Karlee Friesen is taking the Victoria Bug Zoo to a different level with Taylor Swift and #bugsoftiktok.
91裸聊视频淚 definitely try to follow different trends,91裸聊视频� 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
91裸聊视频淲e did that with a bunch of bugs and people really liked that which I thought was absolutely hilarious.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频� bunny, bug or even the occasional dad.
It also scored 50,000 likes so far, not the account91裸聊视频檚 biggest draw, but up there.
Friesen91裸聊视频檚 take on a papa91裸聊视频檚 party doubled that in likes. A papa91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淓veryone loved the papa91裸聊视频檚 party which I think is adorable,91裸聊视频� she said.
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91裸聊视频淚 really do enjoy teaching and educating people, especially about bugs and how they91裸聊视频檙e not these big scary monsters we need to worry about,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淵ou shouldn91裸聊视频檛 squish them all. Insects are really important for our ecosystem. Without them, it would be a really gross world.91裸聊视频�
The Victoria Bug Zoo saw some rapid growth on the platform this year, the first she really focused on it.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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 they91裸聊视频檙e only a minute long it91裸聊视频檚 pretty easy to get it into a day,91裸聊视频� 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. It91裸聊视频檚 standard stuff for staff to take on all the roles.
She became assistant manager early in the 91裸聊视频渨ild rollercoaster91裸聊视频� that was 2020 and now works under the title outreach manager.
91裸聊视频淚 do all the communications for school visits, private tours, birthday parties and adding on social media.91裸聊视频�
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She91裸聊视频檇 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.
91裸聊视频淔or what we do here, TikTok is better,91裸聊视频� she said, pointing to the format of fun facts and funny videos. 91裸聊视频淪tuff that91裸聊视频檚 just fun about being at the bug zoo, TikTok really loves that stuff.91裸聊视频�
Friesen still promotes on other platforms 91裸聊视频� each platform curated to its audience 91裸聊视频� but embarked on TikTok last summer and found a good fit.
She really started the push early this year at around 12,000 followers.
91裸聊视频淲e had more and more likes, and more and more follows and all of a sudden we had 50,000,91裸聊视频� 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. It91裸聊视频檚 shot from the perspective of a coworker walking in holding a phone and saying 91裸聊视频渨elcome to the bug zoo you handling things OK over there Karl?91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚t was me with a stick insect on my face. We were just having a morning, it was pretty funny though,91裸聊视频� Friesen said.
Im out of breath after that one
91裸聊视频淚 try to make it as positive as I can because bugs are great and some people just really need to be reminded.91裸聊视频�
She91裸聊视频檚 guilty of laughing at her own jokes, and can be spotted rolling on the floor cackling with laughter when things go well 91裸聊视频� or not.
That personality shines through, perhaps because she91裸聊视频檚 the kind of person who shares fun facts about themselves such as: 91裸聊视频淚 am one person away from David Attenborough 91裸聊视频� I would love to make that zero people away but we91裸聊视频檒l see.91裸聊视频�
Among her favourite in the more than 50 different species are the ghost mantis 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频渢hey91裸聊视频檙e just so spooky looking91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� and the 91裸聊视频渏ust so cute91裸聊视频� herbivores such as leaf insects.
While Friesen feels the following is too small to inspire spontaneous recognition on this street, it has happened. She91裸聊视频檚 not ready to break out the wigs and sunglasses just yet 91裸聊视频� so far it91裸聊视频檚 a good thing.
91裸聊视频淚 really do enjoy teaching and educating people, especially about bugs and how they91裸聊视频檙e not these big scary monsters we need to worry about,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淵ou shouldn91裸聊视频檛 squish them all. Insects are really important for our ecosystem. Without them it would be a really gross world.91裸聊视频�
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.
