Bramble Park Zoo

10/15/2025

🎃 Halloween Fun in Watertown 👻
Here are some fun events courtesy of the City of Watertown — perfect for families looking to celebrate Halloween safely and locally!

Prairie Lakes Wellness Center Spooktacular | Friday, October 24 from 4–6 p.m.
Bring your little ghouls and goblins for an evening of free fun! Enjoy candy, prizes, and treats from local business sponsors inside the Prairie Lakes Wellness Center.
NOTE: Dress warmly to wait briefly in line and enter and park in the north parking lot.

Zoo Boo at Bramble Park Zoo | Saturday, October 25 from 2–5 p.m. (Pre-sale ticket holders may enter at 1 p.m.)
Trick-or-treat through the zoo with local businesses and organizations! Costumes and reusable treat bags encouraged. Sponsored by Power 106.3.
NOTE: Tickets: $9 in advance | $10 at the door. Tickets for sale now at the Zoo and Runnings in Watertown. Pre-sale tickets allow you into the event 1 hour early and they are cheaper. Kids 2 and younger are free. Memberships are not valid for youth. Call 605-882-6269 for more info.

🎃 Pumpkin Palooza - Downtown Watertown🎃 - Trick or Treat at City Hall | Friday, October 31 from 4–5:30 p.m.
Join us at Watertown City Hall for a safe, family-friendly Halloween celebration open to all ages.

Hope to see you there!

10/13/2025

D***y wants to know if you have your organization or business signed up for a booth at ZOO BOO yet?!

Get registered this week and help our community have a fun and safe Halloween trick-or-treating experience while you reach over 2,500 guests with your mission!

10/09/2025

Ursula says, “Get your advanced tickets for ZOO BOO”!

They are available at the Zoo and Runnings in Watertown.

Pre-sale tickets allow you into the event 1 hour early and they are cheaper!!

10/04/2025

Great article, thank you Roger!

The news story will also be on Dakota News Now tonight.

A large crowd gathered at Thompson Point to witness the release of three bald eagles that had been sick or injured before being nursed back to health at

10/04/2025

Thank you everyone who came out to support our rehabilitation work! The triple eagle release went smoothly and all three eagles are back in the wild! Rehabbing is so important to our local wildlife and takes a lot of teamwork from Bramble Park Zoo staff, local wildlife agencies, and public who report birds in need. If you have pictures or videos from today please share them so we can all celebrate the newly released bald eagles. Lisa Johnson took this video and we all love it.

10/04/2025

Today’s the day! At 1:00 p.m., three bald eagles will be released at Thompson’s Point on Lake Pelican. After weeks of recovery and care, these birds are ready to soar again.

The event includes a Native drum blessing and prayer to honor the occasion. Zoo staff will be on site to share more about the Migratory Bird Rehabilitation Program and how you can support this important conservation work.

10/03/2025

Tomorrow is the big day!!!

Saturday October 4th at 1pm at Thompsons Point, Lake Pelican. We will be releasing 3 rehabilitated bald eagles.

Ideally it would be best if participants meet at release site. There will be staff and volunteers out there early to help direct people and there is lots of parking along the roads. Please do not block any roadways. Thompsons point is very easy to get too. It is located to the west of Lake Pelican State Park and campground. But if you don't feel comfortable finding it. You can follow zoo staff from zoo parking lot, but this can be tricky!! We will be leaving zoo parking lot promptly at 12:40.

When zoo staff arrive at release site. Our first thing we will do is get birds ready and released. Then after birds are release we will answer any questions people may have. We don't want the birds kept in kennels longer than we need too.

Thanks again! Hope people can make it and watch these majestic birds return to the wild!

John Gilman

10/02/2025

🦅This Saturday, October 4th🧋
Make your plans now to visit the Zoo, watch the eagle release at 1pm and grab a cold drink from the Soda Corral!

Baylee will be in our parking lot from 10am-4pm serving up dirty sodas, energy drinks, lemonade, and more!😋

10/02/2025

Our 3rd and final eagle is a immature bird 2-3 years old. She was found at Pickerel Lake campground sitting on a picnic table and fire pit and seen by multiple campers. Brought in by Jason Treat of USFWS on Aug 29th.

She was thin but very aggressive and took to food right away. Xrays showed no breaks but a sizable chunk of dead tissue was removed from a wing but no injuries under it, it was all healed and doesn't seem to affect her flight. It almost seems like the bird got tangled in something and cause a minor wound and possible muscle strain so she wasn't able to fly or hunt.

Please join us on Saturday October 4th at 1pm on Thompsons Point and watch these 3 magnificent birds return to the wilds of South Dakota.

John

10/01/2025

👻A few more additions for ZOO BOO 2025!
--Prairie Lakes Healthcare Systems
--Watertown Lacrosse Club
--World Travel Inc.
--Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
That brings our current count to 14 candy stations...so far...

10/01/2025

Eagle #2 is an adult, believed to be a male and is over 5-6+ years of age. It takes approximately 5 years for a bald eagle to get their signature white head and tail.

We think he was hit by vehicle in Clark county causing a minor fracture to right wing tip which was basically healed when he came in. He was also was in poor feather condition and thin. The eagle took to food right away.

He was brought in by Logan Hammer of SDGFP on Aug 19th.

Release day is coming up on Saturday October 4th at 1pm at Thompsons Point, Lake Pelican!