Karlee Friesen is taking the Victoria Bug Zoo to a different level with Taylor Swift and #bugsoftiktok.

B次元官网网址淚 definitely try to follow different trends,B次元官网网址� 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

B次元官网网址淲e did that with a bunch of bugs and people really liked that which I thought was absolutely hilarious.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址� bunny, bug or even the occasional dad.

It also scored 50,000 likes so far, not the accountB次元官网网址檚 biggest draw, but up there.

FriesenB次元官网网址檚 take on a papaB次元官网网址檚 party doubled that in likes. A papaB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淓veryone loved the papaB次元官网网址檚 party which I think is adorable,B次元官网网址� she said.

READ ALSO:

B次元官网网址淚 really do enjoy teaching and educating people, especially about bugs and how theyB次元官网网址檙e not these big scary monsters we need to worry about,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou shouldnB次元官网网址檛 squish them all. Insects are really important for our ecosystem. Without them, it would be a really gross world.B次元官网网址�

The Victoria Bug Zoo saw some rapid growth on the platform this year, the first she really focused on it.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 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 theyB次元官网网址檙e only a minute long itB次元官网网址檚 pretty easy to get it into a day,B次元官网网址� 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. ItB次元官网网址檚 standard stuff for staff to take on all the roles.

She became assistant manager early in the B次元官网网址渨ild rollercoasterB次元官网网址� that was 2020 and now works under the title outreach manager.

B次元官网网址淚 do all the communications for school visits, private tours, birthday parties and adding on social media.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO:

SheB次元官网网址檇 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.

B次元官网网址淔or what we do here, TikTok is better,B次元官网网址� she said, pointing to the format of fun facts and funny videos. B次元官网网址淪tuff thatB次元官网网址檚 just fun about being at the bug zoo, TikTok really loves that stuff.B次元官网网址�

Friesen still promotes on other platforms B次元官网网址� each platform curated to its audience B次元官网网址� but embarked on TikTok last summer and found a good fit.

She really started the push early this year at around 12,000 followers.

B次元官网网址淲e had more and more likes, and more and more follows and all of a sudden we had 50,000,B次元官网网址� 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. ItB次元官网网址檚 shot from the perspective of a coworker walking in holding a phone and saying B次元官网网址渨elcome to the bug zoo you handling things OK over there Karl?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t was me with a stick insect on my face. We were just having a morning, it was pretty funny though,B次元官网网址� Friesen said.

Im out of breath after that one

B次元官网网址淚 try to make it as positive as I can because bugs are great and some people just really need to be reminded.B次元官网网址�

SheB次元官网网址檚 guilty of laughing at her own jokes, and can be spotted rolling on the floor cackling with laughter when things go well B次元官网网址� or not.

That personality shines through, perhaps because sheB次元官网网址檚 the kind of person who shares fun facts about themselves such as: B次元官网网址淚 am one person away from David Attenborough B次元官网网址� I would love to make that zero people away but weB次元官网网址檒l see.B次元官网网址�

Among her favourite in the more than 50 different species are the ghost mantis B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渢heyB次元官网网址檙e just so spooky lookingB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� and the B次元官网网址渏ust so cuteB次元官网网址� herbivores such as leaf insects.

While Friesen feels the following is too small to inspire spontaneous recognition on this street, it has happened. SheB次元官网网址檚 not ready to break out the wigs and sunglasses just yet B次元官网网址� so far itB次元官网网址檚 a good thing.

B次元官网网址淚 really do enjoy teaching and educating people, especially about bugs and how theyB次元官网网址檙e not these big scary monsters we need to worry about,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou shouldnB次元官网网址檛 squish them all. Insects are really important for our ecosystem. Without them it would be a really gross world.B次元官网网址�

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.