Blog
Who’s Who at the Zoo- Education Manager
Hi! My name is Julia Benzel, and I am so excited to be the new Zoo Education Manager! Animal care and conservation education are my passions. I began volunteering as a JZK at Miller Park Zoo in sixth grade. As I aged through the program, presented informal programming, and assisted the Zookeepers with animal care. I began…
Read MoreWhat to do? What to do?
April 12, 2023 You are cleaning the kitchen and reach for a paper towel and the roll is empty. What to do? Save the cardboard tube and take it to the zoo. You are wrapping presents and have just enough paper to cover your gift. What to do? Save the cardboard tube and take it…
Read MoreWhat’s new at the Zoo!
Jay Pratte – Miller Park Zoo Director We are very excited to be making progress on the South America exhibit. The pools are in, sand/dig pits are in, and much of the fencing has been installed! We are still on track to have the building and exhibit completed by the end of the month. Our…
Read MoreArrivals and Departures
Just decades ago, many animals were captured in the wild and moved to zoos. Today, thanks to advances in husbandry, standards of care and successful breeding programs, most zoo animals are born in zoos. Each of these animals has a story that begins with where it was born and includes all the zoos it has…
Read MoreLemur Update
February 3, 2023 On Wednesday January 11th, a family overheard noises in their garage, and thinking it was just a local wild animal or stray cat, they were surprised to see that it was a ring-tailed lemur. The family contacted the Illinois Conservation Police, who asked the Miller Park Zoo for assistance. Jay (Miller Park…
Read MoreWho’s Who at the Zoo
Pearl Yusuf – General Curator This past June Pearl arrived at Miller Park to take on the job of General Curator. She is responsible for the care and welfare of the animals and those who care for the animals. Her life-long passion for animals has led to a variety of jobs and some very unusual…
Read MoreNot your Mother’s Kitchen
December 9, 2022 The two kitchens at the zoo have some things in common with your mother’s kitchen: refrigerator, freezer, microwave, sink, fruits, and vegetables. However, they have many differences: over 110 animal diets, frozen mice, cans of dog food, 50-pound bags of various pellets, and mealworms. Keeper Owen and Volunteer Gail preparing diets Feed…
Read MoreInternships at Miller Park Zoo
November 10, 2022 When the zoo began having interns most of their work was data entry and cleaning. In the last five years the intern program has evolved to include many other responsibilities such as research projects. Today internships last 15 weeks. Most interns are full-time working five days a week. Local students learn about…
Read MoreWhere the bugs are
August 10, 2022 Zoolab, at Miller Park Zoo, is a place for discovery where guests can play games and work on puzzles. Many of the smaller animals and insects live in Zoolab. It is also home to the education animals that travel to schools and other venues, bringing Zoo education to the community. Small but…
Read MoreWhat’s in a Name?
On May 30, a litter of Mulefoot Hogs were born at Coop’s Mound Mulefoots in Carlinville, Illinois. From that litter, one male was chosen to make the two-hour drive to his new home at Miller Park Zoo. The Zoo has big plans for this little hog, and the fun starts with an exciting contest. About…
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