ZooAmerica

ZooAmerica is a zoo in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. It was started in 1910 by Milton S. Hershey with just a few animals like bears, birds, and deer.

Now, it covers 11 acres and homes more than 75 species and 200 animals. Some of these animals are rare and endangered.

The zoo is owned by the Hershey Trust Company and is connected to Hersheypark. It is approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). This means the zoo follows strict rules for caring for animals and teaching visitors about wildlife. ZooAmerica helps protect animals and teaches people about them.

History

20th century

In 1905, a family named the Zinners moved to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and gave some prairie dogs to Milton S. Hershey. Hershey used them as an attraction at his park. In 1910, Hershey got a black bear and decided to build a zoo with bears, birds, deer, and other animals.

The zoo opened in 1910 and added more animals like goats, squirrels, and peacocks. By 1916, the zoo had hundreds of animals. In 1934, it covered more than 40 acres and had a reptile house and baby elephants, which were later sold.

After Milton Hershey passed away, the zoo got new animals like sheep, antelope, and wolves. In 1971, the zoo closed for renovations and reopened in 1972 with new areas like a monkey island and a petting zoo. In 1982, ZooAmerica became accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a big achievement for zoos.

21st century

In 2000, ZooAmerica opened a new bear exhibit with hills, grass, toys, and a large swimming pond. In 2004, the zoo started a program to teach kids about conservation, and in 2009, they finished building a new education center for guests to learn about animals.

Exhibits

Southern Swamps

The Southern Swamps area at ZooAmerica shows animals from warm, marshy places. You can see animals like the cottonmouth, roseate spoonbill, fiddler crab, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, bluespotted sunfish, gopher tortoise, pygmy rattlesnake, corn snake, barred owl, Florida gar, alligator snapping turtle and American alligator.

Great Southwest

The Great Southwest has animals that stay up at night, armadillos, and birds that can fly freely. Some animals here are the thick-billed parrot, blue spiny lizard, Mexican beaded lizard, chuckwalla, Gila monster, roadrunner, Gambel's quail, burrowing owl, desert tortoise, nine-banded armadillo, Arizona mountain kingsnake, Texas banded gecko, common vampire bat, sidewinder, gopher snake, rosy boa, black-footed ferret, ocelot, ringtail, coati and desert box turtle.

Eastern Woodlands

The Eastern Woodlands shows how animals live in the eastern United States as their homes change. You might see the red-tailed hawk, barn owl, bobcat, river otter, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and black bear.

Big Sky Country

Big Sky Country lets you see animals in spaces that look like their natural homes. There are big grassy areas and spots that mimic mountain bottoms. Animals here include the black-tailed prairie dog, common raven, American elk, mountain lion, long-eared owl, sandhill crane, turkey vulture, and pronghorn.

Northlands

The Northlands features animals from very cold places, from Newfoundland to Alaska. You can see the snowy owl, peregrine falcon, gray wolf, bald eagle, porcupine, American marten and Canada lynx. This area shows how these animals survive in freezing temperatures.

Conservation

ZooAmerica helps protect animals by taking part in special breeding programs called the Species Survival Plan. The zoo cares for thick-billed parrots, Canada lynx, black-footed ferret, and ocelots. In the past, it also helped with swift foxes.

The zoo has been important for bringing back golden eagles and peregrine falcons that were in danger. It has raised many birds of prey to set free, such as a peregrine falcon that later nested along the Susquehanna River.

Since 2011, ZooAmerica has worked with Fort Indiantown Gap to raise Regal Fritillary butterflies to release into the wild. In 2014, two naturalists at ZooAmerica, Tim Becker and Ann Holzman, were honored for their work in bringing back the regal fritillary butterfly to Pennsylvania.

Controversy

In September 2011, heavy rain from Tropical Storm Lee caused flooding in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The rain was more than ever recorded since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Spring Creek, which runs through Hershey Park and ZooAmerica, overflowed. Most animals were moved to safe places. Sadly, the flooding became too strong, and one bison drowned. Nine prairie dogs also could not survive the flood.

In popular culture

Literature

ZooAmerica is mentioned in books such as The Mystery in Chocolate Town...Hershey, Pennsylvania by Carole Marsh and Milton Hershey: Young Chocolatier by M.M. Eboch.

Movies

The zoo is talked about in the movie Milton Hershey: The Chocolate King. The film was narrated by Jack Perkins. You can watch it on Netflix and Biography.com.