What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 4:30pm Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm Thursday 10am - 4:30pm Friday 10am - 4:30pm Saturday 10am - 4:30pm Sunday 10am - 4:30pm

Bergen County Zoo

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Paramus, NJ
Bergen County Zoo

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“Inspiring people to care and to conserve.” The Bergen County Zoo is a “New World” zoo, exhibiting wildlife from North and South America.
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You have the unique opportunity to view such rare and unusual species as Baird’s Tapirs, Andean Condors, American Alligators, Golden Lion Tamarins, South American Pampas, and many others. The Bergen County Zoo provides a clean, aesthetically-pleasing facility that meets or exceeds the physical, environmental, and behavioral needs of the animals in its care. The goal of the zoo is to develop and maintain exhibits which emphasize natural behavior, encourage longevity, and promote breeding success. Our AZA accredited zoo actively participates in wildlife conservation endeavors through captive breeding programs and research projects and supports conservation efforts throughout the world. The zoo provides a unique and effective educational experience that fosters an appreciation for the interrelationships between the animals and their environments. It provides an enjoyable recreational experience for the residents and visitors of Bergen County.

11/04/2026

We are deeply saddened to share the loss of our male Brazilian agouti, Chuy. Chuy had been facing significant health challenges, including kidney failure, at the end of his life. Our dedicated animal care team did everything possible to keep him comfortable—giving him his favorite foods, making ice treats to keep him hydrated, and continuing the training sessions he enthusiastically participated in until his final days.

When it became clear that his quality of life was declining and he was no longer comfortable, we made the difficult but compassionate decision to humanely euthanize him to prevent further suffering. Thank you, Chuy, for the immense joy you brought to our zookeepers and the many patrons who loved watching you nibble on your favorite treats. You served as a wonderful ambassador for a species that is largely unknown and will be dearly missed.

Chuy previously lived with a female agouti named Dora. Based on breeding recommendations set forth by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Dora was transferred earlier this year to Oakland Zoo. The breeding program actively manages the Brazilian agouti population across various facilities to maintain the genetic diversity and long-term viability of this species. Dora has settled in nicely to her new home and is enjoying life in California.

While we will miss having Brazilian agoutis at our zoo, we make sure to always prioritize what is best for the animals in our care. These curious and unique rodents made a lasting impact on our zoo and our community, and we will cherish the memories we shared with them. 💕

11/03/2026

Happy Election Day! Brownie the sheep says, “cast your baaaa-lott!” 🐑

11/02/2026

The Bergen County Zoo will have a delayed opening on Wednesday, November 4th, 2026. The Zoo will open from 11:15am – 4:30pm (last entrance at 4:00pm). Thank you for your patience and understanding!

11/01/2026

Join our education team! Share your love for wildlife and make a difference as a zoo docent! As a volunteer educator and interpreter, you’ll help visitors connect with our animals and help support the zoo’s mission.

Docents commit to three training sessions, at least four hours of volunteering a month, and must be 18+. Applications are due by January 30th, 2027. Find the application at www.friendsofbergencountyzoo.org/volunteer

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween and Happy “Boo-day” to Buff! 🎃🐒 One of our black-handed spider monkeys turns 29 years old today so help us wish him a spooktacular birthday!

10/30/2026

Celebrate National Bison Day at the Bergen County Zoo on Saturday, November 7th! From 12pm-4pm, we are proud to welcome active members of the Unkechaug and Ramapough nations to discuss the history and cultural significance of the American bison.

National Bison Day honors the American bison which was officially designated as the U.S. national mammal. This day celebrates the ecological, cultural, and economic role of bison, which are deeply tied to the history and spiritual traditions of Native American tribes. We are also proud to be part of AZA SAFE: American Bison, which works to preserve this keystone species and its environment. Don't forget to say hello to our resident female bison, Betty & Bess! We’ll see you there! 🦬❤️

10/29/2026

Just like humans enjoy company and a good meal, so do the animals at the Bergen County Zoo! We offer all of our animals’ enrichment, which encourages a wide array of natural behaviors to maximize their physical and mental wellbeing.

Social enrichment encourages our animals' natural social behaviors, whether it be with the members of the same species or different ones. Social enrichment can be presented in different ways, but one way to do it is by encouraging social feeding! Many animals utilize different dynamics in their social groups to help them locate and acquire food, so we like to offer some of our animals the opportunity to eat and forage together.

Check out some of our social farmyard animals experiencing a good meal with their old friends, as well as others getting to know their neighbors!

10/27/2026

This fall, you can help local wildlife by… doing nothing! Leaving leaves and other organic matter is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support local biodiversity.

🐢 Provide Shelter & Food: Birds, frogs, lizards, turtles, and other small critters rely on ground cover to find food, hide, and thrive!
🦋 Protect Pollinators: Butterflies, moths, and bees spend the winter in leaf litter. Raking too early removes next year’s pollinators before they can even take flight!
🌱 Happier Soil: Fallen leaves are nature’s complimentary mulch! They suppress weeds, protect plant roots through winter, and enrich soil with organic nutrients.

If you want a cleaner look on your lawn, rake leaves into garden beds, beneath trees, or into a quiet corner of your yard. Wait until late spring to tidy up the rest of the leaves so the life you’ve protected has a chance to emerge!

Have any questions? Feel free to leave a comment!

10/24/2026

We still have a few spots open for our 2-day mini zoo camp for 1st and 2nd graders on November 5th and 6th! Campers will experience up-close animal encounters, games, hands-on science projects, crafts, zoo tours, and tons of educational fun!

Feel free to register for one or both classes. Find the ticket links and more info at www.FriendsofBergenCountyZoo.org/mini-zoo-camp

10/22/2026

For some animals, going outside means one thing—snack time! Many animals spend much of their time in the wild looking for food. Encouraging our animals to forage and find food outside is a great way to let them play to their strengths and live happy, healthy lives.

Enjoy this video of our long-tailed chinchilla, Ande, showing off his foraging skills as he enjoys some orchard grass he discovered in our outdoor exercise yard! Our chinchillas usually live off exhibit, but we sometimes take them outside to enjoy the fresh air and give them a chance to explore the plants and dirt. Chinchillas don't like hot weather because their dense fur coats are adapted to the alpine conditions of South America's Andes Mountains.

As we enjoy fall here at the Bergen County Zoo, many of our cold-weather animals are also making the most of the crisp autumn weather.

Address

216 Forest Avenue
Paramus, NJ
07652

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	10am - 4:30pm
Thursday	10am - 4:30pm
Friday	10am - 4:30pm
Saturday	10am - 4:30pm
Sunday	10am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12016343100

Website

http://bergencountynj.gov/bergen-county-department-of-parks/bergen-county-zoo/, http://www.friendsofbergencountyzoo.org/

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