This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium.
Simplified: Many of the animals at the Great Plains Zoo are well-suited for winter weather, but even so, there are a number of ways zookeepers and staff work to ensure all animals are comfortable regardless of the outside temperature.
Why it matters
- Several species can tolerate cold weather well, according to Great Plains Zoo Director of Animal Care Joel Locke, but even then there are indoor habitat options and heaters available.
- For animals that aren't as acclimated to cold weather, there are options to keep warm both inside and outside. The lions, for example, have a heated patio so they can still enjoy their outdoor habitat even if it's colder outside than they'd prefer.
- In addition to the resources to keep animals warm, there are also a number of spots for guests to get inside and warm up on the zoo campus, including the new lion building, as well as the various buildings that house primates, giraffes, rhinos and red pandas.
"The winter brings some of the best times to come to the zoo," Locke said. "If you can bear the cold, we have a lot of species that are super active come winter time."
Tell me more about how animals stay comfy in the cold
Many of the species at the zoo come from cold climates, so they're naturally comfortable even in colder temperatures.
- The snow monkeys are the northernmost non-human primate, Locke said, and their physiology allows them to be outside and comfortable even in sub-zero temperatures.
- The Asian cats – snow leopard, Amur tiger, Pallas cats – are also well suited for the cold and may even be more active in the winter months than in warmer parts of the year.
- Even the bears are active in winter and will come out on nice days.
- And, of course, the bison are native to South Dakota and built for these temperatures.
Other animals that prefer warmer temperatures, like kangaroos or flamingos, will likely spend more time inside during the winter.
Locke also noted that veterinary staff can actually have an easier time keeping animals healthy in colder months because there aren't mosquitos, flies or fecal parasites around when it's super chilly.
Anything else I need to know about visiting the zoo in the winter?
Be sure to dress for the weather, and know that if you get too cold there are buildings for you to warm up in as well.
You can also visit the zoo on Zoo Lover's Day and get free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27.
