Zoos of Wisconsin

One of the pet stores by me has had Nile Monitor and Tegu, alongside Sharks and Eels

 

Henry Vilas Zoo (Madison, WI)
This nice little zoo is the model of what small zoos should be. With the exception of a single scorpion terrarium, all the enclosures are average or better and the animals are almost always active. This zoo has been renovating a lot in recent years, adding amazing exhibits like Arctic Passage, which won AZA's Top Honors award in 2017, and Hamel Family Wines Wisconsin Heritage, which has what is arguably the best badger exhibit in the county. But while the exhibit quality goes up, the collection is declining. The zoo has lost some of its more interesting reptiles and invertebrates, and their bird collection has really gone downhill in recent years. Regardless, Henry Vilas remains a great zoo.


Outdoor lemur exhibit (roatates Ring-Tailed and Black-And-White Ruffed) (photo by @snowleopard)


White Rhino yard (photo by @snowleopard)


Black-Tailed Prairie Dog exhibit (photo by @snowleopard)


Meerkat indoor exhibit (photo by @snowleopard)


Rainforest Aviary interior (photo by @snowleopard)


Polar Bear exhibit (photo by @Wild wolverine)


American Badger outdoor exhibit (Wisconsin Heritage) (photo by @birdsandbats)

 

International Crane Foundation (Baraboo, WI)
This specialist collection focuses, as its name suggests, on cranes. Situated on a large restored prairie, this facility is the only place in the world you can see all 15 species of these majestic birds. ICF keeps most of its cranes on grassy lawn-like enclosures, though some species get their very own wetland. This facility is closed all this year in order to convert those lawns into wetland enclosures. ICF also does a lot of work both in the United States and overseas, helping to restore habitat for cranes and other animals.


Whooping Crane Wetland (photo by @snowleopard)


Red-Crowned Crane lawn (photo by @snowleopard)


Wattled Crane wetland (photo by @Otter Lord)

 

Baraboo also has Ochsner Park Zoo and the rather mediocre Circus World Musueum, which has shows for big cats and elephants.

 

I am aware and have been to both facilities. Ochsner will be coming soon. I don't consiter Circus World a zoo, but I understand that some might and may do a post on that facility as well.

 

Ochsner Park Zoo (Baraboo, WI)
Baraboo's other zoo is very small. This downtown zoo (though "downtown Baraboo" doesn't mean much) is very limited in size, so it makes up for this limitation with one concept: mixed-species exhibits. Ochsner is the king of mixed exhibits. For example, the largest exhibit in the zoo houses White-Tailed Deer, Sandhill Crane, Bald Eagle, Canada Goose, and formerly Tundra Swan. But some are more, um, experimental, like American Black Bear/Chukar/Great Horned Owl. But, by and large, all the exhibits here are average or better, whether mixed or not, and I hope the zoo continues to improve in its quest for AZA accreditation.


Portion of White-Tailed Deer/Canada Goose/Sandhill Crane/Bald Eagle exhibit (photo by @birdsandbats)


American Black Bear/Chukar/Great Horned Owl exhibit (photo by @snowleopard)


Barred Owl/Striped Skunk exhibit (yes, you read that right) (photo by @birdsandbats)


Gray Wolf yard (photo by @snowleopard)