Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Author at CMZoo

Timed Entry Required; Additional Tickets Released Wednesday – Our breathtaking mountainside 4-mile route through the Zoo to Shrine of the Sun and back has become an annual Cheyenne Mountain Zoo tradition, and it is the only day of the year that guests are allowed to travel up to the Shrine of the Sun by foot! Run to the Shrine is an important fundraiser for the Zoo – and even more important this year, after we lost approximately three months’ worth of busy spring gate revenue.

To preserve this event while making it as safe as possible during the pandemic, this year’s Run to the Shrine will be an evening event, from 3:20 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, August 30, 2020. Please read below for important changes (that require registrants’ action) to Run to the Shrine 2020.

Ticketing and Check-In Information:

Run to the Shrine registrants must reserve their entrance time online in advance. Please check your email for the link to select your entrance time. A limited number of run/walk e-tickets is available to enter during each time period, in order to ensure proper distancing and comply with state and county guidelines. If your first choice is full, please choose another ticket time.
Check-in is at the front gate from 3:20 to 5 p.m. Advance registration tickets are required for all run/walk participants and guests, including children 2 & under.
Please be in line to enter the Zoo within 20 minutes after your ticketed time. Early arrivals or arrivals later than 20 minutes past your ticketed entry time may not be accommodated. If you arrive early for your time slot, please wait in your car until your entry time begins. Arriving during your designated arrival time will help us manage traffic flow into our parking lot and through the admission gates.
Capacity for Run to the Shrine has been limited to current registrants only, for the safety of runners, walkers and their families. Additional spots from cancellations will be released on Wednesday, August 19 at 10 a.m. at cmzoo.org/run.
Family and spectator tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets can be reserved via the links provided in the email we sent to registered runners. Family and spectator tickets do not include access to Shrine Road or any of the benefits of Run to the Shrine registration. These tickets are for CMZoo access during the event only.
Once you enter the Zoo, you are welcome to stay until the event ends at 8 p.m. Shrine Road access will end at 7:30 p.m.

Changes to the Event:

Run to the Shrine 2020 will not be a timed run/walk. Runners and walkers will have access to start the ascent up Shrine Road from the time they arrive until 6:30 p.m. Participants have the option to enjoy Shrine Road and visit the rest of the Zoo (including animals!) at your own pace. Visit Shrine Road, animal exhibits and food outlets at your leisure. Shrine Road will close to pedestrians at 7:30 p.m., so be sure to finish your round trip to the Shrine gate before then.
This year’s Run to the Shrine will only include access to Shrine Road up to the Shrine’s parking lot gate. Due to logistics, the Shrine grounds and buildings will be closed during the event.
Your commemorative performance T-shirt, featuring this year’s wolf mascot, and commemorative runner bib will be available for pick up in Lodge at Moose Lake. Donation gifts will also be available in Lodge at Moose Lake, for those who have raised $100 or more.
Bring your own hydration. Water stations will be limited, for the safety of runners and walkers.
Post-race activities, the awards ceremony and vendor expo are cancelled.

Other Important Information:

– Zoo guests are required to wear masks inside all Zoo buildings, due to the mandate by the state of Colorado. We also strongly encourage wearing a mask when within 6 feet of other groups in outdoor areas. Our staff is wearing masks, and so should you.

– Jogging strollers are welcome as long as they have the proper safety equipment (tethers and hand brakes required).

– Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the Grizzly Grill.

– If you or anyone in your party is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please stay home and visit us again when you’re better.

Thank you for joining us for Run to the Shrine, supported by our wonderful partners, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Black Bear Diner.

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.

New tickets available Monday, Aug. 17; timed reservations are required. – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is making changes to its popular 21-and-up event, Moonlight on the Mountain, rescheduled to take place the evening of Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Those who previously purchased tickets are required to make timed reservations for entry to the Zoo which can be made via a custom link provided to ticket holders in an email from CMZoo. Tickets that had been held to avoid potential overselling are being made available on Monday, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. MDT at cmzoo.org/moonlight.

Nothing is quite the same in this strange summer of 2020, and unfortunately, Moonlight on the Mountain has to change and adapt, also. Many events like this have been cancelled, and although Moonlight on the Mountain will have to look very different this year, we think that still offering access to our beautiful mountainside on a pleasant evening with live music, food and drinks still has some value in our stressful lives. So we are moving forward with a very different event this year.

We are offering a $34 discount/refund for VIPs and $24 discount/refund for General Admission in exchange for the new event format, which will not include local food and alcohol samples. Instead, guests receive two drink tickets (three for VIP) and purchase food from one of our eateries or bring their own picnic dinner. Cash bars will also be available. Attendance has been capped at approximately half the guests of a normal Moonlight on the Mountain.

CURRENT TICKET HOLDERS: They are encouraged to check their email and reserve their designated entry time.

NEED A TICKET? Additional tickets will be available starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 17 at cmzoo.org/moonlight. Tickets have been reduced to $85.75 for advance VIP and $55.75 for advance General Admission ($5 more at the door, if available). Read below for a summary of the significant changes to this year’s event.

What does this year’s Moonlight on the Mountain include?
– There will be no local businesses sampling this year. Drink tickets (2 for General Admission, 3 for VIP) can be used at four bars throughout the Zoo.
– Food can be purchased at one of our on-site eateries, or you may bring your own picnic dinner (no outside alcohol allowed).
– Enjoy six bands throughout the Zoo until 9:30 p.m. Feel free to bring a camp chair and spread out in each band area. Social distance will be encouraged between groups while listening to bands and throughout the event.
– Get the full CMZoo experience until 8 p.m. (when our animals go to bed). Event ends at 10 p.m.
– Receive a souvenir sampling cup at the end of the night.

Other important info:
– Entry to the event will have timed ticketing to allow for proper social distancing at the front gate. Please arrive during your designated 20-minute window to ensure access to the event.
– This is an all-weather event, so plan to come and walk on the wild side, rain or shine.
– All COVID-19 precautions will be in place. Learn more at cmzoo.org/open and wear a mask for our safety and yours. (Masks are required indoors and are strongly encouraged throughout the Zoo.)
– Social distancing will be encouraged at each band area. Feel free to bring a camp chair to spread out and enjoy the music from a safe distance from other groups.

Please visit cmzoo.org/moonlight for the full list of details for the event!

Moonlight on the Mountain is sponsored by your Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers and Cordera.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Every visit to the Zoo is conservation in action. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and its guests and members are celebrating a huge milestone, having raised $3 million since the Zoo’s Quarters for Conservation program launched in 2008.

Quarters for Conservation, or Q4C, is the Zoo’s largest fundraiser for field conservation. It actively engages visitors and staff in supporting long-term projects championed by the Zoo. Known as legacy projects, these currently include biodiversity conservation on behalf of giraffe, Panama frogs, orangutans, black-footed ferrets, African elephants and rhinos, Wyoming toads and African vultures. Every visitor to the Zoo receives three “quarter” tokens representing the 75¢ Q4C allocation from their admission fee. They can then select the legacy projects they would like to support by placing their tokens in the corresponding slots in the Q4C kiosks. The kiosks record the number of tokens, so it’s easy to see how popular each project is.

“Our guests have helped us save animals from extinction simply by visiting the Zoo,” said Dr. Liza Dadone, vice president of mission and programs. “Three million dollars in conservation support is huge – and we want to thank our guests and members. Through this program, they are directly empowered to make a difference, and they did. It’s an example that no matter how small, when we all work together, we can change the world for the better.”

One of the projects that CMZoo recently supported and participated in on the front lines, is Operation Twiga. In November 2019, with financial support from Q4C, CMZoo staff traveled to Uganda for Operation Twiga IV. They helped transport 15 critically endangered Nubian giraffe to a safer home within Uganda, where their species has another chance at survival. As part of this project, CMZoo vet staff helped to collect important medical data for an ongoing study to help giraffe in their natural habitat and those in human care.

“We haven’t been involved in giraffe conservation that long, so this Q4c funding since 2008 has allowed us to really step up and take a leading role among Zoos in the past few years,” said Dr. Dadone. “It’s raised visibility in our Zoo community that giraffe populations aren’t safe. People see a large herd of giraffe here at the Zoo, and I think it’s easy to assume that they’re still doing okay across their native lands in Africa, but that’s no longer a reality. Giraffe are locally extinct in seven countries in Africa. Our Zoo, including our supportive community, is committed to ensuring that incredible animals like giraffe are around for the next generation.”

Q4C beneficiary species truly run the gamut, from 18-foot-tall giraffe in Africa, to tiny toads from Wyoming.

“Another program I’m especially proud of is our Wyoming toad breed and release program,” said Dr. Dadone. “This species was once thought to be extinct in the wild. The only reason they exist in the wild today is because of our work and our team’s collaborations with other institutions. Some might think Wyoming toads aren’t as cute as a baby giraffe, but the toadlets are really adorable and are critical to our ecosystem and to ensuring we have a viable wildlife population in our own backyard. The research that we’ve done on headstarting [raising the toads to adulthood in the Zoo and then releasing them] and their nutrition has really improved the overall health of the last few generations of the Wyoming toad, which gives them an advantage when they are released into the wild. We’re continuing to evaluate our best practices and have an even better chance at saving this species long-term.”

Wyoming toads are symbolic of so many amphibian species in decline all over the world, including Panamanian frogs, which also receive support thanks to Q4C funds and frontline CMZoo staff support. In February 2019, three CMZoo staff members went to Panama to assist the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project by remodifying two feeder insect pods into frog pods. For this 10-day trip, the goal was to set up two shipping containers to house and breed approximately 450 additional frogs brought in from El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center, and later released. This involved disinfecting the shipping containers, painting, installing plumbing and water filtration, assembling racks, and drilling and prepping tanks.

Q4C supports an in-house breed and release program for black-footed ferrets, as well. Since 1991, when CMZoo began breeding black-footed ferrets, 567 kits have been born. Roughly half of those kits are released into the wild while the others continue breeding at CMZoo and other facilities who support this recovery effort and the Species Survival Plan. This ongoing recovery effort supports the population of black-footed ferrets, who were once thought to be extinct, and which are vital to the prairie ecosystem in Wyoming.

CMZoo’s work to save habitats for orangutans through advocacy for sustainable palm oil production is largely supported by Q4C. Thanks to that financial support, CMZoo’s sustainable palm oil team consults staff at other conservation organizations on starting their own palm oil programs and recently attended the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil’s (RSPO) annual conference in Thailand to represent CMZoo in the RSPO’s proceedings. Those proceedings directly impact the ways companies that use palm oil can help preserving wild lands for orangutans and other species.

Through Q4C, CMZoo also supports a conservation partner called Tsavo Trust – an organization in Kenya that works to protect the last of the big tuskers, which are African elephants with tusks weighing more than 100 pounds. CMZoo’s funds helped Tsavo Trust build permanent housing that allowed staff to live on the land where these critically endangered giants live. It also paid for pilot hours – frontline aerial surveillance that protects rhinos and elephants from poachers seeking their ivory.

The seventh Q4C legacy partner is VulPro – protectors of African vultures. The dedicated staff at VulPro, in South Africa, save vultures who have been injured as wild birds, and rehabilitates them to release. Those that are too injured to survive in the wild find a permanent home at VulPro.

Before launching Q4C in 2008, CMZoo was supporting conservation, but at a fraction of what is possible now. In the past few years, CMZoo has collected about half a million dollars per year through Q4C. Even with our three-month COVID-19 closure this year, the Zoo was able to hit this substantial $3 million milestone as expected.

“Small change pooled together makes a big difference,” said Dr. Dadone. “Thanks to our guests and members, we have been able to support this amazing frontline work. When we work together, we can make a positive difference for our world.”

In addition to contributions from admissions to every Zoo visit and special event ticket, $2.50 from each individual plus membership, and $5 from each family or higher-level membership, is allocated to Q4C. EdVenture and Animal department programs also contribute to the cause.

For more information about these projects and Quarters for Conservation, visit cmzoo.org/conservation.

Back to The Waterhole

As America’s mountain Zoo, we know that our unique setting on the side of Cheyenne Mountain is part of what makes every visit magical. One of our core values is to live with the mountain and to preserve its natural beauty. That means designing exhibits that work with existing terrain and maintaining native plants that thrive and provide our animals with the most naturalistic habitats possible.

It also means using natural solutions to combat naturally-occurring inconveniences, like flies.

“The type of flies we most often deal with are attracted to manure, and we have plenty of that around here,” said Alex Crochet, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s horticulture curator. “The manure flies bite, and that makes them pretty pesky. So to help our animals, we have been implementing natural fly eliminators that are safe for our animals, our people, and the beautiful mountain we live on.”

The horticulture team has been introducing parasitic wasps to areas around the Zoo that receive the most fly traffic. The scary-sounding wasps are anything but.

“They’re native to our Rocky Mountain region, so we’re not interrupting the ecosystem, and they’re nocturnal, which means they’ll very rarely be active when our guests are present,” said Crochet. “These wasps don’t sting or bite the animals or us. They’re smaller than the tip of a pencil, but keepers say they’ve noticed the tiny wasps have made a noticeable difference for their animals.”

Crochet and his teammate, Denny Patton, senior horticulture tech, have identified where flies are most prevalent and let the wasp colonies go to work. The wasps are shipped in wood chips, which the team lays out near fly breeding grounds. The gnat-sized burrowing wasps lay their larvae into the fly pupae and when the wasp larvae hatches, it eats the fly pupae. This kills the fly in its pupal form, before it can grow into a bothersome resident at the Zoo.

“We use these in conjunction with sticky fly traps, because the flies will reproduce faster than the wasps can,” said Crochet. “We’re excited about this new solution, because we’re using two nontoxic tools to disrupt the flies’ life cycles. Nature usually knows how best to do things, so we’re using mother nature’s pest control in our natural environment. Permaculture with integrated pest management (IPM) is the way to go.”

The team will introduce a new colony of parasitic wasps every four weeks throughout the spring and summer months. In the fall and winter, when flies aren’t such a nuisance, the wasps will naturally go dormant.

“My whole philosophy is, ‘why fight nature with a harmful chemical when you can fight nature with itself?’,” said Crochet. “We have this beautiful mountainside and our main goal is to preserve that for our animals, guests and the native plants and animals who live here.”

Back to The Waterhole

Would you like to invite a chinchilla to your corporate event? Or maybe a ferret to your family function? Having a snake at your socially distanced soirée would certainly make a statement! CMZoo’s EdVenture team is once again offering ZOOMobile, our animal ambassador community outreach program, after a several-month hiatus.

There are several different types of ZOOMobile programs to choose from – whether you are hosting a birthday party in your home, a corporate event or a senior community program, our animals and keepers can make your event even more exciting.

ZOOM Birthdays start at $280.75 and include four live animal ambassadors, a 45-minute engaging program with a Zoo staff member, touch opportunities with animal ambassadors (species dependent), and special animal interactions for the birthday guest of honor.

ZOOM Small Group Programs start at $220.75 and include a 45-minute engaging presentation with Zoo staff, four live animal ambassadors, touch opportunities with animal ambassadors (species dependent), and a natural animal behavior demonstration (species specific).

With COVID-19 guidelines in place, there are some changes to note. Currently, ZOOMobile programs are restricted to El Paso County. We also ask that programs occur outdoors whenever possible and that events are for groups of 25 people or less. For groups outside of El Paso County, larger groups, or for anyone who feels more comfortable, we also offer virtual ZOOMobile programs with live presentations of animal ambassadors.

Visit cmzoo.org/ZOOM to learn about all the programs ZOOMobile has to offer and to submit a program request.

Back to The Waterhole

CMZoo’s animal care and veterinary teams are working hard to make Zwena, a 13-year-old African lioness who was born at CMZoo in 2007, as safe and comfortable as possible as she deals with increasing mobility issues. The 13-year-old sister to Lomela and aunt to Elsa, Boma and Aslan, has been showing symptoms that her team suspects may be due to neurological disease. The formerly agile lioness is now frequently unsteady on her paws.

“At this point we have performed many diagnostic tests to determine the cause of Zwena’s symptoms and have administered a variety of medications to potentially treat ‘treatable’ diseases,” said CMZoo Head Veterinarian, Dr. Jon Romano. “Now, our goal is to keep Zwena as comfortable as possible, so she can live her best life. Her keepers are dedicated to her care. We’ll continue tracking her quality of life markers. Right now, other than her mobility, they are all looking good.”

Keepers are tracking quality-of-life markers, as they do for any animal with health conditions. Those markers help identify trends that indicate her symptoms are worsening or her life is not fulfilling her needs as a lion. Over time, the data will help her care team make any future decisions necessary. Zwena’s four markers are social dynamics within the pride, mobility, appetite and vision.

“She follows us with her eyes, eats like a champion and still has healthy respect from the pride,” said Diana Miller, African Rift Valley keeper and Zwena’s primary trainer, who has worked with her for 8 years. “So, for now, we’re focused on maintaining those indicators and avoiding any injuries as a result of her decreased mobility. I just love her so much and want to give her the best life she has left.”

Zwena, known affectionately as “Z” by many CMZoo staff members, is well-loved and respected for her no-nonsense approach to building relationships with people.

“Zwena is a brave, sassy, playful lion with one of the best animal personalities I’ve ever known,” said Miller. “She isn’t shy about telling you how she feels about you. You have to earn her respect, so it’s like a rite of passage when ‘Z’ accepts you. She seems like she’s really tough, but she’s a nurturer, too. When her sister, Lomela, had the three cubs in 2015, Zwena was the first to lead them out into the main yard to play. She loves to play and pounce, and even playfully stalks keepers and guests, despite her mobility challenges. Those interactions with guests have made her an amazing animal ambassador for her species. I mean, who could forget a 300-pound lioness focusing on you like that?”

Her care team monitors her condition daily, and makes decisions about which spaces she can safely explore. On days she’s doing well, Zwena may be in the indoor relaxation room. When her unsteadiness is worse, it’s unsafe for her to explore the main lion yard, with its potentially dangerous drops from pride rock. The indoor lion relaxation room could also present potentially unsafe scenarios for Zwena when she’s unsteady, because of the high benches that she would likely attempt to jump to and from.

When keepers see she is less coordinated, she will spend her time in the behind-the-scenes outdoor ‘maternity yard,’ which will provide ample space for her to get safe exercise, fresh air and sunshine. She’ll also have access to off-exhibit indoor spaces where she can receive enrichment, participate in training and get lots of keeper attention.

“She’s not uncomfortable or suffering, and we want to keep her that way,” said Miller. “She’s mentally there, but she will sway or stumble as she walks, even on flat ground. We have seen her leaning against walls for stability or high-stepping over non-existent obstacles. These days, she more frequently half-jumps from low platforms and then pauses to steady herself before moving on, which could mean she’s not feeling confident about her mobility. So, we’re making adjustments to protect her from those environments that are no longer safe for her to navigate.”

Zwena’s symptoms have been intermittent since about 2015, but have recently become more chronic, so her care team is making changes now.

“Socializing is really important to lions, so we’re making sure Zwena still has time with her pride,” said Miller. “She and her sister, Lomela, are best buds. Even when it’s 90 degrees outside, we see them snuggling up together. They still play together, too. It is so fun to watch. Zwena is still living a fulfilling life, but she’s doing it in different spaces.”

Zwena will spend time with each member of her pride. At night, all four of the lions will share space together, to help Zwena maintain her respected position in the pride. Zwena’s vet and animal care team will continue exploring any new options available for keeping her safe and comfortable.

Back to The Waterhole

Our newest event, Silent Night, aims to provide the community with an environment of low-sensory respite. At the event, guests enjoy a quiet Zoo experience with only the natural sounds of animals and the mountainside. At a time when many of our community members need a mental break, this event encourages them to meander at a peaceful pace without a schedule or distractions. The next scheduled Silent Night is Friday, September 11, 2020, and tickets are on sale now at cmzoo.org/silentnight.

“This event presents our guests with a new way to connect with our animals and nature,” said Amanda Ulrich, CMZoo special events manager. “In addition to giving guests a calm, natural space to clear their minds, you can observe the animals in a new way. Even keepers who have worked here for multiple years have experienced things at Silent Night that they wouldn’t during the day, like hearing a vulture’s feathers rustle, or hearing the quiet chirp of a mountain lion.”

Attendees are asked to silence phones and other noisy devices, and to keep all communication to a whisper. Our goal is to create a peaceful environment in our natural surroundings, with as little background noise as possible. We don’t know if the lions are on board with this plan, but the humans who attend agree to keep the talking to a minimum and cell phones on silent. Guests can enjoy our beautiful mountainside setting, and practice mindfulness together. Giraffe and budgie feedings will be available, along with limited dining options at The Grizzly Grill. Unlike our Zoo evening events, there will be no live music, announcements over loud speakers, or keeper talks.

Staff will have notepads to communicate with guests who need anything. “Noise-friendly” buildings are open throughout the Zoo for those who may need to take a moment to regroup or take an important phone call. The rest of the Zoo will be quiet.

“You can get really creative about this silent theme and have fun establishing silent ways of communicating within your group,” said Ulrich. “For example, one family attended and had numbers as common indicators of needs. For example, holding up one finger meant you needed a drink. Holding up two fingers meant you were hungry. Holding up three fingers meant it was time for a bathroom break. When I saw them holding all five fingers on both hands and waving them, it meant they were really excited about what they were seeing. It was awesome to see that family making new memories and a new language.”

Countless studies have shown that time outside, time with animals and exercise all have direct correlations to reducing stress and anxiety.

“There’s so much noise in the world right now,” said Ulrich. “This is your chance to unplug from the digital world and engage in the natural world. Exercise, time outside, and time with animals are all known to improve mental health. We’re in the unique position to be able to provide our community with all three of those elements in one place.”

Advance e-tickets are required and available now at cmzoo.org/silentnight. Masks are required in buildings and are highly encouraged throughout the Zoo.

Fast Facts

Silent Night at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Adults: $17.75
Children (3 to 11): $12.75
Kids (2 and under): 75¢
Military and senior discounts available.
E-tickets and information are available at www.cmzoo.org/silentnight.

Back to The Waterhole

Who’s ready for an update on our little moose?! The nearly 9-week-old male calf, who has not yet been named, is settling in and stealing hearts in Rocky Mountain Wild! Animal Care Manager, Rebecca, is in the moose yard with him to talk about how he’s been doing since he arrived last Wednesday morning. (To watch video updates of his journey from Alaska to #CMZoo, see his video playlist.

On your next visit, look out for him in the moose yard, but keep in mind that he is a baby and takes naps in his barn sometimes. This little guy is growing quickly (he already weighs 115 pounds!), meeting new friends, working on training, trying new foods and exploring his new home, which requires a lot of energy. He has access to his barn and his yard, so make sure you leave time during your visit to swing by twice if you don’t see him the first time around.

The biggest question about our little guy has been, “What is his name?” As of today, you can bid on the chance to name him in our virtual Zoo Ball online auction. Check out cmzoo.org/zooball for more information and to check out other CMZoo experiences, art and more. You can also make a donation to the Zoo, which we really appreciate after being closed for three months due to COVID-19.

Thanks for following along as we welcomed him home last week! We’ll keep you posted on this long-legged love’s progress.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD NAMED #2 BEST ZOO EXHIBIT IN NORTH AMERICA – For the fourth 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 (up from #6 in 2019) and #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America, for its Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit (up from #5 in 2019).

“This ranking means even more to us this year, with the difficult times the Zoo has been going through in 2020,” said Bob Chastain, President and CEO of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “Even though the Zoo was closed due to virus restrictions for nearly three months, and we currently have limited capacity and other precautions in place, our fans and members still rally around us. To have that kind of community and nationwide support really means a lot.”

The online contest was originally open for voting starting March 16, in the midst of a wave of COVID-19-related closures and stay-at-home orders around the country. Despite the fact that Cheyenne Mountain Zoo closed to the public on March 17, our fans still helped us climb high in the rankings, until voting was temporarily paused on March 24. When voting reopened June 14 through July 6, our fans and members rallied to boost us to the final rankings.

This is the second time that Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been ranked as high as 4th Best Zoo in North America. The first time was in 2018.

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 unnecessary physical barriers, while keeper-led animal interactions are designed to establish and build connections between our guests and the animals who live here. CMZoo’s goal is to foster connections that inspire our guests to take action to protect animals and their habitats in the wild.

“This national recognition reminds us that the impact of our mission reaches beyond the city of Colorado Springs,” said Chastain. “We were nominated amongst a group of impressive organizations, in markets much larger than ours, which makes us even more proud to have been named the fourth best zoo in North America.”

Rocky Mountain Wild, an area of the Zoo that is home to animals from the Zoo’s native region, was named #2 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, two North American porcupines, two bald eagles, two grizzly bears, three mountain lions, three river otters, a family of turkeys and a flock of wood ducks. The exhibit’s newest resident, an 8-week-old orphaned Alaskan moose, just moved into his award-winning home on Wednesday. Rocky Mountain Wild is known for its expansive natural exhibits, exquisite views, educational and entertaining animal demonstrations, and enthusiastic and passionate team of animal keepers.

This is the second time Rocky Mountain Wild has been nominated in the Best Zoo Exhibit category, and the fourth 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 a total of four weeks to cast their votes once per day for the nominees of their choice.

The 2020 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Top Ten Best Zoos in North America, in ranking order, are:

Fort Worth Zoo – Fort Worth
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden – Cincinnati
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium – Omaha, Neb.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Colorado Springs
Brevard Zoo – Melbourne, Fla.
Audubon Zoo – New Orleans
San Diego Zoo – San Diego
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum – Tucson
Dallas Zoo – Dallas
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens – Palm Desert, Calif.

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 2019, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #6 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #5 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.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is excitedly making preparations for the newest resident of Rocky Mountain Wild — an 8-week-old male Alaska moose, due to arrive this Wednesday. The big-eyed, light brown, long-legged calf was orphaned at about six days old outside of Anchorage, Alaska, when his mother was involved in a fatal human-wildlife conflict. He has since been in the care of Alaska Zoo. Moose are extremely rare in zoos, and this arrival comes only two months after the loss of the Zoo’s beloved 12-year-old Canada moose, Tahoma.

“People have seen an increase in activity in the moose yard, over the past several days, as we prep it for the calf’s arrival,” said Rebecca Zwicker, Rocky Mountain Wild animal care manager. “Our guests have been really curious about the updates we’re making in the moose yard, so we’re excited to share this announcement. While we’ve been in the yard, ‘babyproofing,’ we’ve had some wonderful interactions with guests sharing condolences and stories of how Tahoma touched them. It’s clear that Tahoma’s legacy is in place. He touched a lot of hearts, young and old. This little guy has some big hooves to fill, but from what we hear from his keepers at Alaska Zoo, he’s up to the task.”

Two CMZoo staff members are on their way to Alaska Zoo to meet the little calf and transport him home. Starting Tuesday, July 14, CMZoo will share updates of the team’s travels as they make their way home to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Moose fans everywhere can witness the young moose’s journey home on Tuesday and Wednesday via Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

“We knew we wanted to continue Tahoma’s incredible legacy with another moose, but we didn’t know it would happen this quickly,” said Courtney Rogers, lead animal keeper in Rocky Mountain Wild. “It’s a bittersweet situation, because of course, we wish this young calf could have continued living in the wild. But, since that was not possible, we’re grateful we’ll be able to care for him here. Since Tahoma passed, Rocky Mountain Wild has definitely been missing some ‘moose magic,’ and we’re so excited to help this little boy grow up.”

This young calf wouldn’t have been able to survive in the wild without his mother, but did benefit from having his first few days of his mother’s milk. He is still being bottle-fed, which will continue until he’s about three months old. As soon as he arrives at CMZoo, the calf will move into the moose yard in Rocky Mountain Wild, where staff have been doing some serious ‘babyproofing’ in preparation for his arrival.

“Tahoma weighed over 1,000 pounds and this little guy only weighs about 90 pounds, so there are several parts of the exhibit that could have been unsafe for him if we didn’t make changes,” said Rogers. “We hear from his Alaska Zoo keepers that he gets the ‘zoomies’ a lot, and he’s so small that he will likely be able to squeeze through or under some of the moose exhibit fencing, so we’ve been getting the exhibit ready for this young, inexperienced and excitable calf. We can’t wait to meet him.”

The exhibit features a deep pool and a relatively steep culvert, which the keepers will need to help the young moose learn to navigate. To keep him safe, a smaller temporary enclosure will be set up in the moose exhibit. Keepers will supervise calf ‘field trips’ into the main exhibit, to teach him the ropes and evaluate his comfort, before he graduates to full-time access to the entire exhibit. To help him adjust to the warmer weather in Colorado, they’re also preparing sand and soil beds that can be kept damp to keep him cool. The baby will also have fans in his barn, where he’ll sleep for protection while he’s still so small.

“We’re super excited, but also kind of feel like new parents,” said Zwicker. “When Tahoma came to us, he was about 10 months old, so this is the first time we’ve had such a young moose. We’re trying to be as prepared as possible. We have spoken with his keepers in Alaska and gotten great advice from other animal professionals who have cared for moose this young. But, we’ve also just accepted that this is going to be kind of a wild ride. He’s going to find some things to get into, and he may catch us off guard from time to time, but we’re also looking forward to watching him being a mischievous youngster. We have to channel our inner mama moose skills, and show him how to live his best life as an ambassador at CMZoo.”

CMZoo is one of only eight Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited institutions in the United States to house moose. Because moose are so rare in human care, CMZoo pioneered moose care practices through their work with Tahoma, like formulating nutritious moose diets and training for voluntary blood tests, hoof care and more.

“Tahoma truly was one-of-a-kind,” said Rogers. “Moose keepers visiting from other zoos remarked at how calm and laid-back he was. It’s going to be fun getting to know a new moose personality! For those who only knew Tahoma in his senior years, it can be difficult to remember that he was once a young moose running around the exhibit, trying to knock over trees and sparring with his enrichment. We fully expect this youngster to keep us on our toes with his antics.”

Going from caring for a 12-year-old moose with age-related issues to caring for a baby who’s learning how to be a moose is going to be quite a change of pace for the Rocky Mountain Wild keepers.

“With Tahoma, we spent a lot of time preparing and administering medications and medical treatments to keep him comfortable in his elder years,” said Rogers. “Instead of preparing ‘med sandwiches,’ now we’ll be preparing bottles. Just like we did for Tahoma, we’ll be monitoring this young calf’s food intake, his weight and his activity to make sure he’s getting everything he needs from us. We also may need to babysit or walk with him around the exhibit, which we are pretty excited about.”

The male moose has not yet been named. He will move into Rocky Mountain Wild’s moose exhibit when he arrives, and guests should be able to see him in the yard right away.

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 2019, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #6 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #5 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.