On Jan. 14, approximately 40 students from the College of Sciences got to spend the night sleeping among alligators - at the Toledo Zoo.

The experience was part the zoo’s “Snoozin’” series, which is an overnight observation program for school groups. The trip was organized by Dr. Gwynne Rife, co-director of biology and associate professor of biological sciences and science education, and Rebecca Quintus, director of the Honors Program.

“The trip was developed to help the students learn first-hand about the care and husbandry of animals in a zoo setting,” Rife explained. “They spent the night sleeping in the zoo's Discovery Center observing the frogs, alligators and naked mole rats that are on display in the center.”

During the night, the group also helped prepare enrichment, or treats, for several animals including the artic fox, cheetahs, wolves and tamarins. In the morning, they observed how the zoo keepers fed the treats to the animals.

In addition, the students heard a presentation on animal training, toured the zoo's veterinary facilities, and talked with two alumni of UF's pre-veterinary medicine program, Candee Elseworth and Dana Burke, who are working at the zoo.