Farmer Jeanne Selander and Her Jailhouse Menagerie 

a woman holding a small animal in her arms

Mark Hedden kicks off the first edition of his “On the Rock” podcast with one of the most beloved people in the Florida Keys. Farmer Jeanne Selander, of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm (commonly referred to as “the jail zoo”) joins the show to discuss her career spanning over 20 years. From kinkajous, sloths, ponies, alligators and more, the jail zoo boasts one of the most unique jail programs on the globe. Approaching retirement, Selander recounts riding out Hurricane Irma alone in a jail with 150 animals, tips on how to catch alligators and which sloths are ok to pet.  

Mark Hedden
Mark Hedden is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society.