Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by: Alissa Wolken, Communications Photos by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo An Oregon spotted frog is released into wetlands. Nearly 750 Oregon spotted frogs reared at Woodland Park Zoo were released yesterday into marshy wetlands at a protected site in Pierce County. Gathering the frogs from their behind-the-scenes area at Woodland Park Zoo. Nearly 750 frogs were packed up for transport.  The frogs were collected from wetlands as eggs and placed at the zoo for hatching and rearing for approximately seven months in a predator-free home as they transformed from tadpoles to juveniles, increasing their survival by giving them a head start until they were large enough to avoid most predators. Unloading the containers of frogs at the protected wetlands site. The protected site provides marshy wetlands habitat for the frogs and future frog generations. Head starting and releasing the frogs is part of a cooperative program with Woodland Park Zo

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo For Thanksgiving dinner, you might consider your guests before planning the menu. Aunt Penelope prefers mashed potatoes, cousin Yanos prefers yams. But, what if your dinner guests turned out to be a pack of hungry animals?  A snow leopard prepares to dine. Different animals have different reasons for prioritizing some tastes over others, and it all comes down to evolution and survival; which foods will provide the quickest and most nutritious meal? Taste is a complex issue and tends to be shaped by evolution and environment. Here is a test: think of a time when you were really hungry, practically starving. Now, from the choices below, which meal would you have picked? Buttery, chocolate fudge ice cream in a hand-built waffle cone with sea-salt infused caramel drizzle, cocoa sprinkles and a dollop of heavenly whipped cream.  A hand tossed, crisp pizza pie topped with virgin olive oil and hot

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications Artists of all ages, join us in welcoming a flutter of colorful wings to Woodland Park Zoo. In celebration of the new Molbak's Butterfly Garden, we are holding a coloring contest with a few fabulous prizes. Get out your colored pencils, markers, watercolors or crayons (anything goes) and show us your most creative design. Just like butterflies, coloring can be a reflection of inner beauty, tranquility and expression. We can’t wait to see your artwork!  If you are a member, then you've already received the summer issue of MyZoo  member magazine with the coloring contest template inside. You can also download and print the template below. Print the drawing template by clicking here. We recommend printing at 11" x 17" Don't wait to get started, we are offering some pretty awesome prizes if you win. PRIZES Adults (13 years and older) Grand prize winner: Tour Molbak’s Butterfly Garden with entomologist

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Pike Place Market. Fishmongers. Salmon. Grizzly bears. Woodland Park Zoo. Rain. This isn’t a game of Pacific Northwest word association—it’s a recipe for a rockin’ good time down at the Northern Trail this morning! Our friends from world famous Pike Place Fish Market brought their signature fish-tossing skills to our grizzly bear exhibit today at a media teaser for this Saturday’s Bear Affair presented by Brown Bear Car Wash event. The fishmongers planted themselves safely at the edge of the exhibit—a massive moat stood between them and the bears, don’t worry!—and got to tossing while grizzly brothers Keema and Denali looked on. The first few tosses of the 6-pound salmon were just for practice, though the bears seemed like they were hoping for a slip-up that would land a salmon in their direction. But once the rhythm got going among the fishmongers—tossing the salmon over the heads of dozens of school chil

Posted by: Dr. Deborah B. Jensen, President and CEO WPZ President Jensen. Photo by Matt Hagen. Because of your support and the generosity of nearly 16,000 individuals, I’m thrilled to share the news that we exceeded our $80 million More Wonder More Wild campaign goal by raising more than $83.5 million! If this isn't enough to celebrate, in 2013 we also set an all-time record for zoo visitor attendance! During the eight-year campaign, our community experienced the deepest recession since the Great Depression. But world events continued to illustrate the urgent need to save our planet’s wildlife and habitats, to create a future in which animals and people can co-exist and thrive together. So, with passion and commitment, we continued to tell our story. Our animals continued to provide the wonder and joy that we all experience when we visit the zoo. And you continued to show your generous support! This member-submitted photo iconically conveys the wonder and wild donor