Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Cannon volunteer hopes to work with animals

Lori Mccurdy begins her Saturday morning at the Hillcrest Park Zoo by feeding and interacting with large cats, donkeys and monkeys.

CMI staff photo: Benna Sayyed

Lori McCurdy visits a group of donkeys during her Saturday morning volunteer shift at the Hillcrest Park Zoo in Clovis. McCurdy, a senior airman stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, has volunteered at the zoo for 2 1/2 months at the zoo.

McCurdy, a senior airman stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, has volunteered at the Hillcrest Park Zoo for about 2 1/2 months. She said she tries to volunteer each Saturday.

McCurdy believes her volunteer efforts at the zoo will bring her closer to her goal of working professionally in the field of zoology.

"I really wanted to start working with animals and learn more about them," Mccurdy said.

"I saw this as an opportunity to get that started."

During her four hours at the zoo on Saturday mornings, McCurdy cleans in and around the animal homes and enclosures, feeds the animals, communicates with the animals and assists zoo staff with various duties.

She said her passion for wildlife developed as a child and only became stronger as she got older. Mccurdy was born into a military family, spending her part of her childhood in Germany.

She said visiting various wildlife sanctuaries and comparing the types of birds and animals in Germany to wildlife in the U.S. was a favorite pastime.

McCurdy grew up around animals and said her mother had a horse. She said her family always had pets such as cats, dogs, rabbits and hamsters.

"Just having animals around kept me calm and seeing animals (today) just brings me joy," McCurdy said.

"Watching their every move and just seeing how they sit there or acknowledge a sound. They're just beautiful."

She said she was also involved in her high school's environmental club in Brandon, Miss.

McCurdy is working on her community college of the Air Force degree and plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in wildlife.

McCurdy said she would like to travel abroad and study animals.

"Lions are my favorite; they just make me happy," McCurdy said. "I like to see how they move in the wild. They're just beautiful and majestic."

Zoo Curator Mark Yannotti has worked with Mccurdy since her first day at the zoo. Yannotti said he is impressed with her effort.

"A lot of people come out here and think the job is going to just be playing with the animals, but it's not like that," Yannotti said.

"She (McCurdy) impressed me because she wants to work. Lori is hard working and I know she would be great at anything."

Yannotti said McCurdy is quite comfortable working with the animals and does not shy away from any duty.

Name: Lori McCurdy

Age: 21

Rank: Senior airman

Hometown: Rapids City, S.D.

Occupation: Mechanic on the AC-130H Spectre Gunship

Favorite animals: Large cats, wolves