Do you know any children who like bugs? The El Paso Zoo does and for many years we have hosted “bug fest” events. Young bug lovers in El Paso are very passionate about discovering the bugs of our desert including insects, spiders and scorpions. Our next Bug Fest will be held in the Zoo’s…
Month: April 2022
Meet your neighbors: who cooks for who?
Spring is in the air and here in El Paso one of our most vocal resident birds is busy preparing for the breeding season. If you don’t see them when you wake up in the morning you can certainly hear them and this beautiful bird has a very distinctive song. The Cornell Lab describes the…
Do the right thing, be sure to pick the right tree
Did you know that planting non-native trees can have serious impacts to our environment? Non-native trees can change ecosystems and habitats. They can reduce or impede water flow leading to flooding and they can change the pH or chemical composition of the soil. Many species of wildlife are specialists that require specific native plants for…
Asia Forest Exhibit Atrium temporarily closed because of Avian Flu
In an abundance of caution, The El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens is taking steps to prevent a potentially deadly avian flu from infecting our bird species. A highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has reached Texas and the Zoo is taking measures to protect our animals. The Asia Forest Atrium in the Asia part of…
Federal officials revise Mexican wolf recovery plan
SILVER CITY, N.M.— Responding to a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week news of a recently released draft revision to its 2017 Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan. The new draft, which was released on Thursday April 14, is intended to provide measures to…
Meet your neighbors: House Finch
Most seed eating birds with thick bills are easy to watch and identify. Here in El Paso one of the most commonly seen little seed eating birds is the House Finch. If you have a bird feeder at home you may have noticed how some have reddish heads, necks and shoulders and others are deep…
Zoo Conservation Committee Update
The El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens Conservation Committee is raising the bar in helping the Zoo increase its overall conservation impact in support of in-situ research and conservation efforts around the world. In partnership with the El Paso Zoological Society and Service Systems and Associates, over $170,000 has been provided for conservation program support…
Endangered ferrets move to Ranch House Exhibit
When you visit the Zoo, you will discover that most of our larger animals are either endangered or threatened with extinction. One of the smallest endangered animals living here is the black-footed ferret. Historically our black-footed ferrets lived in the El Paso Water Discovery Education Center. Recently their exhibit was moved to the Chihuahuan Desert…
Meet your neighbors: rock squirrels
Like in many cities, different species of wildlife have adapted to living in El Paso. Birds and squirrels are probably the most obvious. Did you know that the most commonly seen squirrel in El Paso is the rock squirrel? Other squirrel species include antelope ground squirrels and spotted ground squirrels. I see the antelope ground…
Meet your neighbors: Burrowing Owls
If you have never seen a Burrowing Owl, El Paso is a great place to look for one. In many areas of the city they have adapted to urban sprawl and can be seen near neighborhoods where they can find natural open space with enough habitat that allows them to find burrows and prey species. …
Conservation Education 