Emporia Zoo

02/26/2025

🌿🐾 Did You Know? 🐾🌿

A plant or animal found outside its natural range, without natural predators to control its population, and likely to cause environmental or economic harm is called an Invasive Species! 🚨

In Kansas, invasive species threaten our local ecosystems by competing for nutrients, space, and resources, making survival harder for native plants and wildlife. Some common invasive species include:
🌾 Tall Fescue, Crown Vetch (plants)
🐟 Asian Carp, Zebra Mussels (aquatic species)
🐞 Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorn Beetle (insects)

Want to help protect Kansas habitats? The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) (KDWP) has great resources to identify and prevent the spread of invasive species!

🔗 Learn more: https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/what-are-invasive-species

02/19/2025

The David Traylor Zoo’s Red Fox Sylvester wanted to check in and make sure everyone was staying warm! 🔥

Being from this area, the Red Fox is well suited for this cold weather with thick fur. While Sylvester does have cozy dens to hang out in, sometimes he is chooses to snuggle down in his hammock for the afternoon.

Even though the Zoo is closed through Thursday, animal care staff are diligently monitoring and caring for all our residents daily. We hope to see you all soon once this severe weather passes us by.

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02/18/2025

The Zoo will be closed on Tuesday, February 18 thru Thursday, February 20, 2025, due to the winter weather.

Our dedicated zookeepers are on-site ensuring the animals are well cared for and comfortable despite the severe cold. Stay safe, everyone!

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02/14/2025

💖 Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️ from all of us at the David Traylor Zoo!

May your bonds be as strong as ours. Stop by and see us soon!

02/14/2025

📢 Calling all bird lovers! 🐦 Join The Great Backyard Bird Count from February 14-17!
Brave the winter chill and head outside to count as many birds as you can find. Your observations help scientists track global bird populations before migration season!
Learn more & report your sightings here: 🔗 https://www.birdcount.org/about/
This annual event is a collaboration between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. 🌍

Join in and be a part of The Great Backyard Bird Count February 14-17!

In spite of our current cold temperatures, citizen scientists are encouraged to spend time in their favorite outdoor spaces watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to The Great Backyard Bird Count website: https://www.birdcount.org/about/. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations just before one of their annual migrations. The Great Backyard Bird Count is an inter-organizational effort between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada.

"What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?" —Sir David Attenborough

cit·i·zen sci·en·tist
noun
a member of the general public who collects and analyzes data relating to the natural world, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists.

02/12/2025

❄️ Winter Weather Won't Stop the Fun!

Despite the chilly conditions, David Traylor Zoo is OPEN today! 🌨️

Plus, our Zoo Education Center will be open from 1 to 4 PM—a perfect chance to warm up and learn something new! 🔍🐍

Come experience the zoo in a whole new way this winter! ❄️🌿
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02/11/2025

🐾 Zoo Careers at Walnut Elementary Career Day! 🦉

Today, Kelli from the David Traylor Zoo visited Walnut Elementary for their Career Day! She shared insights about the many careers available at zoos and other conservation-focused organizations.

From animal care to education and conservation efforts, there’s a world of opportunities to make a difference for wildlife. 🐒🌿

Thanks, Kelli, for inspiring the next generation of conservationists! 🌎

02/11/2025

What are the only birds that can fly backward?

Answer: Hummingbirds

Flight feathers are light, but stiff and sturdy enough to beat millions of times as hummers fly about on their daily business or migrate long distances. The stiffness of flight feathers makes a humming sound when the wings beat fast enough.

Hummingbird wings are narrow and tapered, allowing them to beat fast and furiously for many hours at a time. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds often migrate over the Gulf of Mexico, flying over 600 miles non-stop because there is nowhere to land.

© 1997 – 2024 Journey North. All rights reserved

Visit the Emporia Zoo and the Zoo Education Center and get up close to several bird species, all with different sizes and colors of feathers.

02/10/2025

Ep. 24: Respect Special Series discussing the Capturing Kids Hearts Character Traits we are studying at school. Featured Village Students & Staff Brooklyn- 5th Eli - 4th Special Guest Kelli Proehl - David Traylor Zoo: Education Coordinator

02/06/2025

Throwing it back to 2023!

On April 24, 2023 we welcomed Ted our American Bison calf to parents Wild Bill and Beulah. As the National Mammal, Bison are native to the Midwest and are a large part of our history.

AZA announced a new Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program for Bison in 2024 which the David Traylor Zoo is supporting.

Keep an eye out for more Bison conservation information as we grow our collaborations to save this amazing mammal and its wild habitat. Thank you for being part of our story.

01/28/2025

🐾 Trivia Tuesday Time!

What do you call animals that eat everything — meat, plants, and even fish?

Answer: Omnivores! 🥩🥦🐟

Here at the David Traylor Zoo, we have several amazing omnivores, including our Lemurs, Prairie Dogs, Tamarins, Bearded Dragon, and Ferrets! 🐒🐾🦎

Did you know? 👀
✅ Our Animal Care Staff work closely with our Veterinarian to develop specialized diets for all of our animals to ensure it meets all their nutritional needs.
✅ It takes 6-7 hours a day to prepare all the diets for a single day for all the animals at the Zoo. 🥬🍎🌽


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01/21/2025

🦎 **Spotlight on Bearded Dragons!** 🦎

Did you know Bearded Dragons get their name from their spiky “beards”? This expandable throat pouch serves as a display for both mating and aggression. When agitated, their “beard” can darken, sometimes turning nearly black, to ward off threats.

Amazing Adaptations
Their coloration varies based on the soil or sand of their native regions, ranging from dull browns to tans with stunning red and gold highlights. This camouflage helps them hunt and avoid predators!

Thinking of a Pet Beardie?
Bearded Dragons are popular pets, but they require specific temperature and dietary care to thrive. Be sure to research and choose a responsible breeder who does not take these fascinating reptiles from the wild.

Visit Us!
Learn more about Bearded Dragons and other amazing animals at the Zoo Education Center here at the David Traylor Zoo! We're open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

We can’t wait to see you there! 🐾

01/13/2025

Celebrating the Majestic Bald Eagle!

When the bald eagle was chosen as our national symbol in 1782, there were an estimated 25,000 to 75,000 nesting in the lower 48 states. However, illegal shooting, habitat loss, lead poisoning, and the devastating effects of the pesticide DDT caused their numbers to plummet to just 417 nesting pairs by 1963.

Thanks to conservation efforts like the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, these incredible birds have made a remarkable recovery, with over 7,000 nesting pairs in the wild today. However, they still face threats such as habitat loss and illegal shooting.

At the David Traylor Zoo, our Bald Eagles were brought in for rehabilitation and require ongoing human care. These magnificent birds are a symbol of resilience and strength:
🦅 Their long, wide wings allow them to soar effortlessly, conserving energy.
🦅 With keen, full-color vision, they can spot prey from great distances.
🦅 Bald eagles mate for life, strengthening their bond with spectacular flight displays.

Visit the Zoo to learn more about these incredible creatures and how we can all help protect their future. Let’s continue to celebrate and safeguard our national symbol!


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01/10/2025

📣 A Special Hello from Buster! 🦜❄️

Our Ambassador Animal, Buster the African Grey Parrot, wanted to say hi and share how much fun he’s having with the snow and ice here at the Zoo! Today, Buster got a snowy treat as part of his enrichment—since he stays indoors, it’s always exciting to bring a bit of the outdoors to him.

Buster would love to hear how YOU are enjoying the recent snow! Share your stories in the comments below. And don’t forget to visit him at the Zoo Education Center on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Photo credit: Zoo Education Staff


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01/08/2025

The Zoo will be closed on Thursday, January 9, 2025, due to the winter weather.

Our dedicated zookeepers are on-site ensuring the animals are well cared for and comfortable despite the severe cold. Stay safe, everyone!


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01/07/2025

The Zoo will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to the winter weather.

Our dedicated zookeepers are on-site ensuring the animals are well cared for and comfortable despite the severe cold. Stay safe, everyone!


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01/07/2025

You can do your part to help prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

HPAI is primarily spread through the saliva and f***s of affected wild waterfowl and therefore can be spread on the bottom of soiled shoes and wheels of stroller and machinery. If you are out in areas where wild waterfowl are, such as parks, hiking trails, pond areas, make sure to clean your shoes, boots, and wheels of any vehicles to prevent carrying the virus outside of the area.

Here at the Zoo our birds have been moved to our holding areas where wild waterfowl cannot enter their enclosures or water source. We also have specific bio-security protocols such as foot baths and using separate tools as part of our routine to prevent the virus from being brought into these enclosures. We appreciate your understanding as we do our due diligence to protect those waterfowl in our care from exposure to this devastating virus.

HPAI can also infect both domestic and wild cats. If you have cats, you can help protect them by keeping them indoors to prevent them hunting and consuming possibly infected birds. The FDA also recommends not feeding them raw milk or uncooked meats.

For more information visit:
https://www.fws.gov/avian-influenza
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-outlines-ways-reduce-risk-hpai-cats

*Photos taken by Emporia Zoo staff.

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