Zoo #76 – Zoo Montana. It’s not everyday that I can make it to a new zoo, so you can imagine my excitement to be in a new state AND a new zoo. Just like on all my family vacations, I dragged the rest of the gang to the zoo. Merely an hour after touchdown in Billings, we were at the entrance gates. Despite being the hottest day of our Western adventure, we all thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Zoo Montana doesn’t have a huge animal collection, but the exhibits for the animals they do have are really well done. Much of the small size is due to the zoo’s relative newness. The 70 acre site only opened in 1993! What impressed me was the beauty of the zoo grounds. Set in a forest, there is ample shade along the outdoor trail plus lots of wildflowers and grassland to offset the towering conifers. Four gardens are also along the trail, providing a serene atmosphere to sit and enjoy flowers. The coolest part is a mule deer fawn walked up the neighboring ravine and ate while I sat at the Children’s Garden.
Inside the entrance building, two separate rooms showcase native reptiles and amphibians and other small creatures. Several terrariums are dedicated to the Wyoming Toad, a species Zoo Montana is helping to re-introduce into the wild in an attempt to boost numbers. Other animals include green tree python, chinchilla, and an owl.
Homestead House is Zoo Montana’s take on a Children’s Zoo, and replicates a turn of the century western farmhouse. Inside are huge rabbits, sheep, pigs, and horses. Peacocks, which have the freedom of the entire zoo tend to hang out over here as well. Surrounding the House are cut out boards (great picture opportunity), old farm equipment, and a pond inhabited by native wildlife.
Two injured eagles perch by the Children's Playground
The zoo houses hardy animals, able to withstand the cold Montana winters. This helps the zoo stay open all year round. Amur tigers, red pandas, and sika deer make up the Asian corner at the back of the trail. Wolves, porcupines, otters, waterfowl, and bighorn sheep are found in the middle of the zoo after crossing Canyon Creek. Almost all of the exhibits have multiple viewing stations making it easier to spot animals. Zoo Montana is also one of only a handful of American zoos to house wolverines, which based on their size most people would have no idea the punch they pack.
Next door to the wolverines is the main attraction at the zoo – Bruno the grizzly bear. Bruno lives in the zoo’s best exhibit, the aptly named Bear Meadows. At 2 acres, Meadows, which opened in 2008 is much larger than most bear exhibits around the country. And it’s full of stuff for both bear and man to enjoy. Inside the exhibit, Bruno can meander through tall grass, relax in a deep pool, climb on trees, play with balls, and one his favorite activities is helping to squeegee the windows.
Bruno likes to help clean the windows
Much like the rest of the zoo grounds, the visitor path is surrounded by wildflowers, and in this case colorful poppies. If Bruno happens to be away from the windows, visitors can walk up to an elevated overlook just in front of a big shady tree.
Wildflowers are all over the zoo.
Zoo Montana isn’t going to take you a whole day to stroll through. But it’s a beautiful setting, great for photography (both the animals and surroundings), has some interesting animals, and is unique when compared to Midwestern zoos of similar size. It’s definitely worth a stop if you need a break driving through the enormous state which is Montana or if you fly into Billings and have a couple of hours. If you can’t make the trip (it took me a while), keep up to date with Zoo Montana’s news on their blog.
