ZooMontana

11/29/2025

The red panda sisters enjoyed their very first snow yesterday🥹

Being red pandas, Petunia & Pandora are well suited for life in the snow. In the wild, these two would be living in elevations as high as nearly 13,000 feet!

📸Petunia and Pandora the red pandas in snow. Thank you to their Lead Caregiver, Melissa, for these photos!

11/27/2025

Dreaming about your after dinner nap today? Check out these Poblano poses for some cozy inspiration😴

Just a reminder, ZooMontana is CLOSED for the holiday. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow😁

11/25/2025

Our very own Ahmari the wolverine is headed to the big screen!

Catch her television debut this Saturday on the next episode of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Tune in to discover what makes this remarkable species — and the incredible people who study and protect them — so inspiring😄

11/22/2025

Lander may have been incorrect, but that’s okay. Any excuse to post more pictures of our two newbies😻

Consider them this year’s good luck charm🍀

11/21/2025

If you’ve ever dreamed of being part of the ZooMontana crew, now’s your chance! We’re looking for individuals who are ready to make a difference for the animals, our guests, and our community.

To learn more about our open positions, head to our website:

Interested in joining the ZooMontana team? Check out our openings below. Directions on where to send resumes and/or applications are included in each description.

11/20/2025

Lander has spoken!🫢

Lander stepped up as the very first ZooMontana animal to predict the outcome of the Brawl of the Wild. Without hesitation, she made a beeline straight for the Griz! Will her prediction hold true? 👀

Don’t forget: our Brawl of the Wild Food Drive runs through November 25. Bring a non-perishable food item, cast your vote, and enjoy the Zoo as a thank you for supporting our community!

11/18/2025

Did you catch our hints?😁

Just in time for the Brawl of the Wild, we are so excited to announce the addition of two new residents to our animal family. For the first time in our 30-year history, we have bobcats!

Both bobcats were orphaned in northwest Montana as young kittens. The male (left), now six months old, and the female (right), three months old, will remain in a newly built behind-the-scenes habitat as Animal Care Staff focus on building trust, strengthening their bond, and beginning foundational training.

We’re celebrating the new bobcats and Montana’s biggest rivalry with a week of fun events, including a Bobcats vs. Grizzlies food drive (Nov. 18–25) where your non-perishable donations cast your “vote” for your team. All food supports Family Service. Don’t miss Lander the Porcupine’s official game prediction on Nov. 20, and stay tuned for your chance to help name our new bobcats in partnership with the Bobcat Collective !

11/13/2025

We have had an incredibly hard few weeks here at the Zoo. We regretfully share with you the passing of our rooster, Colonel Sanders.

Colonel hatched in June of 2020 and spent nearly his entire life here at ZooMontana. For the past five years, he’s been the heart of our barnyard — our cheerful morning alarm clock and a familiar face to staff and guests alike.

On November 1st, Colonel suddenly collapsed in his habitat. Our team responded immediately to the chicken yard, but unfortunately, Colonel passed shortly after. This came to our entire team as a shock, as there had been no signs of any illness up until this point. Necropsy results showed that Colonel Sanders had a teratoma metastasizing within his body. Teratomas are an incredibly rare and unpredictable tumor.

Colonel Sanders was gentle, handsome, and full of personality. His crow greeted us at the start of our shift, and his presence will be deeply missed by both his caretakers and the rest of our flock. As we grieve his loss, our team remains focused on ensuring the continued health and well-being of the chickens who shared his home.

11/13/2025

Hi friends. We have two difficult animal updates to share today, beginning with the loss of our friend Gizmo, the prehensile-tailed skink.

Gizmo was born at Brookfield Zoo in December 2020 and joined the ZooMontana family in 2021. Since then, he’s been an incredible ambassador for his species and a favorite among our guests, leaving a lasting impression on hearts all across Billings as he traveled to many schools and other organizations with our Education Team.

Earlier this spring, our team began noticing changes in Gizmo’s behavior. Since then, our Animal Care and Veterinary Staff have monitored him closely, working tirelessly to understand what was happening. Despite their efforts, Gizmo’s health declined significantly in recent weeks. After extensive evaluation and care, the difficult but compassionate decision was made to humanely euthanize Gizmo due to his rapidly worsening condition.

Gizmo’s body will be sent for a necropsy so that our team can learn more about what Gizmo was experiencing and continue to grow in the care of animals like him. We’re deeply saddened by this loss and ask for your kindness and understanding as we search for answers.

Prehensile-tailed skinks are truly one-of-a-kind reptiles as the only lizards in the world with a fully prehensile tail and strong family bonds. They’re known for their calm curiosity, a trait Gizmo showed daily as he explored his surroundings with that adorable pink tongue. While prehensile-tailed skinks can often live 15–20 years in human care, we’re heartbroken that this wasn’t the case for our friend Gizmo. Still, we’re so grateful to have shared his story with all of you and for the chance to inspire a little more love and appreciation for this remarkable species.

11/08/2025

Just two bamboo girls🎋🩷

📸Pandora (L) and Petunia (R) the red panda cubs.

11/06/2025

That Thursday morning feeling🥱🦎

📸Gizmo the prehensile-tailed skink peeks out of a log. Thank you, Assistant Curator Allyson, for this photo!

11/04/2025

After much anticipation, a black-footed ferret has finally made his home at ZooMontana🤩

Meet Poblano! This little guy joined us from the Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center located in Colorado. At 3 years old, Poblano is a retired breeding ferret and will enjoy retirement with us at ZooMontana.

We are so excited to be able to share this amazing animal with you all and share their incredible conservation story along the way. Thank you to our black-footed ferret sponsors, Cushing Terrell, for helping us make Poblano comfortable in his new forever home!