opportunities

Minot Lions Club delivers meals on wheels this holiday season

Wild horse patiently waited to thank his rescuer in the ‘most unpredictable and unbelievable way’!

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

Vehicle collides with train in Richland County, driver uninjured

Bismarck fire department responds to early morning structure fire at 400 West Avenue C, no injuries reported

Bismarck Citizen Academy visits airport to learn about operations

North Dakota Highway Patrol honors bloodhound program volunteer with Colonel’s Award

Bismarck seeks public input for 2026 sidewalk gaps project

Bismarck Historical Society hosts program on memoir of prison warden