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