Scovill Zoo opens soon! A behind the scenes look at the preparations

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - It's all hands on deck for the crew at the Scovill Zoo as they count down the days until they reopen. The zoo opens for the season on Friday, April 3, and has been closed for months.

"We do a lot of clean up," said Mindy Weaver, a zookeeper who has worked at Scovill Zoo for nearly three decades. "We're putting down a lot of woodchips and mulch because it's kind of washed away throughout the winter."

From raking up mud to replacing monkey perches, many of the preparation steps are done with the animal's health and safety in mind. For example, limestone is used in the petting zoo because it's absorbent and provides a relatively flat surface.

The staff also ensures that animals have solid enrichment opportunities and that existing habitat elements are safe. As the weather warms up, the animals are slowly getting more time outside.

"When they first come out, they're usually a little crazy," said Shannon Engmann, the primate zookeeper. "Especially the spider monkeys. They're usually running around everywhere. Our younger spider monkey will sometimes do somersaults in the sand and all the fresh mulch and stuff, because she is crazy. "

Zoo staff also focus on ensuring visitors have a safe and comfortable experience.

"We have staff in the rest of the zoo grounds with our sidewalks," said Heather Purdeu, director of the Scovill Zoo. "We've been doing a lot of power washing, raking leaves and also putting down woodchips in certain areas, just so everything looks really beautiful and nice when visitors come in on April 3."

One of the biggest changes they are working on making this year is updating the alligator exhibit. They have a temporary exhibit while they are working on new construction. They expect the construction to last throughout the zoo season.