Haley Cope

Two moments led 31-year-old Haley Cope to her role as Lake Superior Zoo CEO.

“I remember it like it was yesterday,” Cope said.

Her kindergarten class took a field trip to Lake Superior Zoo. When visiting the brown bear exhibit, she said, “the bear just came up to the glass” scaring all the parents and exciting all the kids. From then, she visited zoos whenever she could.

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At 16, Cope visited St. Paul’s Como Zoo gorilla habitat.

”I was just leaning in and I had put my hand up and one of the gorillas was sitting there and he put his hand up to mine and it was like, it was a life changing moment,” Cope said.

Now, she works to foster empathy between humans and animals, creating intimate interactions for guests to connect with animals like she did.

Collaboration

What Cope called a unique “mosaic of experiences” and multifaceted career path across public and private sectors in marketing and communications prepared her to be CEO.

She jumped at the opportunity to work at the zoo, first as marketing director in January 2018, then, as CEO since August 2020.

Cope keeps regular office hours to discuss staff concerns and new ideas. As Director of Business Operations and Staff Photographer, Hannah Beal works alongside Cope daily.

“Haley maintains an open mind, and gives all staff a voice in our operations,” Beal said.

Cope said: “It’s important for everyone to have a seat at that table and I feel that now that I have one, I want others to be right there along with me and to see everyone be a part of that change.”

“Her leadership style has improved communication within our organization and made staff feel like they are part of a larger team,” Director of Education, Sarah Wilcox said.

Cope anticipates ongoing conversations, nationally with senior leaders about increasing diversity in leadership to represent the communities where the organizations are located.

Conservation

“We want people to know how much we participate in the conservation aspect,” Cope said, considering the animals members of her own family.

Visiting the zoo with Cope, she demonstrates genuine care for the animals. Greeting each by name — African bullfrog, Cucumber; American black bear, Syke, Siberian lynx, Felix — Cope asks how they are, she praises them, like an affectionate mother. She mentions species facts to nearby guests, sharing an animal’s story of how they came to live at the zoo.

The Lake Superior Zoo is one of 241 facilities worldwide, accredited through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

With regular inspections and accountability, accreditation plays a significant role, promoting animal welfare, ethical veterinary practices, ongoing education and mentorship and maintaining adequate staffing.

“We do not go into the wild and take animals and bring them back to the zoo,” Cope said. “Our animals are either rescues where they could no longer survive in the wild on their

Continued on page 14 own or they are born in protected care … at a zoological facility.”

Managed through the Species Survival Plan, the Lake Superior Zoo provides a safe home for 30 participating species, “ensuring that those animals are here for generations,” Cope said.

Community

A lifelong learner, Cope promotes regional zoo education programs to over 20,000 people annually. Education will always be a cornerstone of the zoo’s mission.

Zoo to You subscription boxes came out of the pandemic. Sixty families subscribed, receiving monthly education resources with animal keepsakes, like Leo the lion’s shed fur, exclusive digital content and learning activities.

Summer camps paused in 2020, but opened this year, filling immediately.

Zoo mobiles also paused, but in Fall 2021 will resume visiting nursing homes, schools and events, providing

Right: Watching Kiwi, a black crested mangabey mom, Videll the dad, and baby T'aami, Lake Superior Zoo CEO Haley Cope gasps, giggles and celebrates how the zoo's newest addition leaps and climbs around their habitat.

Bottom: opportunities for people to learn about and connect with nature, animals and other wildlife, and how to make a difference to animal welfare and a positive environmental impact.

“Our animal care staff are the heart of the organization,” Cope said.

They’re currently working on choice and control training with education ambassador animals. Tying into animal welfare initiatives, if animals don’t want to go on a zoo mobile trip, they don't have to. Clover and Dandelion, two of the zoo’s guinea pigs, love getting into their travel crates.

Brothers and regular Lake Superior Zoo visitors, Ian, 9 and Elliot 6, Eastvold love the zoo.

“It’s a good hangout place with friends,” Ian said.

They’ve both learned lots at the zoo including, “how harsh the life in the wilderness is for animals,” Ian said.

Elliot loves “seeing the wolves and hearing them howl,” he said.

With the passing bonding bill in 2020, Lake Superior Zoo will fund renovations of the main building, improving educational spaces and playscapes.

“Being a mom in Duluth in the cold, freezing depths of winter, we're looking for indoor things,” Cope said. The zoo can be another inclement weather indoor option for families.

“I’m just excited for the future and the possibilities of this new main space to be able to bring a really great experience to the neighborhood here in West Duluth,” Cope said.

For Elizabeth Dixon, Guest Experience Manager and Special Events Coordinator, Cope is not the first CEO she’s worked with. Dixon said, “One thing I can say for certain, is that with Haley at the helm, we’re definitely moving forward.”

There will be lots to celebrate in 2023 when the Lake Superior Zoo turns 100. D