As warm weather returns, Lincoln Park Zoo springs to life. Animals venture into their outdoor enclosures, eager to dig, climb, and bask in the sunshine. Throughout the zoo, trees and shrubs are turning green as the zoo’s gardens explode with more than 1,000 species of plants and flowers.This month’s Wish List features unique items to help the zoo—and the animals who live here—welcome spring in style. Thank you for your support!
Wish List
Fun in the Sun!
Enrichment devices can be used in myriad ways to keep the seals at Kovler Seal Pool swimming, diving, and playing all summer long! These curious animals love pushing boomer balls through the water as they bob and roll. Holes can also be drilled in the bobbins and balls to conceal delicious treats hidden inside. Keep the seals playing poolside with a variety of new enrichment this summer!
Enrichment devices can be used in myriad ways to keep the seals at Kovler Seal Pool swimming, diving, and playing all summer long! These curious animals love pushing boomer balls through the water as they bob and roll. Holes can also be drilled in the bobbins and balls to conceal delicious treats hidden inside. Keep the seals playing poolside with a variety of new enrichment this summer!
$9
Quantity
‘Hole’ Foods
Chimpanzees are highly intelligent primates renowned for tool use. The troop at the zoo uses thin, flexible branches to dig out condiments, like honey, ketchup, and peanut butter, from specially designed feeder tubes—similar to the way wild chimpanzees extract insects from real termite mounds. Help keep the feeders stocked with sticky, savory condiments!
Chimpanzees are highly intelligent primates renowned for tool use. The troop at the zoo uses thin, flexible branches to dig out condiments, like honey, ketchup, and peanut butter, from specially designed feeder tubes—similar to the way wild chimpanzees extract insects from real termite mounds. Help keep the feeders stocked with sticky, savory condiments!
$5
Quantity
Aavocado Aficionado
Avocados are a favorite snack of Lincoln Park Zoo's resident aardvark: Paatsy. Keepers stuff termite mound-shaped feeders with this green fruit to encourage natural foraging behaviors. Loaded with nutrients, these green goodies will have Paatsy ‘guac’-ing and rolling all day long!
Avocados are a favorite snack of Lincoln Park Zoo's resident aardvark: Paatsy. Keepers stuff termite mound-shaped feeders with this green fruit to encourage natural foraging behaviors. Loaded with nutrients, these green goodies will have Paatsy ‘guac’-ing and rolling all day long!
$10
Quantity
Lend a Hand
Gardening is hands-on work! Help us keep our hands in good shape by sponsoring gloves for Horticulture staff.
Gardening is hands-on work! Help us keep our hands in good shape by sponsoring gloves for Horticulture staff.
$12
Quantity
The Grass Is Always Greener…
The ponies at Farm-in-the-Zoo spend warm spring days grazing in their outdoor yards. Caretakers at the farm plant a specially formulated grass seed mix designed to withstand grazing and provide the ponies with the digestible fiber their diet requires. Ensure amazing grazing this year with durable and delicious grass!
The ponies at Farm-in-the-Zoo spend warm spring days grazing in their outdoor yards. Caretakers at the farm plant a specially formulated grass seed mix designed to withstand grazing and provide the ponies with the digestible fiber their diet requires. Ensure amazing grazing this year with durable and delicious grass!
$8
Quantity
‘Croc’ Around the Clock
West African dwarf crocodiles are slow moving, timid reptiles that can grow up to five-and-a-half-feet long and weigh 70 pounds. Surprisingly, these crocs don’t often hunt big prey, primarily feeding on crabs, frogs, fish, and, occasionally, small mammals that wander into the water. At Lincoln Park Zoo, we feed the crocs a mix of seafood, in addition to some leafy greens to enhance their diet. Help the crocs snack ‘til broad daylight with a healthy heap of lettuce!
West African dwarf crocodiles are slow moving, timid reptiles that can grow up to five-and-a-half-feet long and weigh 70 pounds. Surprisingly, these crocs don’t often hunt big prey, primarily feeding on crabs, frogs, fish, and, occasionally, small mammals that wander into the water. At Lincoln Park Zoo, we feed the crocs a mix of seafood, in addition to some leafy greens to enhance their diet. Help the crocs snack ‘til broad daylight with a healthy heap of lettuce!
$12
Quantity
On the Fly
Spring migration is in full swing! During April and May, millions of migrating birds will travel through Chicago on their way to northern destinations. In our efforts to make the trip a little easier, help us place decals on windows throughout the zoo—such as the large glass viewing shelters at Regenstein Macaque Forest—to keep migratory birds safe.
Spring migration is in full swing! During April and May, millions of migrating birds will travel through Chicago on their way to northern destinations. In our efforts to make the trip a little easier, help us place decals on windows throughout the zoo—such as the large glass viewing shelters at Regenstein Macaque Forest—to keep migratory birds safe.
$5
Quantity
Flower Power
Welcome spring with tulips and daffodils! Across zoo grounds, Horticulture staff will plant approximately 3,500 bulbs this spring. Help us purchase some bulbs today…and enjoy beautiful blooms throughout the spring!
Welcome spring with tulips and daffodils! Across zoo grounds, Horticulture staff will plant approximately 3,500 bulbs this spring. Help us purchase some bulbs today…and enjoy beautiful blooms throughout the spring!
$9
Quantity
‘Turtle’-ly Awesome Snacks
Within the boggy habitats in Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo live a variety of turtle species. Keepers present their favorite fruits and vegetables skewered on kabobs to foster natural foraging behaviors and encourage the turtles to move about and use their long necks to reach for hanging treats. Help Animal Care staff deliver a meal with a four-star presentation for the turtles!
Within the boggy habitats in Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo live a variety of turtle species. Keepers present their favorite fruits and vegetables skewered on kabobs to foster natural foraging behaviors and encourage the turtles to move about and use their long necks to reach for hanging treats. Help Animal Care staff deliver a meal with a four-star presentation for the turtles!
$7
Quantity
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Healthy plants need good dirt! Compost and soil amendments improve the health and vigor of our gardens. Keep our gardens growing from root to tip with an infusion of new soil!
Healthy plants need good dirt! Compost and soil amendments improve the health and vigor of our gardens. Keep our gardens growing from root to tip with an infusion of new soil!
$7
Quantity
‘Toad’-aly Irresistible
The small mammals and reptiles that inhabit the ecosystem at Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo thrive in a humid environment. A special misting system keeps their home moist and tropical—exactly how they like it! Chip in for some new nozzles for the pump and assist with the mist!
The small mammals and reptiles that inhabit the ecosystem at Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo thrive in a humid environment. A special misting system keeps their home moist and tropical—exactly how they like it! Chip in for some new nozzles for the pump and assist with the mist!
$9
Quantity
Meerkat ‘Manners’
Resident female meerkats Queen, Alanis, and Miranda enjoy hard-boiled eggs as part of their specialized diet to supply essential vitamins and oils. Share this ‘eggs’-traordinary snack with the meerkat mob today!
Resident female meerkats Queen, Alanis, and Miranda enjoy hard-boiled eggs as part of their specialized diet to supply essential vitamins and oils. Share this ‘eggs’-traordinary snack with the meerkat mob today!
$12
Quantity
‘Mice,’ ‘Mice,’ Baby!
Often mistaken for an owl, the tawny frogmouth is actually a member of the nightjar family and is named for its large mouth. At Lincoln Park Zoo, the tawny frogmouths eat insects and small mammals, like mice. Don’t miss your chance to give these birds the VIP treatment with a delicious meal of mice!
Often mistaken for an owl, the tawny frogmouth is actually a member of the nightjar family and is named for its large mouth. At Lincoln Park Zoo, the tawny frogmouths eat insects and small mammals, like mice. Don’t miss your chance to give these birds the VIP treatment with a delicious meal of mice!
$10
Quantity
Taste the Rainbow
Rainbow trout provide Lincoln Park Zoo’s polar bears with exciting enrichment and tasty nutrition! Polar bears satisfy their natural hunting instincts by “fishing” for live rainbow trout in their stream and pool at Walter Family Arctic Tundra. When they make a successful catch, they’re enhancing their diet with the fat and protein they need to flourish. Want to give the Siku and Talini a special treat this spring? Go fish!
Rainbow trout provide Lincoln Park Zoo’s polar bears with exciting enrichment and tasty nutrition! Polar bears satisfy their natural hunting instincts by “fishing” for live rainbow trout in their stream and pool at Walter Family Arctic Tundra. When they make a successful catch, they’re enhancing their diet with the fat and protein they need to flourish. Want to give the Siku and Talini a special treat this spring? Go fish!
$8
Quantity
Spring Chicken
Keepers provide animals at Lincoln Park Zoo with a variety of enrichment items to keep animals active and healthy, and to foster natural behaviors. Chickens love to push around ping pong balls, which stimulate their natural investigative behavior. The chickens at Farm-in-the-Zoo will have a ball with a new set of ping pong balls!
Keepers provide animals at Lincoln Park Zoo with a variety of enrichment items to keep animals active and healthy, and to foster natural behaviors. Chickens love to push around ping pong balls, which stimulate their natural investigative behavior. The chickens at Farm-in-the-Zoo will have a ball with a new set of ping pong balls!
$4
Quantity
Side Dish of Crawfish
Native to the United States, North American river otters feed on fish, crayfish, insects, turtles, frogs, and other animals they catch in the water. To satisfy the otters’ briney cravings, keepers feed crawfish by the pound to the otters at Lincoln Park Zoo. Dish out a share of appetizing crustaceans for the otters!
Native to the United States, North American river otters feed on fish, crayfish, insects, turtles, frogs, and other animals they catch in the water. To satisfy the otters’ briney cravings, keepers feed crawfish by the pound to the otters at Lincoln Park Zoo. Dish out a share of appetizing crustaceans for the otters!
$3
Quantity
‘Pasta’ La Vista, Baby!
Lincoln Park Zoo’s resident sloths devour a plethora of carbs, starches, and veggies every single day…albeit slowly! A favorite foraging item for these omnivores is small pieces of pasta scattered within their habitat. Say hello to delicious snacks for the sloths by purchasing a share of pasta!
Lincoln Park Zoo’s resident sloths devour a plethora of carbs, starches, and veggies every single day…albeit slowly! A favorite foraging item for these omnivores is small pieces of pasta scattered within their habitat. Say hello to delicious snacks for the sloths by purchasing a share of pasta!
$6
Quantity
Vulture Culture
Help encourage Linda and Grimm’s scavenging and problem-solving behaviors with a plethora of enrichment items designed specifically for cinereous vultures. From spools and bobbins to food hidden within mop heads and small paper boxes, each item creates an enriching experience mixed with mealtime!
Help encourage Linda and Grimm’s scavenging and problem-solving behaviors with a plethora of enrichment items designed specifically for cinereous vultures. From spools and bobbins to food hidden within mop heads and small paper boxes, each item creates an enriching experience mixed with mealtime!
$6
Quantity
The ‘Bear’ Necessities
Bobbins are enrichment devices that can be used in myriad ways to keep the black bears playing and foraging all summer long! Whether spinning in the air on a zipline or kicked around their habitat, the bears will do whatever it takes to extract the delicious treats concealed within. Supply the bears with a new bobbin this spring!
Bobbins are enrichment devices that can be used in myriad ways to keep the black bears playing and foraging all summer long! Whether spinning in the air on a zipline or kicked around their habitat, the bears will do whatever it takes to extract the delicious treats concealed within. Supply the bears with a new bobbin this spring!
$10
Quantity
Curious Colony
African penguins are always investigating their surroundings. Keepers provide a range of enrichment to keep the penguins active—from rattling stainless-steel toys to colorful feeders that conceal tasty treats inside. Don’t let the opportunity float past you to provide penguins with a plethora of enrichment!
African penguins are always investigating their surroundings. Keepers provide a range of enrichment to keep the penguins active—from rattling stainless-steel toys to colorful feeders that conceal tasty treats inside. Don’t let the opportunity float past you to provide penguins with a plethora of enrichment!
$4
Quantity
‘Zebra’ La Vida
Unique feeders provided to the Grevy’s zebras encourage them to forage for food throughout their habitat while also promoting a natural feeding posture. The Play Hay—a spherical toy filled with treats or hay—offers opportunities to engage in natural feeding behaviors, such as slow feeding and grazing. Guarantee the zebras will live life to the fullest by chipping in for a new feeder today!
Unique feeders provided to the Grevy’s zebras encourage them to forage for food throughout their habitat while also promoting a natural feeding posture. The Play Hay—a spherical toy filled with treats or hay—offers opportunities to engage in natural feeding behaviors, such as slow feeding and grazing. Guarantee the zebras will live life to the fullest by chipping in for a new feeder today!
$12
Quantity