Latest news with #OhioCenterforWildlifeConservation
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Columbus Zoo to open new $40 million North America Trek expansion this month
After years of anticipation, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has officially announced an opening date for the first phase of its renovated North America Trek region. On May 23, the zoo will host a special community dedication ceremony at 10 a.m., after which guests can enter and explore the trek themselves. The redesigned region — which has been in the works since 2021 and represents one of the largest long-term projects the zoo has seen in over a decade — will mimic the feeling of a national park, from the Great Smoky Mountains' forest-covered peaks to the American Southwest's rocky cliffs, according to a zoo news release Tuesday. Jen Fields, the zoo's director of communications, said in an email this first phase of the renovation of the zoo's oldest region cost roughly $40 million and covers eight acres of land. The second phase — which is currently in the planning stages and does not have a confirmed timeline — will cover an additional six acres, Fields said. The trek will also feature the Ohio Center for Wildlife Conservation, a new area that teaches about and features local endangered animals, such as Plains garter snakes and freshwater mussels. 'This transformation revitalizes the Zoo's oldest region, originally opened in 1985, into a conservation-focused destination filled with naturalistic design, winding trails, and unforgettable views—all created with animal well-being at the heart of every design,' the zoo reported in a Tuesday Facebook post. Prior to the North America Trek's debut, the zoo's most recent major addition was Adventure Cove, a $40-million project that opened in 2020, Fields said. She said this expansion is one of the zoo's largest capital projects since its Heart of Africa region opened in 2014. Though the trek's 'core experience' is ready, there are still final touches that will likely not be completed by the May 23 opening date, the post states. Specifically, certain animal species may not be visible to guests as they continue to settle into their new habitats. The region's newly featured species include Mexican wolves, bald eagles, river otters, black bears and more, according to the zoo's release. The second phase of the region's expansion will feature updated habitats for animals like wolverines, moose, reindeer and more. The trek, designed by PGAV Destinations and built by Pepper Construction, was developed with sustainability and the animals' well-being as the top priorities. 'Reclaimed soil, rescued trees, ADA-accessible pathways, green roofs, and naturalistic landscapes all contribute to a space that is both beautiful and ecologically responsible,' the zoo's release states. Emma Wozniak is a summer reporting intern at The Dispatch and can be reached at ewozniak@ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Zoo to open North American Trek in major expansion
Axios
30-01-2025
- General
- Axios
Helping Ohio's most endangered snake
The tiny baby snakes raised at the Columbus Zoo are barely the size of a pencil, but they have a big job ahead of them: saving their species. Why it matters: The plains garter snake is one of Ohio's most endangered reptiles. A breeding program at the zoo has helped prevent its local extinction in recent years. The pest-eating carnivores are an important part of keeping nature in balance. How it works: For about 20 years, the zoo has housed snakes, raised their young and released them into the wild each summer. They're tagged with microscopic devices for identification, similar to a pet microchip. The snakes were once common across Ohio, but are now isolated to the state-managed Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area. Releases occur there, about an hour northwest of Columbus. By the numbers: The zoo has released over 400 babies so far, program leader Tara Archer tells Axios. An average litter ranges from six to 21, based on the mother's age and size. The big picture: The project is just one example of the zoo's behind-the-scenes work helping Ohio's endangered native animals. A new Ohio Center for Wildlife Conservation in the zoo will soon showcase these efforts front-and-center for the first time. The center will open in late spring or early summer as part of the North America region's ongoing $40 million renovation, a spokesperson says. Other featured creatures will include hellbender salamanders, burying beetles and freshwater mussels. Between the lines: The plains garter snake's disappearance points to larger problems with the ecosystems in our backyards. Its Ohio population plummeted by 94% between the 1970s and 1999 because suburban expansion and farming decimated its prairie habitat. Yes, but: Surveyors regularly find snakes in new fields throughout Killdeer Plains, suggesting their numbers are increasing, conservation biologist Greg Lipps tells Axios. The current population is likely a few thousand, based on a rough estimates. What we're watching: It will be difficult to get the snake off Ohio's endangered species list due to its limited range, but the zoo may release babies into other areas someday, Lipps says. The bottom line:"There's a lot of focus on polar bears and ice caps and the Amazon, and those are important — but there's local conservation happening here that is equally as important," Archer tells Axios. "I'm excited for visitors to be able to see that." Go deeper: Kick off the Year of the Snake with a few fun factsss
