Dakota Zoo

01/07/2026

Keeper Riley landed in Cape Town, South Africa a few days ago to spend three weeks helping with the rehabilitation and release of the critically endangered African penguin and other seabirds at SANCCOB saves seabirds. Because of your donations and support of the zoo we can make a difference both locally and half way around the world! 🌍 🐧

01/07/2026

Enrichment in action! By introducing new scents - like perfume on a food toy - our keepers encourage Nadya to express natural behaviors such as rubbing and scent marking.

Enrichment plays an important role in animal care helping to keep our big cats mentally and physically healthy.

📸Keeper Kassie

01/06/2026

01/05/2026

SMILE! It's Monday!
📸Rich Barrios

01/04/2026

And the winning names are…

DOC and MARTY! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who supported the zoo and voted for our endangered African penguin chick names. These brothers (and their care staff) are excited to finally have official names. The boys are still growing in our back holding space but you can view them at 4pm Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at their public feed before the regularly scheduled colony feed at 4:30. Name bands are coming soon! 🐧 🐧

01/04/2026

Did you know?
Sloths are famous for sleeping a lot, but wild sloths actually sleep about 8–10 hours a day, similar to humans. In human care, however, they can sleep 15–20 hours thanks to fewer threats and much less effort needed to find food.

Because of their slow metabolism and leafy diet, much of a sloth’s day is spent in “active rest”—inactive but not fully asleep. They often hang upside down with their eyes closed, supported by special tendons that allow them to relax without falling. In the wild, that is!

Here at Dakota Zoo, Flash enjoys a truly luxurious life!
📸Rich Barrios

01/03/2026

Bullsnake or Rattlesnake? Let’s clear up a common mix-up!

Bullsnakes are often mistaken for rattlesnakes because they can flatten their heads, hiss loudly, and even vibrate their tails when startled. But despite the drama, bullsnakes are non-venomous and play an important role in their ecosystems by helping control rodent populations.

A few key differences to look for:
• Bullsnakes do not have a rattle
• Their pupils are round, not vertical
• Their head shape is less triangular
• Color patterns are similar, but bullsnakes tend to have more blotches

These amazing snakes are a great reminder that not every snake is dangerous—and all snakes deserve respect and space.

Meet our bullsnake, Orzo!
📸Rich Barrios

01/02/2026

"Did you say it's Friday?"-Gaston
📸Keeper Jess

12/31/2025

May your new year be as warm, peaceful and happy as a sleeping Hugo.
📸Keeper Derek

12/30/2025

Fun Fact:

Strange, but true: Elk can count to 10. How do we know? Scientists have noticed that when a female elk is presented with the choice between a mate with nine antler points and 10 antler points, she’ll almost always select the bull with 10 points.

She’s paying attention…💋
📸Rich Barrios

12/29/2025

Don't forget to smile! It's contagious! Happy Monday!
📸Rich Barrios