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