Karlee Friesen is taking the Victoria Bug Zoo to a different level with Taylor Swift and #bugsoftiktok.
害羞草研究所淚 definitely try to follow different trends,害羞草研究所� Friesen said.
Her take on the pet paw scanning situation sweeping social media thanks to the mega pop star proved a particular hit.
Calli makes a Tik Tok comeback
害羞草研究所淲e did that with a bunch of bugs and people really liked that which I thought was absolutely hilarious.害羞草研究所�
The Swifty kitty trend prompted debate over whether critters outside the cat kingdom qualify. The more than 350 comments weigh in favour of any animal 害羞草研究所� bunny, bug or even the occasional dad.
It also scored 50,000 likes so far, not the account害羞草研究所檚 biggest draw, but up there.
Friesen害羞草研究所檚 take on a papa害羞草研究所檚 party doubled that in likes. A papa害羞草研究所檚 party is a TikTok trend where users pick up the front paws of their cat for a little dance. Friesen recreated it with a Victoria Bug Zoo resident Eurycantha calcarata, commonly called the thorny devil stick insect.
害羞草研究所淓veryone loved the papa害羞草研究所檚 party which I think is adorable,害羞草研究所� she said.
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害羞草研究所淚 really do enjoy teaching and educating people, especially about bugs and how they害羞草研究所檙e not these big scary monsters we need to worry about,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淵ou shouldn害羞草研究所檛 squish them all. Insects are really important for our ecosystem. Without them, it would be a really gross world.害羞草研究所�
The Victoria Bug Zoo saw some rapid growth on the platform this year, the first she really focused on it.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just another fun thing I get to do for the zoo. I still do all the boring admin stuff. I make some time for TikToks. When they害羞草研究所檙e only a minute long it害羞草研究所檚 pretty easy to get it into a day,害羞草研究所� she said.
Called Karl by her coworkers, Friesen marks five years at the bug zoo come November. She got the job not long after arriving from Kelowna with a bachelor of science in zoology and previous work in entomology on her resume.
She started as a regular employee and educator/guide which can run the gamut from front desk to animal care to tours. It害羞草研究所檚 standard stuff for staff to take on all the roles.
She became assistant manager early in the 害羞草研究所渨ild rollercoaster害羞草研究所� that was 2020 and now works under the title outreach manager.
害羞草研究所淚 do all the communications for school visits, private tours, birthday parties and adding on social media.害羞草研究所�
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She害羞草研究所檇 done some low-key small business social media work previously, and went to Instagram almost as soon as she started at the downtown Victoria tourist attraction.
Friesen embarked on TikTok last summer.
害羞草研究所淔or what we do here, TikTok is better,害羞草研究所� she said, pointing to the format of fun facts and funny videos. 害羞草研究所淪tuff that害羞草研究所檚 just fun about being at the bug zoo, TikTok really loves that stuff.害羞草研究所�
Friesen still promotes on other platforms 害羞草研究所� each platform curated to its audience 害羞草研究所� but embarked on TikTok last summer and found a good fit.
She really started the push early this year at around 12,000 followers.
害羞草研究所淲e had more and more likes, and more and more follows and all of a sudden we had 50,000,害羞草研究所� she said.
Among the top performers is one that hit 5.1 million views late last year, shortly before she really started to focus on the platform. It害羞草研究所檚 shot from the perspective of a coworker walking in holding a phone and saying 害羞草研究所渨elcome to the bug zoo you handling things OK over there Karl?害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t was me with a stick insect on my face. We were just having a morning, it was pretty funny though,害羞草研究所� Friesen said.
Im out of breath after that one
害羞草研究所淚 try to make it as positive as I can because bugs are great and some people just really need to be reminded.害羞草研究所�
She害羞草研究所檚 guilty of laughing at her own jokes, and can be spotted rolling on the floor cackling with laughter when things go well 害羞草研究所� or not.
That personality shines through, perhaps because she害羞草研究所檚 the kind of person who shares fun facts about themselves such as: 害羞草研究所淚 am one person away from David Attenborough 害羞草研究所� I would love to make that zero people away but we害羞草研究所檒l see.害羞草研究所�
Among her favourite in the more than 50 different species are the ghost mantis 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所渢hey害羞草研究所檙e just so spooky looking害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� and the 害羞草研究所渏ust so cute害羞草研究所� herbivores such as leaf insects.
While Friesen feels the following is too small to inspire spontaneous recognition on this street, it has happened. She害羞草研究所檚 not ready to break out the wigs and sunglasses just yet 害羞草研究所� so far it害羞草研究所檚 a good thing.
害羞草研究所淚 really do enjoy teaching and educating people, especially about bugs and how they害羞草研究所檙e not these big scary monsters we need to worry about,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淵ou shouldn害羞草研究所檛 squish them all. Insects are really important for our ecosystem. Without them it would be a really gross world.害羞草研究所�
The leans into the creepy aspect of this month with a Halloween market featuring local creators as well as a spooky bug zoo at night on Oct. 29. Tickets for the event are available on the night in-person only. The market is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with the zoo will be open from 6 to 8.
