Moment: Chattanooga Zoo finds ways for animals to beat the heat

The heat of summer has arrived at the Chattanooga Zoo.

Just as area residents are scrambling to acquire air conditioners, fans and extra water to endure the heat at the outset of summer, Stacy Laberdee, general curator for the zoo, has more than 100 animals in her charge that need to stay cool.

Like a museum curator oversees a collection of art, Laberdee oversees the entire animal collection and the keepers who take care of them.

“We make a lot of ice treats for our animals during these summer months,” Laberdee said as she watched animal keeper Hunter Williams prepare to care for Red Rock, a Scottish Highlands bison hybrid in the petting zoo section of the Warner Park complex.

Staff photo by Tim Barber Animal keeper Hunter Ferguson provides a cool treat for Red Rock, a 1,500-pound Scottish Highland Bison hybrid, in the petting area of the Chattanooga Zoo. Ferguson fed Red Rock the frozen treat filled with fresh vegetables on Friday, June 19, 2015.