Buttonwood Park Zoo

08/05/2026

Meet Cascade, one of our rescued juvenile cougars!

Cascade found a forever home at BPZOO earlier this year after being found orphaned in Washington State at only 4 months old. As apex predators, cougars play a huge role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, and through the AZA Species Survival Plan®, we’re proud to give non-releasable cougars like them a safe place to thrive.

We're celebrating all our cat species this weekend's International Cat Day. Join us for Caturday, Saturday, August 8 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. From house cats to powerful wild predators, the cats at Buttonwood Park Zoo help inspire a deeper understanding of wildlife conservation. Each species has a unique story and plays an important role in connecting visitors with the natural world.

Enjoy special cat encounters, face painting, crafts, and a conservation raffle. See you there! Caturday is free with Zoo admission.

Learn more: https://www.bpzoo.org/whats-new/caturday/

08/04/2026

This announcement has a special Buttonwood Park Zoo connection. The kittens' father, Cad Bane, was born here at BPZOO. Cad is also the older brother of our newest addition, Hudson - who was born just two days before these kittens. That means Hudson has officially become an uncle!

Moments like these are powerful reminders of why accredited zoos work together through the Species Survival Plan®. Animals born at one zoo can help ensure the future of their species across generations and across the country.

While we are thrilled to celebrate this birth with them, we are also holding a place in our hearts for their Animal Care and Health teams while they mourn the loss of their female, Torvi.

08/03/2026

Residents of Ward 4, you're up for this week's Ward Wednesday free admission day on August 5, 2026!

Ward 4 is home to New Bedford's storied downtown harbor and working waterfront, along with a wide variety of open spaces, pollinator gardens, and abundant wildlife.

Ward Wednesdays are designed to connect neighbors with nature, provide family-friendly experiences, and celebrate everyone who makes New Bedford special. Catch your ward's day:

Ward 4: August 5th

Ward 5: August 12th

Ward 6, Ward 3 Rain date: August 19th

🔗 Learn more & check your ward: https://www.bpzoo.org/whats-new/ward-wednesdays

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

Too much festa this weekend?

If you’re feeling like this guy today, fresh air is calling. We hear a quiet walk through nature is the best way to fix a Madeiran wine hangover.

We’re open today 9:00 am - 4:00pm! Come visit before you head up to the Blessed Sacrament Feast!

📸: BPZOO Zoological Society Lisa

08/01/2026

Meet Odell, our gigantic Jellycat Octopus, and your potential new best friend!

We’re raffling off this eight-legged cuddle creature to support conservation programs here at Buttonwood Park Zoo. Raffle tickets are available now, and are being sold for $3 each or 2 for $5. We'll draw a winner on Halloween during our Boo at the Zoo event, October 31!

Pickup/Shipping: Available for Zoo pickup or shipped at winner's expense.

Enter in person at the gift shop or grab your tickets online before Halloween:

https://bpzoo.ticketapp.org/portal/product/107

07/31/2026

This weekend, join a global effort to help Monarch Butterflies!

The 10th Anniversary International Monarch Monitoring Blitz kicks off this weekend, running from July 31 – August 9.

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation is looking for observers to spot and log monarch butterfly and milkweed sightings throughout the area. Over the next 10 days, you can log your observations using Community Science programs like iNaturalist or Journey North.

Your observations help researchers fill in critical data gaps. Monarch butterfly populations have experienced a significant decline over the last few decades. While the 2024–2025 wintering season showed a slight increase, numbers remain near historic lows, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated, evidence-based conservation.

Learn more & join in: https://www.cec.org/international-monarch-monitoring-blitz/

07/30/2026

Moms make storms better 🥹

Lots of rainy day cuddles for Hudson this week from Sylvie.

📸: Keeper Katie

07/29/2026

Just a reminder: today's celebration of Ward 3 during our Ward Wednesdays has been canceled due to the storm.

We'll welcome Ward 3 residents to BPZOO at a later date. Ward Wednesday's will return next Wednesday, August 5, 2026 with free admission for New Bedford's Ward 4 residents. Stay safe today, everyone!

Learn more about our Ward Wednesdays: https://www.bpzoo.org/whats-new/ward-wednesdays/

07/28/2026

Calling all Ward 3 Residents!

Due to this week's forecasted rare Summer Nor'easter, we're rescheduling this week's free admission for Ward 3 residents to a later date.

Each week, we’re inviting one New Bedford ward to enjoy a free day at the zoo. This program is designed to connect neighbors with nature, provide accessible family-friendly fun, and celebrate the people who make New Bedford so special.

Ward 3 features some incredible open spaces, including Clasky Park, New Bedford's oldest park, formerly known as Common Park. While famous for its beautiful holiday displays in the winter, Clasky Park is also a perfect place for a walk along tree-lined paths filled with local wildlife (including tree swallows zipping through the park earlier this week!).

We hope to see our Ward 3 neighbors later in August! Stay tuned for the updated date.

Check out the full Ward Wednesday summer schedule here: https://www.bpzoo.org/whats-new/ward-wednesdays/