Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Author at CMZoo

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD NAMED #3 BEST ZOO EXHIBIT IN NORTH AMERICA – For the fifth consecutive year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been voted one of the top ten zoos in North America in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This time, America’s mountain Zoo was recognized in two categories: #4 Best Zoo in North America and #3 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America, for its Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo aims to set itself apart by making every guest experience inspiring. With its simply stated vision, “Every Kid. Every Time. Goosebumps.” at its cultural core, CMZoo creates environments and experiences that bring people closer to animals. Exhibits are designed to remove as many physical barriers as safely possible between guests and animals. Guests can experience this for themselves by hand feeding the giraffe herd – one of the largest herds in North America, with 17 giraffe – or by waddling alongside penguins or getting eye-to-eye with a hippo at CMZoo’s newest exhibit, Water’s Edge: Africa. CMZoo’s goal is to foster connections that inspire guests to take action to protect animals and their habitats in the wild.

Rocky Mountain Wild, an area of the Zoo that is home to animals from the Zoo’s native region, was named #3 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America. Rocky Mountain Wild opened in the summer of 2008, appropriately hugging the highest elevations of CMZoo’s developed mountainside acreage. The area is home to a pack of endangered Mexican wolves, four Canada lynx, an Alaska moose, two North American porcupines, a bald eagle, two grizzly bears, three mountain lions, two river otters, free-roaming turkeys and a flock of wood ducks. Rocky Mountain Wild is known for its expansive natural exhibits, exquisite views, and enthusiastic and passionate team of animal keepers.

This is the third time Rocky Mountain Wild has been nominated in the Best Zoo Exhibit category, and the fifth time Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been nominated in the Best Zoo category. A panel of travel experts, recruited by USA TODAY editors, nominated 20 North American Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos and exhibits, and supporters had four weeks to cast their votes once per day for the nominees of their choice.

The 2021 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Top Ten Best Zoos in North America, in ranking order, are:

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden – Cincinnati
Fort Worth Zoo – Fort Worth
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium – Omaha, Neb.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Colorado Springs
Nashville Zoo – Nashville Zoo
Brevard Zoo – Melbourne, Fla.
Audubon Zoo – New Orleans
Saint Louis Zoo – Saint Louis
Dallas Zoo – Dallas
Denver Zoo – Denver

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 233 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.

Get up-close with the Zoo’s newest addition, a one-month-old ring-tailed lemur, born Monday, April 26, to first-time mom, Rogue.

The first baby born in our new exhibit, Water’s Edge: Africa, is surpassing milestones and stealing our hearts with ease. Join Philip, lead keeper in Water’s Edge, on lemur island to learn how Rogue is embracing motherhood, how the little one is showing signs of strength, and how Hercules and Allagash – the baby’s father and aunt – are warming up to their tiny new relative.

Because baby and mom are bonding so well, we haven’t thoroughly checked the baby, so we haven’t confirmed its sex. We don’t have naming plans to share, yet, but we’ll keep you posted.

You can visit the baby, Rogue, Allagash and Hercules in Water’s Edge: Africa. Baby is still clinging to Rogue most of the time, so it can be hard to see in-person. Philip says one of the best times to spot the baby is when the lemurs are sunning on the trees outside each morning. The baby is often snuggled on Rogue’s chest while she stretches out in the warm sunshine.

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Wolf Woods is arguably the wildest place at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Seven Mexican wolves, led by 13-year-old matriarch, Luna, roam the expansive yard which was designed to preserve our wolves’ wild instincts as much as possible. As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP), they or their offspring could one day be released into the wild to support those populations.

Their exhibit, full of trees, boulders, tall grasses and mountainside terrain, mimics the wolves’ natural habitat, but can sometimes make the elusive species harder to spot.

Usually, it’s brave and curious Luna who leads her pack into view. With her snout to the ground, she trots toward the front of the exhibit with a confidence most wolves don’t possess. The white fur on her face reveals her advancing age, but her intense approach reminds us that she’s a mother on a mission.

“Most guests know we try to keep this part of the Zoo a little quieter, out of respect for the wolves and their species’ survival,” said Kristen Cox, senior animal keeper in Rocky Mountain Wild. “But sometimes we’ll hear excited gasps coming from the viewing area, and we know our Luna just earned another admirer for her species.”

Chances are, if you have seen a wolf at CMZoo in the last five years, it was Luna. She’s by far the bravest wolf in the pack, which gives our guests the opportunity to observe this majestic species and form connections we hope will inspire them to advocate for wild Mexican wolves.

In addition to helping people fall in love with and learn about wolves by making those connections, Luna and her mate, Navarro, have contributed six healthy pups to the Mexican Wolf SSP. Phoenix, Shadow, Bluestem, Hope and Lupa were born in 2018 and Uno was born in 2019. For many years, the Zoo housed a bachelor pack of wolves. Later, the SSP placed various unsuccessful breeding pairs here. Until Luna and Navarro’s first litter, in 2018, it had been 20 years since wolf pups were born at CMZoo.

“She immediately took care of her pups, and knew just what to do,” said Rebecca Zwicker, Rocky Mountain Wild animal care manager. “All of a sudden, she had all of these babies and she was totally comfortable every step of the way.”

Even with five yearling pups and a brand-new pup, when Uno was born in 2019, utterly capable Luna adapted her methods to meet her growing family’s needs.

“To be honest, she does everything,” said Cox. “She’s the mom! When the pups were young, she would bring their meat to them. When Uno was born, she taught her daughters, Hope, Bluestem, and Shadow, how to be nurturing mothers.”

The girls were very curious about Uno. When Uno was a few weeks old, she let them into the den and they would submissively observe her. They also went into the den when Luna went into labor with Uno, and she allowed them to see what was happening. Those experiences will help prepare the daughters as they mature and possibly become mothers one day.

“The ‘alpha,’ ‘beta,’ and ‘omega’ theory on roles in a wolf pack is an outdated perception of wolves’ family dynamics,” said Cox. “They’re more like a family unit, and Luna’s role is caretaker, hunter, protector and leader. As she ages, we’re seeing that dynamic shift a bit.”

Luna has surpassed the median life expectancy of Mexican wolves by two years. Now that she’s older and her offspring are maturing, she’s taking a step back.

“At this point, Luna is still holding court, but she does get tested a bit more often,” said Zwicker. “That’s natural for our wolf pack. Luna is clearly holding her own. She’s still the mama, but she’s letting them grow up, too.”

The pups still look to Luna for leadership. They will even call her to inspect something that makes them unsure. Recently, one of the older pups was seen growling at something above the wolf exhibit. After some tail wagging, barking and stomping at the unidentified object, the pup ran to get Luna, who positioned herself in front of the pack to confront the perceived threat (which was never identified).

“Luna has taught me to be brave,” said Cox. “She’s always been this mature, well-rounded wolf from the moment she arrived. Because of Luna, I really admire the concept of motherhood. Family is everything to her.”

Recently, Luna’s keepers noticed some stiffness in her hind legs during her daily patrols around the yard. Because the wolves are intentionally kept as wild as possible, they don’t participate in husbandry training that would allow them to participate in their health care – like most animals at CMZoo.

“Because she’s the dominant wolf in the pack and is always the first to eat, we could provide medication in a separate meatball for her, to help her deal with that stiffness if it progresses,” said Zwicker. “We’re keeping a close eye on her and for now, she’s looking good, but we’re realistic about her age.”

Her keepers say she’s running around the yard like a 5-year-old on most days. But, they know the day Luna’s story becomes a memory continues to grow closer.

“We’ll make the most compassionate decision for Luna when that time comes,” said Cox. “Until then, I’m sure she’s going to continue to inspire me – and many others – to do more for her species. She raised healthy pups that could help save their endangered species. But, maybe more importantly, she’s helped people fall in love with wolves. She’s the most outgoing wolf I’ve ever met. Her contributions as an ambassador for her wild counterparts is huge.”

Only about 186 Mexican wolves live in the wild, and only about 300 live in assurance populations in human care. The number of wild individuals has increased, thanks in part to contributions made by SSP partners, by 14 percent in 2020 – its fifth consecutive year of wild population growth.

Until the 1900s, the Mexican wolf thrived throughout central Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. But by the 1950s, the species was virtually eradicated, with the last known wild wolf in the U.S. shot in 1970. When the Endangered Species Act went into effect in 1973, it led to the Mexican wolf being declared an endangered subspecies.

The population of Mexican wolves in human care at AZA-accredited zoos is an important part of the plan to repopulate the species in the wild. The Mexican Wolf Recovery Program is run by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, with cooperation from the AZA Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been a participant in the program since 1994.

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Spring has sprung, which means our koi pond in My Big Backyard has thawed and our three koi fish are waking up. Soon, we will install their enrichment tank, which “floats” above their pond. They swim up into the tank to see you at eye level and show off their beautiful scales!

Did you know that our koi actually stay in their pond all year round? In the winter, the top several inches of their pond freezes, but the deeper water does not. During this time, the koi go into a sort of hibernation, where they don’t eat or move much. When the water thaws and the temperatures start to rise, they start to perk up and look for food. We give them a very bland and minimal diet at first (usually a few plain cheerios) to help restart their digestive systems. After a few weeks, they are ready for their higher-calorie and protein diet!

Our three koi all have names and are easy to tell apart. Princess Peach is the largest and is mostly white with peach and black spots. It is difficult to identify the sex of the koi, so it’s possible that Princess Peach is actually a prince. Luigi is second-largest and is all silver in color. Mario is the smallest and is mostly orange with black spots. Though we do not have exact ages of the koi, we do know that Mario is at least 20 years old and the other two have been at the Zoo for 11 years.

Like nearly every animal in the Zoo, our koi participate in various training opportunities. My Big Backyard keepers have worked with them to target train, which means they know to swim to a “target stick” (a wooden pole with a ball on the end of it) for positive reinforcement. Princess Peach seems to be the most curious of the group and tends to participate more frequently than the other two. Luigi is the most cautious and prefers to observe training from afar. Our keepers do not touch the koi, as they have a protective layer of mucus all over their scales to help keep them healthy. So when you come to visit the koi, be sure to look, but please don’t touch.

The koi, like all of our other animals, also enjoy enrichment provided by their keepers. Each spring, a large fish tank is placed in their pond upside down. We then suck the air out the tank so that it fills with water. The koi get more swimming space and the opportunity to swim above their normal pond level, and it allows guests to really see their size, color, and very funny fish faces! Be sure to stop by My Big Backyard on your next Zoo visit to see Princess Peach, Luigi and Mario.

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Learn all about Ohe, Viv, BB and Panya, our four giraffe under four years old!

Their primary trainers detail their personalities, roles in the herd, training progress, and relationships as the herd’s youngsters. You’ll also get to see behind-the-scenes training footage of each giraffe and its trainer, as well as a mini-zoomie session in the main yard.

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Come behind the scenes to see how our one-month-old Red River hoglet is doing! It (we haven’t identified the baby’s sex yet) is growing and bonding well with first-time mom, Zena. African Rift Valley Keeper, Brooke, is here to give you an update on this very energetic little hog, and to answer the big questions:

Is it a boy or a girl?
— We don’t know yet. The baby is doing so well, we haven’t had a need to interrupt its bonding time with mom.
What’s it’s name?
— We don’t have concrete naming plans yet, but we’ll keep you posted.
When can we see it?
— We’re working on introducing the baby, Zena and Huey. We’ll definitely let you know as soon as you can visit this cutie at #CMZoo.

Learn more about how this young one is warming up to its keepers, zooming around and testing new foods. Guests can see dad, Huey, in the Red River hog yard near the giraffe barn, which he shares on rotation with Ari, our 19-year-old female Red River hog.

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SPRING HAS SPRUNG WITH THE ARRIVAL OF A RING-TAILED LEMUR BABY AND A RED RIVER HOGLET – Two first-time animal moms at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo welcomed their babies just in time for Mother’s Day this year! Rogue, a ring-tailed lemur, gave birth on Monday, April 26, and Zena, a Red River hog, welcomed her little piglet on Saturday, April 24. Both moms and babies seem to be bonding and doing well.

Rogue, an 8-year-old ring-tailed lemur, is the proud mom of a fluffy 4-day-old baby, with the same markings as adult lemurs – complete with mini tufted ears and a long black-and-white striped tail. The baby’s sex has not been identified, and likely won’t be for several months. Because mom and baby are doing so well, keepers won’t intervene unless necessary.

The baby is showing signs it’s strong. Keepers say the baby even chooses to cuddle upside-down sometimes, with a firm grip on mom’s chest and stomach, as she moves around. Although lemur fathers don’t typically play an active role in raising their young, 3-year-old dad, Hercules, is curious about his baby. Keepers say Hercules has approached Rogue and the baby, and mom lets dad sniff the baby while she keeps it safe in her arms.

This is the first lemur born at CMZoo in 15 years, and the first baby of any kind born at Water’s Edge: Africa – CMZoo’s new exhibit for hippos, penguins, warthogs, pelicans, lemurs and more. Guests may catch glimpses of the baby on Lemur Island, located in the center of the indoor hippo pool, right away.

“We knew Rogue was expecting, and we are excited to welcome our first Water’s Edge baby to the world,” said Philip Waugh, lead Water’s Edge: Africa keeper. “When we came to work Monday morning, we could see Rogue carrying this tiny little baby around so delicately and being really attentive. It’s been exciting watching the baby, but it’s been even more special watching Rogue embrace this role so naturally. It’s amazing how she just knows what to do.”

Seven-year-old Zena’s keepers say she’s adapting to motherhood well, too. The Red River hog is also a first-time mom who seems to know exactly what to do, even though her 6-day-old youngster looks a lot different than she does. The baby’s sex has not been identified and likely won’t be for another few weeks.

“This is the cutest baby you’ve ever seen in your life,” said Brooke Powell, African Rift Valley keeper and Zena’s primary trainer. “It’s about the size of Zena’s snout, and it’s a beautiful orange-red color with white stripes and spots on its body. It’s so small, but it can move! It’s been super active, running and bouncing around. We love it.”

Zena came to CMZoo on a breeding recommendation with Huey. Thirteen-year-old Huey has been a great father in the past, when he welcomed one offspring in 2015 and three hoglets to CMZoo with his mate, Ari, in 2013. Red River hog fathers, unlike many species, are active in raising their young. For now, while Zena is protective of her little one, they’re giving mom and baby time to bond alone, and will plan to introduce Huey later.

“Zena is an awesome mom” said Powell. “She’s really protective, which is great, and she lets her keepers look at the baby. She makes sure baby is following her wherever she goes, too. They’re really snuggly with each other, and Zena is certainly making sure that little piggy gets plenty to eat.”

Guests won’t see the young Red River hog for at least a few weeks, while Zena and the baby bond together and stay nice and warm indoors. They will start to venture out when Colorado’s weather is a little more predictable.

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 2020, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #4 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 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 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

CMZoo’s EdVenture department recently welcomed Hootenanny, a 6-year-old female screech owl, to the team. Get to know “Hoot” and learn about her species, which is found in Colorado’s wild places. She may be small, but she is a skilled hunter and a fast study. Learn about her incredible adaptations and watch her flight training with her primary trainer, Lauren.

Hootenanny participates in our outreach programs, like animal meet-and-greets and ZOOMobile. Learn more about our custom animal experiences/.

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Spring is here! As many Coloradoans start exploring our beautiful wild places, it’s important to help our curious native black bears stay safe, by helping them avoid human-wildlife conflicts.

Although grizzly bears aren’t found in the wild in Colorado, our CMZoo grizzlies are here to help you learn how to keep our native black bears safe. Rocky Mountain Wild keeper, Kelsey, provides campsite safety tips while Emmett and Digger explore a campsite full of examples of how NOT to camp – and prove why Kelsey’s advice is important to follow.

Help do your part to keep curious wild bears safe by practicing these campsite safety tips:

Keep campsite food smells to a minimum.
Use bear-safe food storage and toiletries containers.
Don’t store food or toiletries in your tent with you.
Keep a clean campsite. When you leave your campsite to explore, make sure you’re not tempting a curious bear with food, trash or other interesting smells.

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We hear it all the time from members and guests in African Rift Valley: “I needed some giraffe therapy!”

Just being around the giraffe (or whichever species you connect with) can lighten a mood, slow a racing mind, ground us to nature, and provide a quiet moment for a deep breath — which the daily grind of life can sometimes make difficult to muster.

“We started Silent Night in 2019 and ran it as a smaller ‘test’ event to see how our community responded,” said Amanda Ulrich, special events manager at CMZoo. “The events started with low attendance, but after the year we all endured in 2020, we saw how much our guests and members valued the Zoo as a natural setting where they could get away from it all. Because Silent Night is a no-noise, evening Zoo event that guests can enjoy at their own pace, our attendees can really slow down and reconnect in a mindful environment.”

CMZoo will host Silent Night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays May 5, June 2, July 7 and Aug. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 11. Timed, advance e-tickets are required for all guests and members, and all ages are welcome. But, please consider whether attendees will appreciate and respect the quiet ambiance of the event, so all can enjoy its purpose.

“It’s a unique way to schedule yourself some time to unwind and stop to appreciate our beautiful natural setting, soothing soundscapes and the animals who live here,” said Ulrich. “It may be a first for some attendees, but we ask everyone to silence their phones and their voices throughout the event. You won’t hear any loud speaker announcements or carousel sounds. We even limit our dining menu so we’re not using loud culinary equipment to prepare food.”

There are sound-friendly zones in Safari Lodge, Lodge at Moose Lake and Safari Cabin for those who need to take a phone call or have a conversation while they’re at the event. Giraffe feeding and Budgie feeding experiences are available at Silent Night. Grizzly Grill will be open during the event with a limited menu.

Visit cmzoo.org/silentnight to secure required advance e-tickets and to read more about the event.

In addition to finding peace and quiet at Silent Night, the Zoo’s mountainside setting allows our guests to enjoy a little exercise as they explore. Our partner, Children’s Hospital Colorado says that exercise benefits children, just like adults. Children who get even 20 minutes of moderate physical activity in their day show increased attention, comprehension and learning ability over children who don’t — meaning exercise can even help kids in school.

If a walk through the Zoo sounds therapeutic, how about a walk or run through the Zoo, up above it to Shrine Road and back down? Once a year, during Run to the Shrine, participants can travel by foot on gorgeous Shrine Road. Ascending 1,000 feet above the Zoo, which sits at 6,714 feet above sea level, Run to the Shrine participants enjoy a peaceful journey on a paved road through the forest above the Zoo, with breathtaking views of Colorado Springs from Cheyenne Mountain.

“Run to the Shrine has become a Springs tradition for good reason,” said Ulrich. “It’s one of my favorite events to plan because we get to welcome people from all walks of life and abilities to enjoy a really special part of the Zoo – and the city – that you don’t always get to experience. Plus, when you finish the course, you get a real sense of accomplishment and community with the other participants.”

After completing the 4-mile course, participants can cool down by enjoying the rest of the Zoo until the event ends at 8 p.m. Advance registration is required to participate in Run to the Shrine, from 3:20 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16. There are still a handful of registrations available for Run to the Shrine on Sunday, May 16. All registrations are sold out on the original date of Saturday, May 15.

Register now and get more details at cmzoo.org/run. Thanks to our Run to the Shrine partner s, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Cordera, for helping us keep the Zoo ‘running’! As a nonprofit that doesn’t receive any tax support, CMZoo depends on attendance at these events to provide excellent animal care and support Zoo improvements and operations.

Children’s Hospital Colorado Earth Day Mindfulness Webinar (Pre-Recorded April 22, 2021)

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