Send a Rose — or a Cockroach! Inside CALM’s Valentine’s Fundraiser

Love comes in all forms. Sometimes, it’s as sweet as a rose; other times, it’s a little less conventional — like a cockroach. No matter how you want to express yourself this Valentine’s Day, CALM invites the public to join in their 2nd Annual Roses or Roaches fundraiser.

Animal keepers Jewelia Gutierrez and Kourtney Hall came up with the idea for the event after noticing similar fundraisers at other zoos across the country. They saw it as a fun and quirky way to raise funds while providing creative enrichment for CALM’s animals, many of whom enjoy unconventional treats like roses and cockroaches.

One of these animals is Tina, an American porcupine, who eagerly accepts roses as part of her Valentine’s Day enrichment. Tina’s regular diet consists of carefully measured portions: 130 grams of whole grains, sweet potato, and carrots, along with 65 grams of apple and corn, plus an additional 20 grams of vitamin pellets. While this routine diet keeps her healthy, occasional treats like roses offer a welcome change — and a bit of excitement.

“Roses aren’t a regular part of their diet, so it’s a special treat for everyone involved,” Gutierrez said. “It’s just too cute not to do, and it provides much-needed enrichment for the animals while giving the community something fun to enjoy.”

To help spread the word, Gutierrez and Hall worked with Elizabeth Graff, CALM’s community outreach and volunteer facilitator, to turn their idea into a reality.

“It’s always fun to look for ways to connect with the public while supporting our animals’ well-being,” Graff said. “Plus, who wouldn’t want to tune in to a small zoo dedicating a cockroach to someone?” 

The inaugural campaign last year raised a little over $950, which helped CALM purchase various enrichment items. This year, CALM hopes to double that amount to provide even more opportunities for enrichment and care for its animals.

From now until February 9, those who are interested in the campaign can donate $5 and dedicate a rose or a cockroach to someone special — or not-so-special. Short videos of the dedications will be shared on CALM’s social media channels on February 14.

For more information or to make a dedication, visit bit.ly/2025rosesorroaches. Proceeds will support CALM’s mission to help wildlife in Kern County, and only first names will be used in dedications to keep the event lighthearted and fun.