More than 50 acres of twinkling lights, over 60 artisan-made light sculptures, breathtaking nighttime city views and the nearby sound of roaring African lions can only mean one thing in Colorado Springs: Electric Safari is back. This year, CMZoo is taking it to another level with the additions of light displays synchronized to music and giant illuminated animal inflatables that make a perfect backdrop for unique holiday photos with friends and family. Make plans now to see why Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Electric Safari was voted third best Zoo Lights in the nation by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2020 and 2019. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. MT at cmzoo.org/electric.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 31st annual month-long celebration of the season will begin Friday, Dec. 3 through Sunday, Dec. 5, and continues Friday, Dec. 10 through Saturday, Jan. 1. On Friday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, Electric Safari is closed, but the Zoo is open for daytime admission from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming our members and guests back to this Colorado Springs holiday tradition, and we can’t wait for everyone to see the brand-new musical light displays and larger-than-life illuminated inflatable animals,” said Amanda Ulrich, CMZoo special events manager. “Our amazing grounds and maintenance teams work for four months to light up the Zoo for our community. We’ve been working hard to prepare for Electric Safari and to continue improving the event. I can’t wait to see the joy on everyone’s faces as they bundle up and explore our magical winter wonderland!”

Electric Safari admission is free for CMZoo members. Advance timed e-tickets are required for members and non-members. As a way to thank CMZoo members, they and their accompanying paying guests are granted early admission from 4 to 5 p.m. General admission is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and the event ends at 8:30 p.m. Guests have a 30-minute entry window, beginning at the time they select when reserving tickets, and are then welcome to stay until the event ends. On Electric Safari dates, the Zoo closes for daytime admission at 3:30 p.m. to prepare for Electric Safari. All parking for Electric Safari will be on-site at the Zoo.


“One of my favorite parts of the event is seeing kids’ faces light up when they see Santa,” said Ulrich. “There’s usually a happy gasp followed by, ‘There’s Santa!’ when they first spot him. Santa has been attending this event for many years, and he loves to take time talking to our guests and posing for holiday photos.”

Kris Kringle will be in Safari Lodge through Dec. 23 to hear holiday wishes, collect lists and pose for free photos (just bring a camera!). The Mountaineer Sky Ride will be open (be in line for the Sky Ride by 7:30 p.m.; $3 per ticket; free for guests 2 and under; weather permitting) to provide incredible once-a-year views of the nighttime glow of Colorado Springs’ holiday lights as a backdrop from the mountainside of dancing and twinkling lights.

Electric Safari wouldn’t be complete without visits with CMZoo’s animals! Most animal exhibits are open, and guests can enjoy feeding the world famous 17-member giraffe herd in their warm barn for $3 per lettuce bundle, or $5 for two bundles. Guests can also walk through the lights and displays while visiting animals in Water’s Edge: Africa (where they can visit CMZoo’s 4-month-old hippo calf, Omo, and his mom, Zambezi, his aunt, Kasai, and his dad, Biko) the elephant and rhino barn, African lions, Rocky Mountain Wild (except grizzlies), Asian Highlands, Scutes Family Gallery, The Loft, and Australia Walkabout. Primate World is closed during nighttime events.

Grizzly Grill, Cozy Goat, Pizza with a View, Elson’s Place and the gift shop will be open to serve food and beverages. Outdoor heaters throughout the Zoo help keep visitors warm in between the indoor animal exhibits.

Electric Safari is sponsored by Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry, Raising Cane’s, your Colorado Springs Toyota dealers and US Bank. For more information and to reserve required advance e-tickets starting Nov. 2, visit: cmzoo.org/electric.

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CMZoo’s four Nile hippos, Zambezi, Omo, Biko and Kasai, have had a busy summer and fall! If you’ve been following our newsletter updates and social media channels, you know that our three-month-old hippo, Omo, and his mom, Zambezi, have been bonding well and exploring all of the hippo spaces in Water’s Edge: Africa, while Omo grows like a weed. Zambezi’s sister, Kasai, and Omo’s dad, Biko, have also been staying busy meeting other Water’s Edge: Africa residents, participating in training and enrichment, and exploring their hippo home’s various yards and pools. Get the latest on our hippos with Water’s Edge: Africa keeper, Al, in this quick video update.

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It’s been a year since our mountain lions moved in together, so join us for an update with Adira, Sitka and Koda! We’ll show you around their three yards and take a little hike up above their exhibit to get up-close with the three young lions. Rocky Mountain Wild Lead Keeper, Courtney, tells us how to identify each lion, why they came to live at the Zoo, and a little about their unique behaviors and preferences. Then, we’ll watch how they respond to their festive pumpkin enrichment.

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Colorado Springs has a robust community of homeschooling families, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has some new and exciting education opportunities for supplemental learning! Hands-On Homeschool offers unique curriculum and activities for seasoned homeschoolers, or those who are just getting started.

CMZoo’s monthly Hands-On Homeschool programs focus on Colorado Department of Education school science standards through inquiry-based, hands-on exploration, and investigation of wild animals and wild places. Programs include curriculum-based experiential learning that focuses on a nature- and/or animal-related topic.

This drop-off program is not only designed for students to connect with animals and the Zoo, but to each other as well. Adults are encouraged to explore the Zoo on their own, or take advantage of the 3-hour class to enjoy a little “me time.” Our Zoo staff will provide a safe, welcoming and educational environment for students of all ages to engage.

Every program is designed to be age appropriate and therefore splits into two different age groups: first through fifth graders and sixth through eighth graders. All programs include Zoo admission for the student, activities and up-close meet-and-greets with an animal ambassador.

The next theme for sixth- to eighth-grade students explores the wonderful features of some of the Zoo’s oddest and most unique species. From axolotls’ external gills to emus’ double feathers, students are sure to be captivated by their new knowledge. Stay tuned for the next theme for first to fifth graders!

Registration is required for all Hands-On Homeschool programs, and space is limited in these small-group programs. Visit cmzoo.org/homeschool to get more information or to register. If you are interested in customizing your very own Hands-On Homeschool program, please email edprograms@cmzoo.org.

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TRICK-OR-TREAT AND VISIT THE ANIMALS DURING SEVEN NIGHTS OF HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will feel the Halloween spirit when little ghouls and goblins attend Boo at the Zoo, starting Saturday, October 16, 2021. This Colorado Springs Halloween tradition is a fun way for families to trick-or-treat and enjoy Halloween festivities in a unique environment. Boo at the Zoo is Oct. 16-17, 23-24, and 29-31 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Advance timed e-tickets are required and available at cmzoo.org/boo.

In addition to visiting select animal exhibits and trick-or-treating, frightfully fun attractions include a lighted pumpkin patch, a kid-friendly spooky haunted house, Ghoulish Graveyard and Pirates Cove. Attendees can also enjoy rides on the Mountaineer Sky Ride, weather permitting. The Sky Ride provides breathtaking views of Colorado Springs at night and a lift to two additional trick-or-treat stations at the top.

An elephant-sized amount of candy (4.5 tons) will be handed out at trick-or-treat stations throughout Boo at the Zoo. The Zoo’s candy supply is purchased from companies that are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which is committed to the use of sustainable palm oil and the protection of orangutan habitats in the wild. To find your own Halloween candy that’s orangutan-friendly, download CMZoo’s sustainable palm oil shopping guide at cmzoo.org/palmoil.

The Zoo will close for daytime admission on Boo nights at 3 p.m. Boo at the Zoo will go on, rain, snow or shine. As an all-weather venue, refunds and exchanges will not be honored for weather-related reasons. Be sure to bundle up on cold nights and enjoy a Colorado evening on the mountain!

SELECT ANIMAL EXHIBITS ARE OPEN, INCLUDING:
– African Rift Valley giraffe building
– African lions
– Australia Walkabout Budgie Buddies and wallaby building
– Encounter Africa elephant/rhino barn
– Goat Experience
– The Treehouse in My Big Backyard
– The Loft
– Scutes Family Gallery
– Water’s Edge: Africa

RESTAURANTS OPEN DURING BOO AT THE ZOO
– Grizzly Grill
– Pizza with a View
– Elson’s Place
– Cozy Goat (beverages only)

COSTUME REQUIREMENTS
For the safety of all guests, full-face costume masks and costume weapons may not be worn by guests 12 years of age or older. Masks worn by guests 11 years of age and younger must have openings that allow the eyes to be seen and that do not obstruct peripheral vision. Balloons are not allowed inside the Zoo (even as part of a costume) for the safety of our animals and wild animals.

TRICK-OR-TREAT BAGS
Support the Zoo’s efforts to reduce waste by bringing your own trick-or-treat bags!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are crucial to the success and safety of Boo at the Zoo. Positions include handing out or delivering candy, directing traffic and staffing the haunted house. All volunteers must be at least 13 years old. Volunteers ages 13-17 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or school advisor at all times. We will not assign specific positions until the evening of the event. Curious about volunteering for Boo at the Zoo? Visit cmzoo.org/boo.

FAST FACTS
Boo at the Zoo at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Dates: Oct. 16-17, 23-24, 29-31, 2021
4 to 8:30 p.m.
Advance timed e-tickets are required
www.cmzoo.org/boo

Boo at the Zoo is possible thanks to our generous partners, Black Bear Diner, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry, Earl & Earl Attorneys at Law, GFL Environmental, Les Schwab Tire Centers, and your Colorado Springs Toyota dealers, Larry H. Miller Toyota Colorado Springs and Larry H. Miller Liberty Toyota Colorado Springs.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2021, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #3 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 241 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of very few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

Join us for an update on one-year-old Alaska moose, Atka! Fall is a busy time for a moose, because they finish growing their antlers and enter ‘rut,’ which is breeding season in the wild. At the Zoo, we mimic the wild environment by giving Atka lots of items to spar with. Male moose, like Atka, would spar with other males for territory or female attention in the wild. Once breeding season is over, wild moose tend to go their separate ways, so Atka doesn’t share his space with other moose at the Zoo.

If you’ve missed our #AtkaAntlerUpdates this year, you might be wondering why he’s sporting a one-sided look this year. In June, young Atka knocked one of his antlers off, so his 2021 antlers are quite unique looking. In the next few months, Atka will shed his first set of antlers. Next spring, he’ll start growing a new set, and that cycle will continue throughout his life. Learn more at Atka and see his antler updates on his playlist, here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUd9bK-IbrIPyGTBSj3cxYeR6r-kz57I1.

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September was a big month for our quickly growing Nile hippo calf. He got a name, explored new spaces and tried new foods. One thing didn’t change for young Omo, though: his love for naps.

Join Water’s Edge: Africa keeper, Grace, for an update on our two-month-old calf, and hear about how Omo’s following in mom’s footsteps literally and figuratively. Zambezi is a confident hippo, and her little boy is showing signs he’ll be just the same!

Check out Omo’s complete video playlist, here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUd9bK-IbrIMxpwuRlrLaZfU4fFwB9cPG.

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If you have visited Cheyenne Mountain Zoo during the summer, you have probably seen teenagers in light blue t-shirts, contributing to the success of almost every area of the Zoo. These teens play an active role in engaging with guests, caring for animals, and gaining life skills like public speaking and professionalism. Summer might be the busiest time for teens to participate in these experiences, but there are other opportunities during the traditional school year, as well.

The CMZoo Teen Program also offers a winter session from Nov. 12, 2021 to Feb. 12, 2022. Applications for this four-month session will be accepted at cmzoo.org/teenprograms from Saturday, Oct. 16 through Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. Teens ages 12 to 18 gain experience with animal care, conservation, leadership and interpretation, and they connect with nature through interactive experiential education sessions on the Zoo’s Nature Trail. They’ll also see behind-the-scenes areas of the Zoo and learn alongside CMZoo’s team of animal keepers. Space is limited for this session, and applications are required.

For teens who would like to experience CMZoo’s Teen Programs without a long-term commitment, Community Programs are a great place to start. Community Programs are one-time sessions including offerings like Wilderness Survival Skills, Raptor Workshops (learning all about birds of prey and how to spot them in the wild), evening Zoo tours and Starlight Safaris, and Animal Photography. Each program is designed for teens to connect with the Zoo and nature, while bonding with each other with experiences that are truly unique. Learn more about each program and sign up at cmzoo.org/teenprograms.

Stay tuned to cmzoo.org/teenprograms, because there are always new and developing programs being launched for the 12-to-18-year-old age group. Whether it’s workshops on conservation and life skills, or internship opportunities for high schoolers, the website is the best place to find it all.

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Generous donors have contributed $12 million to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s next capital campaign, which seeks to support a variety of Zoo improvements.

“We’re excited to announce our next capital campaign, called ‘ELEVATE,’” said Kelley Parker, director of development at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “Unlike previous capital campaigns, which typically focus on improvements for one exhibit or zone of the Zoo, this campaign seeks to further elevate our animal care standards and guests’ experiences throughout the Zoo.”

ELEVATE’s fundraising goal is $13.5 million. Thanks to private donations, the Zoo is just $1.5 million shy of that goal. Now, the Zoo is inviting the public to contribute.

CMZoo is a nonprofit organization and one of very few zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in the country that does not receive tax support. The support of the Colorado Springs community is vital to the Zoo’s continued ability to upgrade facilities.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been consistently named one of the top 10 zoos in North America by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and TripAdvisor. The Zoo is known for its top-notch animal care, incredible up-close animal experiences, leading conservation practices, educational programs, and natural setting on the side of Cheyenne Mountain. As CMZoo approaches its 100th year, in 2026, ELEVATE’s ambitious goals will solidify a foundation for the next 100 years.

“Thanks to our dedicated private donors, we are very close to meeting our fundraising goal,” said Parker. “And we know we can meet that goal with the help of our community. A donation to ELEVATE means you’re contributing to the next hundred years of elevated animal care, conservation and guest experiences at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.”

ELEVATE aims to support a variety of Zoo focuses:

  • Advance animal care by improving existing animal exhibits, including plans to update African Rift Valley, which opened in 2003. ELEVATE will raise funds to design new homes for Western lowland gorillas, orangutans and more, but does not include construction fundraising. The next animal-centric capital campaign, after ELEVATE, will focus on construction costs to replace existing homes for our great apes.
  • Improve animals’ fresh food security by growing the majority of needed lettuce and other high-demand produce at the Zoo. CMZoo’s horticulture team is already testing an on-site hydroponic lettuce grow pod, made from a recycled shipping container, and will add more after successful testing. This plan also includes building a larger and more easily accessed hay barn.
  • Expand the entry plaza with an updated look and feel. Guests and members will enjoy more space and beautiful mountain rustic aesthetics as they start their Zoo day.
  • De-emphasize the main road’s impact on guest experiences by rerouting traffic. ELEVATE will raise funds for a more peaceful meander from the Zoo’s entrance up to Australia Walkabout. Cars visiting Shrine Road or Broadmoor Cloud Camp, above the Zoo, would enter the Zoo behind Water’s Edge: Africa, and cross pedestrian paths only briefly, instead of continuously sharing the main road with foot traffic. This will also create space for new future animal habitats.

To learn more about the ELEVATE capital campaign and to make a contribution, please visit cmzoo.org/elevate.


It’s easy to see why the black-footed ferret (BFF) is considered the ambassador of the prairie ecosystem. With its black-and-white bandit-esque markings, small stature and curious demeanor, many consider this species adorable. That’s true; but they’re also highly trained hunters with a big job: restoring balance in their ecosystem while helping their own species recover from near extinction. Luckily, the ‘Ghosts of the Prairie’ have some help.

During the western frontier exploration in the early 1900s, cargo ships from Europe and Asia inadvertently brought sylvatic plague to North America. The spread of this disease, combined with poisoning and eradication programs led by newly settled farmers and ranchers, who saw prairie dogs as pests, drastically reduced the prairie dog population. Because prairie dogs are black-footed ferrets’ main food source, the BFFs’ population declined dramatically. By the 1980s, black-footed ferrets were thought to be extinct.

Sept. 26, 2021, marked the 40-year anniversary of the rediscovery of this spunky species. On that day in 1981, a ranch dog named Shep caught a black-footed ferret. Shep’s catch led to the discovery of a small population of BFFs in Meeteetse, Wyoming. Since then, zoos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and other organizations have banded together to breed, prepare, release and monitor black-footed ferrets to increase the population. Numbers fluctuate, but recent reports estimate 350 BFFs are thriving in the wild, thanks to this program.

This year, the CMZoo conservation team welcomed 15 healthy BFF kits, six of which will be released into the wild in the coming months. Since 1991, when CMZoo established its breed-and-release black-footed ferret program, the team has bred 585 BFF kits.

“It’s really amazing to be part of a conservation program that impacts a native local species,” said Jeff Baughman, CMZoo conservation coordinator. “Each breeding season, we learn more about their species and use what we’ve learned to benefit them in the wild. This year, we focused on developing their hunting and defense skills by providing new enrichment and feeding opportunities.”

Since the BFFs are intentionally kept away from guests and the keepers who care for them to preserve their wild instincts, their enrichment looks different than most animals at CMZoo.

“We built new tunnel systems for them to navigate, which we hope will better prepare them for their underground lives in the wild,” said Baughman. “They’re nocturnal and spend most of their time hunting prairie dogs, which are about three times the size of black-footed ferrets. We want them to be agile, curious, confident and creative individuals as they explore prairie dog tunnels in the wild.”

BFF ‘boot camp’ is the next step for the six born-to-be-wild CMZoo ferrets. Boot camp puts their survival skills to the test in a contained prairie setting. Biologists monitor the BFFs during boot camp, and if they see any individuals are struggling to hunt, find shelter, or defend themselves, they’ll be returned to human care. Those who prove they can live wild will be released into the prairie beyond the contained boot camp setting.

Although guests can’t visit our breeding BFFs or their kits, they can visit Yippee, a black-footed ferret ambassador who lives in The Loft at CMZoo.

Every visit to CMZoo is conservation in action. Through CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program, by which 75¢ of every admission is dedicated to frontline conservation efforts like this, guests can enjoy a day on the mountain with their favorite animals and support important programs dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places. Since 2008, when Q4C started, CMZoo’s guests and members have contributed $3.4 million to conservation projects worldwide.

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