ZooMontana

ZooMontana


45°43′53″N 108°37′21″W / 45.7315°N 108.6226°W / 45.7315; -108.6226
Date opened	1992^[1]
Location	Billings, Montana, United States
Land area	70 acres (28 ha)^[2]
No. of animals	100
No. of species	58
Annual visitors	160,000^[3]
Major exhibits	Asia Region, Botanical Gardens, Discovery Center, Living Wall, North America Region, Yellowstone Arboretum
Director	Jeff Ewelt^[3]
Website	www.zoomontana.org

ZooMontana is a 70-acre (28 ha) zoo located in Billings, Montana, U.S. and is Montana's only zoo and botanical park. The zoo currently maintains nearly 100 animals, representing 58 species.^[4] These animals all live in habitats designed to imitate their natural habitats. The zoo was incorporated and established as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 1992. It focuses on year-round wildlife native to Montana, the Rocky Mountains, and other cold temperature regions at or above the 45th parallel. Indoor habitats include animals from around the world.^[4] The zoo hosts over 160,000 visitors per year.^[3]

Canyon Creek runs through the center of the zoo's grounds, creating a natural and tranquil park-like setting. 2018 marked the establishment of the Yellowstone Arboretum located on the ZooMontana grounds, containing a large selection of native and non-native trees.

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Animal exhibits

ZooMontana is divided into two main "regions" in addition to other exhibits. The Asia Region starts by the wolves and is a paved path through a cottonwood forest. The path splits at one point and one half becomes a nature trail. The other path splits again, one going towards the Siberian tiger, and the other going to the red panda.

The North America Region includes habitats for wolf, grizzly bear, river otter, beaver, bald eagle, and bighorn sheep.

Several animals can be found indoors amongst the Living Wall habitats within the zoo's Discovery Center. These exhibits include animals from South America, Africa, and other parts of the world. These Living Wall Habitats include iguana, mink, chinchilla, western screech-owl, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, tiger salamander, ball python, box turtle, rubber boa, aracari, common degus, Columbian red tailed boa constrictor, savannah monitor, and several other snakes, lizards, turtles, amphibians, and arthropods.

The Barn is home to mostly domesticated animals, including Belgian draft horses, pygmy goats, peafowl, rabbits, and goats. During the warmer months, the turkey vulture may be found here as well.

Zoo guests also may visit the ponds and feed the koi for a small fee.

Beginning in 2016, the zoo opened new exhibits featuring takin, wolverines, American bison, and raptors.

Botanical gardens

The 1-acre (0.40 ha) Sensory Garden is planted with both native and exotic plants intended to stimulate all of your senses. It is a very popular site for weddings. The zoo also includes a Montana garden with native plants, and Dottie's Garden, which is home to plants that use very little water.^[5]

ZooSchool Preschool

ZooMontana is home to ZooSchool Preschool, an independent preschool which holds classes within the zoo.^[6]

Science and Conservation Center

The Science and Conservation Center is an independent non-profit organization that is headquartered at the zoo. The center produces and distributes a wildlife contraceptive vaccine, and maintains records and data required by the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency. Working with the Contraception Advisory Group of the AZA at the Saint Louis Zoo, the center coordinates, and in some cases carries out, application of the contraceptive to wildlife.^[7]

History

In March 2014, ZooMontana experienced flooding, and more than 3 feet (0.91 m) of water covered some of the zoo’s paths.^[8]

References

^ "Billings 125 years: 1982-2007: Decades of growth". billingsgazette.com. The Billings Gazette. 30 June 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
^ "Zoo Montana, Billings". goodzoos.com. Good Zoos. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c Jones Backer, Katie. "A Passion for Animals: An Interview with ZooMontana's Jeff Ewelt". Simply Local Magazine.
^ ^a ^b "Exhibits". zoomontana.org. ZooMontana. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
^ "ZooMontana and Botanical Gardens". visitmt.com. Montana Office of Tourism. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
^ "ZooSchool Preschool". zoomontana.org. ZooMontana. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
^ "The Science and Conservation Center". sccpzp.org. The Science and Conservation Center. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
^ Cioffi, Chris (2014-03-09). "ZooMontana closes due to rising water; evacuations in place in Musselshell County". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2014-03-15.