About Bug Zoo

Bug Zoo Inc. – A Note from the Founder

The Early Years

Where it all started. I was born on a farm and had a lifelong love of animals and adventure.

I've been drawn to animals for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was the kid who brought home every stray, studied every creature I could find, and knew early on that I wanted to dedicate my life to understanding and sharing the natural world.

I went on to study Entomology and Apiculture at the University of Guelph, then served as Alberta's Provincial Apiary Inspector.  This work that gave me firsthand experience with regulation, biosecurity, and the critical importance of protecting ecosystems.

Crystal Gardens & the Spark

In the early 1990s, I was working part-time at Crystal Gardens in Victoria, BC while studying Garry Oak Phylloxera.  Crystal Gardens was a government-run facility with lush tropical plants and few exotic animals and birds.  It was a very popular and beloved sanctuary for tourists and locals alike, but it was closed down due to lack of funding. Prior to closing, I set up a few insect exhibits for the facility with some of my "pet bugs".  I cared for the animals, and whenever I had time, I would give impromptu tours for the visitors.  People were fascinated with the bug but had no idea what they were looking at.  They would look right at an insect and not know where the head was or the back end. Something as simple as pointing that out would light them up. It was a real joy for me to show them. They'd leave thinking they'd discovered something extraordinary (and they had!).

That experience changed everything. I realized there was a hunger for this sort of experience.... a real, hands-on education "zoo" with the alien creatures most people overlook, misunderstand or fear. Crystal Gardens wasn't in a position to expand, but I was ambitious and ready to build something of my own.  

Opening the Victoria Bug Zoo (1997)

The original Bug Zoo logo — my design, my brand

I contacted a commercial real estate agent, found a space, and opened the Victoria Bug Zoo in October 1997. From day one, I figured it out as I went, putting one foot in front of the other.

At the time, there were few (if any) rules or regulations in Canada for importing exotic insects. I became the person who helped create them. Working directly with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), I co-developed the initial regulatory framework for exotic insect imports, including quarantine facility requirements. I made sure we never brought in pest species or anything that could survive in the Canadian environment. Cross-border regulatory compliance became a core part of my work.

I traveled the world and built supplier relationships, collected specimens, and focused on in-house rearing to ensure I had the best insect collection available to the public anywhere in the whole world.  The namesake of my corporation is INTERNATIONAL Bug Zoos Inc. after all. 

The 2004 Renovation

After years in a tiny gallery space on Wharf Street, I moved the Bug Zoo in 2004 to the Courtney Street location and poured everything I had into a full renovation. I wanted it to be perfect... every detail was considered.  It was a fresh start.

The Bug Zoo after my 2004 renovation.  Every detail designed to invite the visitor into the amazing world of entomology in a fun, friendly and "all ages" way.

Professional exhibits I built to educate and inspire

The Leafcutter ant farm wall. This is one of many custom displays I created

The Bug Zoo became a place where families, school groups, and curious adults could experience the wonder of entomology and arachnology up close. I ran it with pride for 17 years.

Meet Carol Maier, Founder & Entomologist

Carol with Heteropteryx dilatata (Malaysian Walking Stick)

🌱 Biologist. Educator. Curious Explorer.

• Founder of the Bug Zoo concept — an immersive experience for families, kids, and nature lovers
• Over 25 years in entomology, museum studies, sharing the value of eco-tourism to show communities around the world that protecting their habitat has inherent and economic value
• Former Alberta Apiary Inspector and graduate of the University of Guelph (Entomology & Apiculture)
• Co-developed Canada's regulatory framework for exotic insect imports with CFIA
• Background in international agriculture, outreach education, and habitat conservation
• Featured in numerous media articles, school visits, and public science outreach events

....and we've only just begun. Join us, won't you? 🐛 🌷

The Licensing Agreement & Its Termination

In 2014, I licensed the trademark to a business partner with the belief that we shared the same values — integrity, responsibility, and the mission to showcase the amazing world of entomology and arachnology to the general public, in the best possible light.

Unfortunately, that trust was deeply misplaced.

Despite repeated breaches of the trademark licensing agreement, I endeavored to resolve the situation professionally for over 10 years. As of February 2025, I have formally terminated the trademark licensing agreement, and yet, the brand continues to be used without permission. This has damaged both its integrity and my original vision.

To be clear: any use of my trademarked name, brand elements, or reputation outside of this official site and my direct control is unauthorized.

This isn't just about business. It's about ethics in business, IP ownership, and the legal right to protect what you've built. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this. I'm taking steps (legal and otherwise) to reclaim what is mine, advance the mission, and I'll keep you updated as things unfold.

👉 Read the full Trademark & Legal Notice

🐞 Bug Zoo Inc. — 创始人寄语

自 1997 年以来，我一直致力于从零开始打造 Bug Zoo 品牌。2014 年，我将商标授权给一位商业合作伙伴，起初我们都相信彼此共享诚信、责任感，并共同致力于以最好的方式向公众展示昆虫学和蛛形纲动物学的奇妙世界。

遗憾的是，这份信任最终被严重辜负。

尽管在过去十多年里，该合作持续违反商标许可协议，我仍努力以专业的方式寻求解决方案。自 2025 年 2 月起，我已正式终止该商标许可协议，但该品牌仍在未经授权的情况下继续被使用。这已经对品牌的完整性和我最初的愿景造成了严重损害。

明确说明：在本网站及我直接控制范围之外，任何对我注册商标名称、品牌元素或声誉的使用，均为未经授权行为。

这不仅仅是商业问题，更关乎商业伦理、知识产权归属，以及保护自己成果的正当权利。感谢所有在这一过程中给予我支持的人。我正在通过法律及其他方式，努力收回我应有的权利，推动 Bug Zoo 的使命，并将持续更新事件进展。

🐛 🌿 认识创始人兼昆虫学家：Carol Maier

🌱 生物学家。教育者。探索者。

• Bug Zoo 概念的创始人 — 为家庭、儿童和自然爱好者提供沉浸式的昆虫体验
• 拥有超过 25 年昆虫学、博物馆学及无脊椎动物照护经验
• 曾任艾伯塔省养蜂场检查员，毕业于圭尔夫大学（主修昆虫学与养蜂学）
• 与加拿大食品检验局共同制定了加拿大外来昆虫进口监管框架
• 拥有国际农业、教育推广及栖息地保护背景
• 曾多次出现在各类媒体报道、学校活动及科普公众演讲中