12/31/2025
As the Earth completes another journey around the Sun, we’re taking a moment to reflect on an incredible year and to share our deepest gratitude for the community that made it all possible.
In 2025, Lake Superior Zoo rose to extraordinary challenges and celebrated unforgettable milestones. We rescued more than 200 animals from SeaQuest Roseville after its closure. This incredible effort came with unexpected veterinary and food costs and was met with overwhelming community support. Among those rescues was Danny the capybara, who not only brought a brand-new species to the Zoo, but also experienced the outdoors for the very first time, among other things.
We welcomed new animal ambassadors, including Wiley a critically endangered red panda, now living alongside Zoozee, as well as reindeer Jingle and Snowflake and Canada lynx Floki and Bjorn. Spring brought joy with two sets of twin baby goats in the barnyard, and the year was made even more meaningful with the births of two critically endangered species, cotton-top tamarins and pygmy slow lorises.
Behind the scenes, dedicated teams achieved remarkable successes, from a groundbreaking dental procedure for Tundra the brown bear to planting more than 130 trees across Zoo grounds. We also marked a leadership transition, wishing Haley Hedstrom well as she stepped into her new role with Visit Duluth and welcoming Interim Executive Director Noah Hobbs.
None of this would be possible without you—our members, donors, volunteers, staff, and supporters near and far. Thank you for standing with us through a year of rescue, growth, and hope. We’re so grateful to share this journey with you. 🐾🌲💚
To learn more about the Zoo and how you can support, head to lszoo.org and explore!
