Tim Stitt, Manager of the Animal Research Facility
Tim began working in the Animal Research facility during the 2005 academic year as a student assistant. He became a full-time staff member in 2008. His first memory of working in the Animal Research Facility is, not surprisingly, the rattlesnake room, because when he entered room most of the snakes started rattling. It was disconcerting to him because his natural reaction was to fear that sound. Also, not surprisingly, Tim finds the hardest part of his job to be the handling of venomous snakes, where he cannot lose focus without serious consequences.
Tim has always wanted to work with animals. He just did not know in what capacity. He never imagined it would be with animal research, but he is very happy to be working with animals daily.
The bats are the most interesting to him because of the way they fly in the bat room. The bats fly directly toward you, as though they mean to run into you, but they veer off at the last second, almost 100% of the time. Recent improvements to the bat room have resulted in the bats becoming more territorial, which is an indication that they are more comfortable in this improved environment.
Tim is very passionate about caring for the animals in the facility. He wishes for people to know that not only do they follow strict guidelines and regulations to ensure the animals receive the best care but go the extra mile to do as much as they can for the animals, such as improving the bat environment beyond what regulations require. Tim leads the Animal Research Facility staff in caring deeply about the animals’ wellbeing with the knowledge that the research done there contributes to scientific disciplines and medical research. Tim is very proud that though the facility is relatively small, it houses a diverse variety of animals, and is ready to take on new species as needed.
When not at work, Tim still enjoys spending time with animals. He is a licensed falconer and enjoys working with his hawks, a Harris Hawk his daughter named Iris, and a Goshawk. He also enjoys riding his Harley when the weather allows.
For more information about the Animal Research Facility, please contact Tim Stitt at 970-351-2842 or timothy.stitt@unco.edu.
