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

香蕉视频直播淚 definitely try to follow different trends,香蕉视频直播� 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

香蕉视频直播淲e did that with a bunch of bugs and people really liked that which I thought was absolutely hilarious.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播� bunny, bug or even the occasional dad.

It also scored 50,000 likes so far, not the account香蕉视频直播檚 biggest draw, but up there.

Friesen香蕉视频直播檚 take on a papa香蕉视频直播檚 party doubled that in likes. A papa香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淓veryone loved the papa香蕉视频直播檚 party which I think is adorable,香蕉视频直播� she said.

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香蕉视频直播淚 really do enjoy teaching and educating people, especially about bugs and how they香蕉视频直播檙e not these big scary monsters we need to worry about,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 squish them all. Insects are really important for our ecosystem. Without them, it would be a really gross world.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檙e only a minute long it香蕉视频直播檚 pretty easy to get it into a day,香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 standard stuff for staff to take on all the roles.

She became assistant manager early in the 香蕉视频直播渨ild rollercoaster香蕉视频直播� that was 2020 and now works under the title outreach manager.

香蕉视频直播淚 do all the communications for school visits, private tours, birthday parties and adding on social media.香蕉视频直播�

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She香蕉视频直播檇 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.

香蕉视频直播淔or what we do here, TikTok is better,香蕉视频直播� she said, pointing to the format of fun facts and funny videos. 香蕉视频直播淪tuff that香蕉视频直播檚 just fun about being at the bug zoo, TikTok really loves that stuff.香蕉视频直播�

Friesen still promotes on other platforms 香蕉视频直播� each platform curated to its audience 香蕉视频直播� but embarked on TikTok last summer and found a good fit.

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

香蕉视频直播淲e had more and more likes, and more and more follows and all of a sudden we had 50,000,香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 shot from the perspective of a coworker walking in holding a phone and saying 香蕉视频直播渨elcome to the bug zoo you handling things OK over there Karl?香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t was me with a stick insect on my face. We were just having a morning, it was pretty funny though,香蕉视频直播� Friesen said.

Im out of breath after that one

香蕉视频直播淚 try to make it as positive as I can because bugs are great and some people just really need to be reminded.香蕉视频直播�

She香蕉视频直播檚 guilty of laughing at her own jokes, and can be spotted rolling on the floor cackling with laughter when things go well 香蕉视频直播� or not.

That personality shines through, perhaps because she香蕉视频直播檚 the kind of person who shares fun facts about themselves such as: 香蕉视频直播淚 am one person away from David Attenborough 香蕉视频直播� I would love to make that zero people away but we香蕉视频直播檒l see.香蕉视频直播�

Among her favourite in the more than 50 different species are the ghost mantis 香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播渢hey香蕉视频直播檙e just so spooky looking香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� and the 香蕉视频直播渏ust so cute香蕉视频直播� herbivores such as leaf insects.

While Friesen feels the following is too small to inspire spontaneous recognition on this street, it has happened. She香蕉视频直播檚 not ready to break out the wigs and sunglasses just yet 香蕉视频直播� so far it香蕉视频直播檚 a good thing.

香蕉视频直播淚 really do enjoy teaching and educating people, especially about bugs and how they香蕉视频直播檙e not these big scary monsters we need to worry about,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 squish them all. Insects are really important for our ecosystem. Without them it would be a really gross world.香蕉视频直播�

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.