Visitor FAQ

You shouldn’t expect a “big city zoo” experience. We’re small, and we like it that way! Our mantra is “Quality over Quantity,” meaning we focus on large, ideal habitats rather than how many animals we have.

When you visit our Zoo, we invite you to slow down, enjoy the natural beauty, and be in the moment. Rest in the shade of the Sensory Garden. Bring a picnic basket.

Yes and yes! ZooMontana hosts a variety of annual-favorite events, including Party for the Planet and Boo at the Zoo, and we offer private rentals for weddings, birthday parties, reunions, and fundraisers. Venues on our grounds can accommodate gatherings from small groups to large community events.

Of course. Is there anything better than a field trip to the Zoo? ZooMontana offers self-guided and ZooEducator-led field trips during our normal hours. Guided tours typically last 60–90 minutes, and advance registration is required for group rates and educational tours.

Yes, and we’d be honored if you joined as a member. An active ZooMontana Membership provides unlimited free admission, discounts on events and gift shop purchases, access to members-only communications, early entry during the summer season, and more!

You’ll also receive free or reduced admission to more than 150 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums across North America.

By you! ZooMontana is one of the few zoos that is not funded through public support such as taxes or levies. Instead, our funding comes from admissions, events, donations, gift shop sales, and membership.

If you visit regularly, attend events, shop at the Wild Side Gift Shop, and enjoy being a member, we have you to thank for keeping the lights on and contributing to the quality animal care we provide the Zoo’s residents.

THANK YOU!

Yes, we are. ZooMontana is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), an accreditation held by fewer than 10% of wildlife exhibitors in the United States. This accreditation recognizes high standards for animal care, conservation, and education.

Our Zoo received its most recent accreditation in 2025. The AZA accreditation process is rigorous and speaks to our organizational strength.

ZooMontana cares for more than 100 animals representing more than 50 species, including grizzly bears, gray wolves, the Amur tiger, North American river otters, bald eagles, the Canada lynx, and takin.

Most of the animals at the Zoo are rescues or animals that cannot be released back into the wild.

There are a few species, such as the red panda and wolverine, that call our Zoo home because they’re part of a Species Survival Plan Program. These programs are organized by the AZA and work to support endangered or vulnerable species.

We knew you were going to ask that! ZooMontana doesn’t care for giraffes because we care deeply about giraffes.

As a rule of thumb, our Zoo only features animals from the 45th parallel north from around the world. This allows the animals to be outdoors the majority of the year and ensures they have the best quality of life possible.

Can you imagine a giraffe enjoying Montana winters?

We love being natural here! All of the water features throughout the Zoo are natural, meaning we use no chemicals.

Chemical treatment may make the water clearer, but that doesn’t mean it would be better for the health of the resident animals.

Like we said, we love being natural here! We let the grass in and around animal habitats grow long on purpose.

We like giving the animals a natural feel in their homes, as well as the security of places to hide if they desire. Long grass is a great way to do this, and we don’t have to mow as often.

That’s a win-win.

Nope! If you see cardboard, paper, or other peculiar items in the habitats, they are enrichment items. Enrichment is a fancier term for toys, and they provide mental stimulus for an animal, the same way they do for us.

Stimuli can be in the form of play, smell, and touch.

Have you ever given your cat a shoebox to play with? The same idea is at work here. And yes, big cats enjoy boxes just as much as house cats.

The majority of animals that call ZooMontana home are rescues, including animals that have been permanently injured or kept illegally as pets.

ZooMontana takes pride in giving animals a second chance.

Those that are not rescues are part of crucial breeding programs designed for species survival, genetic diversity, and biologically sound populations.

We’re always happy to talk about the Zoo! If you’d like to ask a question or pass along a comment, give us a call at (406) 652-8100 or email us at [email protected].