Snowy Days at the Zoo

There’s ‘snow’ place like Lincoln Park Zoo during the winter months! Fresh snowfall recently blanketed the Windy City. Chicagoans may have differing opinions on the snow, but species across the zoo found unique ways of enjoying the fresh snowfall.

Freya the snowy owl was spotted sitting on a snow mound. Did you notice the mouse tail by her foot? This unique species has such acute hearing that they can locate mammals under heavy vegetation or snow.

At Kovler Seal Pool, the seals had a snow day of their own, made complete by snow piles with Jell-O—a favorite food enrichment.

Even species at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House received some snow-filled enrichment. Both Minnie the tree shrew and the dwarf mongooses received quite the snowy surprise.

The cold never bothered them anyway! Surprising to many, the Chilean flamingo flock at the zoo is well-suited to Chicago winters. This species is able to tolerate extreme conditions, like the elevated altitudes of the Andes.

And, at Walter Family Arctic Tundra, Siku and Talini were spotted playing in the fresh snowfall.

It’s hard not to be smitten with Lincoln Park Zoo during the winter! Are you missing the zoo and the unique species that call it home during the temporary closure? Be sure to check out the virtual happenings, including Virtual Animal Experiences and Live Virtual Zoo Tours.