ZooMontana
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| Date opened | 1995[1] |
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| Location | Billings, Montana, USA |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Land area | 70 acres (28 ha)[1] |
| Number of animals | 100 |
| Number of species | 58 |
| Annual visitors | 70,000[1] |
| Website | www |
ZooMontana is a 70-acre (28 ha) wildlife park located in Billings, Montana, U.S. and is Montana's only zoo and botanical park. It currently maintains nearly 100 animals, representing 58 species.[citation needed] These animals all live in habitats designed to imitate their natural habitats. The zoo was incorporated and established as a non-profit 501 C (3) organization in 1982. It focuses on wildlife native to Montana, the Rockies, and other cold temperature regions at or above the 45th Parallel. Indoor habitats include animals from around the world.[2] The zoo hosts over 80,000 visitors per year.[1] Canyon Creek runs through the center of the zoo's grounds, creating a natural and tranquil park-like setting.
Contents
Animal exhibits
ZooMontana is divided into two main "regions" in addition to other exhibits. The Asia Region starts by the wolves and is a paved path through a cottonwood forest. The path splits at one point and one half becomes a nature trail. The other path splits again, one going towards the Siberian tiger, and the other going to the sika deer and red panda.
The North America Region includes habitats for the eastern gray wolf, North American river otter, North American beaver, bald eagle, bighorn sheep, and grizzly bear, as well as ponds for waterfowl including swan geese, emperor geese, Arctic geese, and domestic geese.
Several animals can be found indoors amongst the Living Wall habitats within the zoo's Discovery Center. These exhibits include animals from South America, Africa, and other parts of the world. These Living Wall Habitats include iguana, mink, chinchilla, western screech-owl, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, tiger salamander, ball python, box turtle, rubber boa, aracari, degus, Columbian red tailed boa constrictor, savannah monitor, and several other snakes, lizards, turtles, amphibians, and arthropods.
The Barn is home to mostly domesticated animals, including Belgian draft horses, pygmy goats, peafowl, rabbits, and goats. During the warmer months, the turkey vulture may be found here as well.
Zoo guests also may visit the ponds and feed the koi for a small fee.
Botanical gardens
The one-acre Sensory Garden is planted with both native and exotic plants intended to stimulate all of your senses. It is a very popular site for weddings. The zoo also includes a Montana garden with native plants, and Dottie's Garden, which is home to plants that use very little water.[3]
ZooSchool Preschool
ZooMontana is home to ZooSchool Preschool, an independent preschool which holds classes within the zoo.[4]
Science and Conservation Center
The Science and Conservation Center is an independent non-profit organization that is headquartered at the zoo. The center produces and distributes a wildlife contraceptive vaccine, and maintains records and data required by the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency. Working with the Contraception Advisory Group of the AZA at the Saint Louis Zoo, the center coordinates, and in some cases carries out, application of the contraceptive to wildlife.[5]
History
In March 2014, ZooMontana experienced flooding, and "more than three feet of water covered some of the zoo’s paths."[6]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
