Meet the Stars of Zootah!


Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles do not get their white head feathers until fully mature-around 5 years of age. The Bald Eagle is our national bird.
Animal Title: Bald Eagle
Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Fun Fact: I am the national symbol of the U.S.
Animal info: These iconic birds are considered fish eagles and are found throughout North America in wetland areas. They don’t get their white plumage until about 5 years of age.
Location: North America
Lifespan: 20 years
Diet: Carnivore and fish pictographs
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Reindeer
A Red-Tailed Hawk screech is often the sound used for any large bird in movies
Animal Title: Reindeer
Scientific name: Rangifer tarandus
Fun Fact: Males and females grow antlers
Animal info: Reindeer migrate in herds of thousands of individuals in arctic, subarctic, and boreal habitats.
Location: Northern Europe/Asia
Lifespan: 10 years old
Diet: Grass, hay, leaves, alfalfa
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Green Iguana
Iguanas use their long spiked tails for defense. Iguana’s are the largest lizard in America.
Animal Title: Green Iguana
Scientific name: Iguana iguana
Fun Fact: I can survive a fall of 40-50 feet
Animal info: These large, arboreal lizards are found near water sources where they feed on a variety of leaves and can swim away from potential predators.
Location: North and South America
Lifespan: 20 years
Diet: Veggies
Endangerment Level: Least Concern

Blue and Gold Macaw/ Blue Throated Macaw
Macaws can fly up to 35 miles an hour
Animal Title: Blue-throated Macaw
Scientific name: Ara glaucogularis
Fun Fact:
Animal info: Blue-throated macaws are critically endangered parrots found only in the vareza of the amazon region. Their small distribution and specific habitat requirements make them in danger of becoming extinct.
Location: South America (bolivia)
Lifespan: 80 years
Diet: herbivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Critically endangered

White Cheeked Turaco
Most commonly raised species of Turaco in captivity. They cannot fly very well, but can run very quickly through the tree canopy
Animal Title: White-cheeked Turaco
Scientific name: Tauraco leucotis
Fun Fact: Turacos are the only birds to possess true red and green pigments
Animal info: White-cheeked turacos are found in highlands regions of eastern Africa. These heavier birds bound through the tree tops and fly on occasion in short bursts.
Location: Africa
Lifespan: 20 years
Diet: herbivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Lemur
The females dominate in lemur groups
Animal Title: Ring-tailed Lemur
Scientific name: Lemur catta
Fun Fact: I use my tail in stink fights
Animal info: These lemurs are endemic to Madagascar’s dry forests. They travel mainly terrestrially and defend their territories from neighboring groups.

Red-Tailed Hawk
A Red-Tailed Hawk screech is often the sound used for any large bird in movies
Animal Title: Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific name: Buteo jamaicensis
Fun Fact: My shrill cry is used for all raptors in movies
Animal info: Red-tailed hawks are common urban dwellers across North America. They sometimes hunt in pairs to capture small mammals.
Location: North America
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Diet: carnivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Wood Duck

Ringed Teal

Ne-Ne Geese
The Ne-Ne goose is the state bird of Hawaii

Elk
Elk’s will make a loud noise called a bellow. Every year an Elk grows a new pair of antlers
Age: 8 years
Birthday: June 27th
Sex: Male
Favorite Food: Alfalfa
Favorite Activity: “wallowing” in my signature scent
Life Span: 8-12 Years
Habitat/Range: Elk are native to North America. They migrate to higher elevation in the spring following the retreat of snow. In the fall, they come down from the mountains to the foothills where they feed on shrubs and tree bark. You can see elk herds around Cache Valley in the winter at Hardware Ranch.
Behavior: Many ungulates (such as elk, deer, bison, cows) are ruminant animals. These animals have an extra stomach to help them process all the vegetation they consume. They ferment food in this specialized stomach prior to digestion. Elk spend much of their time grazing on grasses but also consume forbs, tree branches, and bark.
Breeding: The elk mating season occurs in August, and bulls go through an intensive mating process called the Rut. During this time, bulls gather cows and calves in groups called harems and defend these harems from other bulls. They wallow in mud to coat themselves in urine, which acts as a “perfume” to attract females. They bugle and rub their antlers on trees and shrubs to attract mates and intimidate other males. Sometimes, bulls will “go to war” with other males for a harem. These usually are not deadly fights but occasionally result in a bull death. Cows normally give birth to one calf, which are spotted and scentless to protect them from predators.
Conservation: Listing: Least concern. Elk are not an endangered species but their range has drastically reduced. Habitat loss and illegal hunting has caused their populations to decline.

Zebra Finch
Finches are one of the smallest commonly kept pet bird. They are very social and should be kept in pairs or groups.
Animal Title: Zebra Finch
Scientific name: Taeniopygia guttata
Fun Fact: They build separate roosting and breeding nests
Animal info: Zebra finches are common, Australian finches and are names for their unique, striped pattern. They breed in large colonies of up to 50 nests.
Location: Australia
Lifespan: 2-5 years
Diet: herbivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Red Fox
A fox will constantly hunt for food, even if they are not hungry
Animal Title: Red Fox
Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes
Fun Fact: highly invasive in Australia
Animal info: The red fox is one of the most widely distributed carnivores and found across the entire northern hemisphere.
Location: Northern hemisphere
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Diet: carnivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Concure
Some conures can learn words and mimic speech

Canada Lynx
A lynx has natural snowshoes for feet. The majority of their diet comes from snowshoe hairs.
Age: 11 years
Birthday: February 3rd
Sex: Male
Favorite Food: Rabbit
Favorite Activity: Playing with feathers!
Habitat/Range: The Canada Lynx are found in boreal forests in North America. Their range extends from northern regions of the contiguous US, Alaska, and Canada.
Behavior: Canada Lynx are excellent hunters. Their feet act as natural “snowshoes” and allow them to pad silently through the night. They feed mainly on Snowshoe hares, and their populations are tied together in a cyclic relationship. When Snowshoe hares are abundant, lynx populations thrive. Eventually, hare populations decrease due to overhunting by the lynx. The lynx aren’t able to find food as easily and their population size decreases. This allows the Snowshoe hare population to recover which, in turn, allows the lynx population to recover. Lynx are solitary creatures other than the bond between mother and offspring and the very short time mates come together to breed.
Breeding: Canada Lynx breed between March and April. They give birth 2-3 months later to a litter of one to eight kittens. The kittens are weaned 12 weeks later.
Conservation: Listing: Least concern. Canada Lynx are regularly trapped for the international fur trade. However, they are protected in the southern parts of their range due to increased threat from habitat loss.

Porcupine
Porcupines can have up to 30,000 quills on their body.
Animal Title: North American Porcupine
Scientific name: Erethizon dorsatum
Fun Fact: I am the 3rd largest rodent
Animal info: Porcupines are mainly solitary, nocturnal creatures and spend most of their time in trees. Their quills protect them from predators.
Location: North America (US and Canada)
Lifespan: 5 years
Diet: Branches, tree bark, berries, and other vegetation
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Diamond Dove
Diamond Doves like to live nearby water. They come from Australia.
Animal Title: Diamond Dove
Scientific name: Geopelia cuneata
Fun Fact: Males have larger eye rings
Animal info: Diamond doves are tiny doves found in semi-arid regions of Australia. They are often seen in pairs or groups on the ground foraging on seeds.
Location: Australia
Lifespan: 10 years
Diet: green/ herbivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Coyote
Coyotes parent their young together as a pair.
Animal Title: Coyote
Scientific name: Canis latrans
Fun Fact: I have 11 different vocalizations
Animal info: Coyotes form monogamous pairs and travel in family packs, sometimes teaming up with other packs to take down large prey.
Location: North America
Lifespan: 10-14 years
Diet: carnivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Pelican
The Pelican family is 30 million years old. Pelicans use the pouch on their gull to capture food, not to store food.
Animal Title: American White Pelican
Scientific name: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Fun Fact: I grow a seasonal “bump” on my bill
Animal info: American white pelicans migrate from their breeding grounds in northern regions of the US/Canada to southern US/Mexico in the winter. They feed mainly on fish and are found near lakes and ponds in the spring/summer and in coastal regions in the winter.
Location: North/South America
Lifespan: 25 years
Diet: Fish pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Royal Ball Python
Royal Ball Pythons used to be worn by people (alive) as an accessory to show signs of royalty.

Sandhill Crane
They can travel more than 200 miles a day during migration. Sandhill cranes mostly eat plant material.
Animal Title: Sandhill Crane
Scientific name: Grus canadensis
Fun Fact: Baby sandhills are called colts
Animal info: These cranes are native to Utah and can be found in open fields or wetlands in the spring/summer. In the winter, they travel south and form flocks of thousands of individuals.
Location: North America
Lifespan: 20 years old
Diet: plants/inverts
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Capuchin Monkey
A capuchin’s tail is the same length as its body.
Animal Title: Tufted Capuchin
Scientific name: Cebus apella
Fun Fact: My tail is as long as my body
Animal info: Capuchins are found in both tropical and dry forests in groups of up to 20 individuals containing one dominant male.
Location: South America
Lifespan: 15-25 years
Diet: meat, grass, and insects pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Uromastyx
These lizards will actually inflate themselves once in a tight spot to wedge themselves inside.

African Grey Crowned Crane
These cranes usually roost in trees, unlike other cranes. It’s the national bird of Uganda.
Animal Title: African Grey Crowned Crane
Scientific name: Balearica regulorum
Fun Fact: I am the national bird of Uganda
Animal info: These Sub-Saharan cranes adapt to their dry environment by timing their breeding with the rainy seasons when more resources are available.
Location: Africa (Congo, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa)
Lifespan: 22 years
Diet: plants/inverts
Endangerment Level: Endangered

Muntjac Deer
Muntjac males have small tusk like canines
Animal Title: Reeves’s Muntjac
Scientific name: Muntiacus reevesi
Fun Fact: I am called the barking deer
Animal info: This small deer is found in rainforests, grasslands, and mountainous regions across its range and are able to breed any time of the year.
Location: Southeast Asia, tropical forest
Lifespan: 16 to 19 years
Diet: grass pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Great Horned Owl
Females are 20 percent bigger than males. Great Horned Owls are one of the heaviest owls.
Animal Title: Great Horned Owl
Scientific name: Bubo virginianus
Fun Fact: I can take down mammals larger than me
Animal info: These owls are common across North America and are found in a variety of habitats. They are stealthy, nocturnal hunters and can exert 28lbs of pressure when gripping prey in their talons.
Location: North and South America
Lifespan: 13 years
Diet: carnivore
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Sulcata Tortoise
The Sulcata Tortoise is the 3rd largest species of tortoise in the world.

Black Swan
Black Swans are Herbivores. They are very good fliers.
Animal Title: Black Swan
Scientific name: Cygnus atratus
Fun Fact: I will abandon my nests if it’s too dry
Animal info: Black Swans breed in southern Australia and have highly erratic migration patterns that depend on climate fluctuations. They are monogamous breeds and both partners take turns incubating the eggs.
Location: Australia
Lifespan: 15 years
Diet: herbivore
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Rabbits
Hotot rabbits are sometimes called “eyes of the fancy”.

Tarantula
Tarantulas are actually really calm and rarely bite people. They have retractable claws on each leg, like cats.

Russian Tortoise
A tortoise’s spine, ribs, and collar bone are all fused inside its shell.
Animal Title: Russian Tortoise
Scientific name: Testudo horsfieldii
Fun Fact: They were the first creatures to be sent to the moon
Animal info: Like all tortoises, they don’t require much water and get most of what they need from their food. They usually empty their bowels while soaking, which is a natural instinct to hide their scent from predators.
Location: Central Asia
Lifespan: 50 years
Diet:herbivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Vulnerable

Musk Turtle
When scared or defending themselves, they emit a foul “musky” smell from a gland, hence the name Musk Turtle. Musk turtle hatchlings are the smallest North American turtle.

American Box Turtle
Box turtles have a “hinge” in the middle of their shell that the use to close up the front of their shell, like a box.
Animal Title: Box Turtle- American, Asian
Scientific name: Terrapene
Fun Fact: Western box turtles are native to Utah
xAnimal info:Several species of box turtle are found throughout North America. They are actually terrapins which are semi-aquatic (in-between turtles and tortoises). They have a specialized hinge which allows them to “box off” their head.
Location: North America/Asia
Lifespan: 40 years
Diet: Insect/herbivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Vulnerable

Bearded Dragon
They can run up to 9 miles per hour. Bearded Dragons wave their arms at each other to show recognition of others.

Snapping Turtle
Snapping turtles are actually nocturnal . They cannot retract into their shell, which is why the have the ability to “snap” and defend themselves.
Animal Title: Common Snapping Turtle
Scientific name: Chelydra serpentina
Fun Fact: They kill other turtles by biting off their heads
Animal info: Snapping turtles use their powerful, beak-like jaws to eat a variety of small mammals, insects, fish, and plants. They remain active under the ice during the winter.
Location: Eastern north america
Lifespan: 30 years
Diet: omnivore- grass, meat, and insect pictograph
Endangerment Level: least concern

Gopher Snake
These snakes are harmless (not poisonous) but are often confused for rattle snakes and killed. They are Native to North America.

Senegal Parrot
Animal Title: Senegal Parrot
Scientific name: Poicephalus senegalus
Fun Fact: I am considered a pest in Africa
Animal info: These colorful parrots migrate in flocks through Western Africa and feed on fruits, seeds, and blossoms. They rely heavily on oil palms for feeding as well as nesting in tree hollows.
Location: Western Africa
Lifespan: 25-30 years
Diet: herbivore pictograph
Endangerment Level: Least concern

Lemurs
Our lemurs are getting moved into their new exhibit soon! However with moving comes new furnishings.
Thank you to our current adoptees:
Alex, Emily, and Ben Wild
Callin Westwood
Aubree Fuller

Foxes
Flame and scarlet would love some new enrichment opportunities! Adopt a fox today to help provide them with that opportunity to help them be engaged and healthy with their zoo environment!

Coyotes
Rufus and Sage are getting a bigger enclosure! However there is still supplies that are needed to help get their enclosure to where it needs to be. Adopt a coyote to help contribute to their needs!

Reptiles
We have many, many reptiles at the zoo that would love to have a nice display exhibit. Your adoption of a reptile will help us get new display enclosures and exhibits for them! Choose from the list below: Turtles, Tortoises, Snakes, Lizards
Thank you to our current adoptees:
Mar and Juli: Sulcata Tortoises

Porcupines & Raccoons
Our porcupines and raccoons are always looking for new enrichment toys and in need of fresh produce! Adopt one today to help them thrive!

Birds of Prey
We have multiple different birds of prey at Zootah! They need very specific care and special interaction time. Choose from the birds below:
Great Horned Owl- Ashley and Shadowfax, Western Screech Owl- Whodini, Red Tailed Hawk- Sydney, Bald Eagle- Steel
Thank you to our current adoptees: Neil and Tova Jones Family (Bald Eagle)

Caracals
The caracal exhibit is expanding, and they need help getting a new warm den and creating better viewing access! Your donation will go towards their new exhibit!
Thank you to out current adoptees: Christine Maughan

Tropical birds/Parrots
We have been raising money for Blu’s new enclosure but still have a little ways to go. Your donation will help get his enclosure funded! Or if you would like to adopt one of our tropical birds or parrots, your donation will go towards their enrichment.

Small Mammals
Small mammals love to chew! They always need new toys/games to keep their mouths busy, as well as places to hide and nest!
Thanks to our current adoptees: Bridger Westwood- Sugar Gliders

Trumpeter Swan
This new animal addition to the zoo was made possible by our current adoptee: John A. Kerr