Zoo Tales

“COME WINTER WITH US AT THE NORTH CAROLINA ZOO!”

Story & Photos by Kristi Johnson Marion

Winter is a wonderful season to visit the North Carolina Zoo. As temperatures drop, crowds become smaller, and many of our animals become more active in their habitats. The North Carolina Zoo is open daily in the winter months from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., so it is a great adventure to get the kids out of the house and for friends and family visiting. You’ll find more animals actively roaming their habitats in the cooler weather, such as the bison, elk, American red wolves, and polar bears, and arctic foxes. Be sure to stop by and give a warm welcome to our new grizzly bear, Ronan, who just arrived! Great escapes from the chilly air include our Aviary and Desert dome, both beautiful heated indoor habitats. Both habitats are covered by glass domes

for maximum sunlight and warmed to mimic tropical and desert temps and feature gorgeous gardens and unique wildlife.

Tropical Aviary

Step out of the cold and into a tropical paradise! The Aviary is a free-flight bird habitat, home to more than 100 birds and 3,000 tropical plants. It’s a lush area to sit on a bench and read a book or sketch a plant. Be sure to arrive at Aviary opening time at 10:00 a.m. to see a flurry of activity as the keepers feed the birds.

Desert

Warm your bones in the Desert dome! This colorful arid desert habitat is home to towering Saguaro and other cacti, free-flying desert birds, and an array of lizards, desert tortoises, a porcupine, and nocturnal species such as vampire bats, spiders, and the popular sand cats and ocelots!

Polar Bear Romance

One spectacular scene at the Zoo only seen in the winter months is the pairing of our polar bears. Polar bears Anana (female) and Payton (male) have separate habitats throughout most of the year at the Zoo. The Winter months are the natural breeding season for polar bears in the wild, so during this time, Payton and Anana will be reintroduced and share their habitat in hopes of a successful breeding season! Be sure to stop by our “Rocky Coast” to visit these lovebirds on your trek through our North America section and wish them luck in producing a polar bear cub!

Arctic Foxes

Another treat during the winter months is the return of the fluffy snowy-white coat of the arctic foxes. Say hello to arctic foxes Rizzo and Harley while you are visiting Rocky Coast habitats! Arctic foxes sport a thick, full, and fluffy white coat in winter. Their coats shed in the warmer months, turning a salt-and-pepper grey. This helps camouflage the arctic foxes and hide them from predators and prey from season to season.

Winter Tips for Visiting the Zoo

Note that the Africa entrance and parking lot are closed from November to March, but all the African animal habitats are open! Guests should park, enter, and exit through the North America entrance. Admissions sales for entry are open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day during the winter season. Please note that the Zoo closes at 4 p.m. from November 4 to March 31, 2022. Remember, NC Zoo Society Members receive free admission and free or reduced admission at many other partner zoos and aquariums. Membership makes a great Christmas gift! If you're not a member of the North Carolina Zoo, this might be the time to become one! Visit www.nczoo.com to learn more about the benefits of being a member of the Zoo. For more information about admission, weatherrelated closings, animals, habitats, Covid-19 protocols, membership, and more, visit nczoo.org.