Zoo floodwaters claim service building, peregrine falcon (Cleveland Ohio)

[Donna]

CLEVELAND, Ohio--Cleveland MetroParks Zoo officials said they would reopen Tuesday after four-foot flood waters destroyed an employee service building and killed a Peregrine Falcon Monday.

Crews had been working overnight, and by 3 p.m. Monday, the floodwater had receded leaving the wreckage of the service building, picnic tables in the parking lot, and mud everywhere.

Spokeswoman Sue Allen said it was too early to put a dollar figure on the damage.

"It's Big Creek that caused all this," Allen said. "It's tough when you know it's going to happen. There's nothing we can do to stop it."

Big Creek runs through the zoo, which Allen said has three distinct elevation levels. The lowest level, which includes parts of the parking lot, the African Savanna area that begins on the right after you go through the main entrance, are often flooded during large storms. Zoo officials keep the animals at the higher elevations to keep them safe.

Still, a one-winged Peregrine Falcon died when the Amphitheater filled with water and it couldn't get to safety. That was the only casualty, except for the large service building that was used as an operations center for parking lot attendants, cashiers, and ticket takers.

Allen said Monday's flood was among the worst, and the earliest, she's seen in her 21 years with the zoo. "We've had floods here before," she said. "Yesterday, the creek looked fine. By 4 a.m., it was overflowing its banks."

So sad!

[Kris G.]