specializing in polar bear welfare
Animal care staff
Preparing the bears’ diets, creating stimulating enrichments, monitoring and logging the bears’ behaviours, and yes, shovelling polar bear poop. The Animal Care Staff is dedicated to polar bears, and they are committed to ensuring that the welfare of the bears at the Habitat is always the highest priority.
conservation coordinator
dylan
mccart
Dylan McCart heads the animal care team.
He started developing an advanced behavioural management plan shortly after his arrival at the Habitat in 2014. He coordinates and implements all on-campus research and is responsible for educational programming.
Dylan is the Canadian Regional Advisor for the polar bear program of the Species Survival Plan for North America. He sits on the North American Polar Bear Research Committee, and he is the representative for Polar Bears International among Canadian institutions.
He is currently working on his masters degree, studying – you guessed it – polar bears.
conservation coordinator
dylan
mccart
Dylan McCart heads the animal care team.
He started developing an advanced behavioural management plan shortly after his arrival at the Habitat in 2014. He coordinates and implements all on-campus research and is responsible for educational programming.
Dylan is the Canadian Regional Advisor for the polar bear program of the Species Survival Plan for North America. He sits on the North American Polar Bear Research Committee, and he is the representative for Polar Bears International among Canadian institutions.
He is currently working on his masters degree, studying – you guessed it – polar bears.
Amy Baxendell is a polar bear welfare specialist. She ensures that diets are prepared, rooms are clean, and there are plenty of enriching objects and activities for the bears.
Amy worked with sun bears, moon bears, grizzly bears, and black bears before arriving at the Habitat in 2016.
Amy participated in the Climate Alliance program from Polar Bears International, and she spearheads environmental and climate change initiatives at the Habitat and in the community.
animal care staff
amy
baxendell
animal care staff
amy
baxendell
Amy Baxendell is a polar bear welfare specialist. She ensures that diets are prepared, rooms are clean, and there are plenty of enriching objects and activities for the bears.
Amy worked with sun bears, moon bears, grizzly bears, and black bears before arriving at the Habitat in 2016.
Amy participated in the Climate Alliance program from Polar Bears International, and she spearheads environmental and climate change initiatives at the Habitat and in the community.
veterinary technician
sidney
coll
Sidney Coll completed her education as a veterinary technician and immediately moved to Cochrane to join the Habitat team in 2017.
She has experience with a range of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, rodents, and reptiles.
Sidney regularly monitors the bears by analyzing blood and fecal samples and by assessing overall body condition.
She is responsible for blood sample collections, vaccinations, and other routine medical care, as well as day-to-day care.
Sidney was the first veterinary technician in Canada to be granted a variance by the Canadian Accredited Zoos and Aquariums to be able to work with veterinarians to examine the bears on a bi-weekly basis.
veterinary technician
sidney
coll
Sidney Coll completed her education as a veterinary technician and immediately moved to Cochrane to join the Habitat team in 2017.
She has experience with a range of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, rodents, and reptiles.
Sidney regularly monitors the bears by analyzing blood and fecal samples and by assessing overall body condition.
She is responsible for blood sample collections, vaccinations, and other routine medical care, as well as day-to-day care.
Sidney was the first veterinary technician in Canada to be granted a variance by the Canadian Accredited Zoos and Aquariums to be able to work with veterinarians to examine the bears on a bi-weekly basis.