Minnesota Zoo Minnesota Zoo News 2023

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snowleopard said:
The zoo has updated its map and it appears that it is possible for visitors to exit the Treetop Trail via ramps at the American Bison exhibit and the Moose exhibit, and perhaps also at the Nature Center/Family Farm area.
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Yes, there is an entrance/exit at the Family Farm area adjacent to the grain elevator at the entrance of the path to the farm.
 
Went to the zoo today and here are some updates:

-The zoo opened at 8:00 today, not sure if it’s just for the opening weekend of the treetops trail or what

-The treetops trail is open and I had a great time for a non animal expansion, I won’t write a review as I’m sure a more talented person will write one soon

-The prairie dogs are still off exhibit and it was very overgrown, there was a sign stating their habitat is getting renovated along with nearby prairie restoration

-The old dhole exhibit is being currently occupied by at least one coyote from the Minnesota trail

-The rhinoceros hornbill pair is back on exhibit

-I saw the tree kangaroo as well as the new pair of binturongs (in their old exhibit next to the tapirs)

-The tapir exhibit got new sand spread throughout their habitat which covers up the ugly concrete
 
snowleopard said:
Here is a short video with some brief aerial views of the new, $35 million Treetop Trail:

Treetop Trail opens at Minnesota zoo

The zoo has updated its map and it appears that it is possible for visitors to exit the Treetop Trail via ramps at the American Bison exhibit and the Moose exhibit, and perhaps also at the Nature Center/Family Farm area.

Zoo Map:

https://mnzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ZooMap2023.pdf
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A nice idea for using the monorail path, but it's over a mile with no benches, no amenities like bathrooms or water spots, and very little shade. I imagine it won't be open in the colder months, either?
 
TinoPup said:
A nice idea for using the monorail path, but it's over a mile with no benches, no amenities like bathrooms or water spots, and very little shade. I imagine it won't be open in the colder months, either?
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How do you know there's no benches?
 
TinoPup said:
A nice idea for using the monorail path, but it's over a mile with no benches, no amenities like bathrooms or water spots, and very little shade. I imagine it won't be open in the colder months, either?
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Forgive me, but this just seems like baseless complaining. The video from the article linked in the post you quoted has camera angles showing benches and the anchor mentions that it will be open year-round. The linked map also proves that there are bathrooms (at the grain elevator and near the moose).

Promotional material has shown that a lot of the trail is under shade, too.
 
wild boar said:
Forgive me, but this just seems like baseless complaining. The video from the article linked in the post you quoted has camera angles showing benches and the anchor mentions that it will be open year-round. The linked map also proves that there are bathrooms (at the grain elevator and near the moose).

Promotional material has shown that a lot of the trail is under shade, too.
Click to expand...

I can't get the video to play again, I must have missed the benches, I didn't see any in most of the shots. I don't have sound so I have no idea what the anchor said. I wasn't complaining about when it is open, I was asking, because it's Minnesota and bridges freeze before regular paths. I don't know what the grain elevator is?

The video didn't show parts that were under a lot of shade, it showed some bits with a little shade and a large section with no shade.
 
I never really got the Treetop Trail. I’m not mad it exists. I just don’t understand why it was worth the money. It added nothing new and the trail, as far as I could tell during my visit, was right above the normal path.
 
Persephone said:
I never really got the Treetop Trail. I’m not mad it exists. I just don’t understand why it was worth the money. It added nothing new and the trail, as far as I could tell during my visit, was right above the normal path.
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It gives a new angle. It follows the main path for much (but not all) of its length and goes straight over some exhibits which do not have good viewing from the main path (such as the former Musk Ox exhibit).
TinoPup said:
I can't get the video to play again, I must have missed the benches, I didn't see any in most of the shots. I don't have sound so I have no idea what the anchor said. I wasn't complaining about when it is open, I was asking, because it's Minnesota and bridges freeze before regular paths. I don't know what the grain elevator is?

The video didn't show parts that were under a lot of shade, it showed some bits with a little shade and a large section with no shade.
Click to expand...
Knowing what the monorail path looked like, large parts will be shaded but large parts will be in full sun, too. Definitely pack water and sunscreen if doing the Treetops Trail in summer.

The trail goes straight over an old grain elevator near the Family Farm.
wild boar said:
Forgive me, but this just seems like baseless complaining. The video from the article linked in the post you quoted has camera angles showing benches and the anchor mentions that it will be open year-round. The linked map also proves that there are bathrooms (at the grain elevator and near the moose).

Promotional material has shown that a lot of the trail is under shade, too.
Click to expand...
Very good to hear it will be open year-round, winter is the best time to visit Minnesota anyway (referring to both the zoo and the state here). ;)
 
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birdsandbats said:
It gives a new angle. It follows the main path for much (but not all) of its length and goes straight over some exhibits which do not have good viewing from the main path (such as the former Musk Ox exhibit).

Knowing what the monorail path looked like, large parts will be shaded but large parts will be in full sun, too. Definitely pack water and sunscreen if doing the Treetops Trail in summer.

The trail goes straight over an old grain elevator near the Family Farm.

Very good to hear it will be open year-round, winter is the best time to visit Minnesota anyway (referring to both the zoo and the state here). ;)
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Shame they didn't film those parts!

I definitely prefer winter visits, but especially if there's now :) Otherwise all the trees just look ugly. Late spring is wolverine baby time, though...
 
TinoPup said:
Shame they didn't film those parts!

I definitely prefer winter visits, but especially if there's now :) Otherwise all the trees just look ugly. Late spring is wolverine baby time, though...
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Minnesota is especially nice in the winter given the fact that all of the animals remain outside (since they only keep cold weather tolerant species outdoors) and that there are far less visitors. Although my single summer visit to this zoo was also the only one where the temperature was above 0 degrees fahrenheit...
 
wild boar said:
Three raccoon kits called Rowan, Garrison, and Walleye are now in the porch exhibit at the start of the Minnesota Trail. They were each rescued in different parts of the state about six months ago. This is according to a recent Facebook post by the zoo.
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Glad to see another species return to the zoo! I wonder if the Opossum and Skunk will continue to rogate with the Raccoons or will go back to being program animals. Either way, It’s always great to see species returning to the collection!
 
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The Alaska SeaLife Center's two northern sea otter rescues from this year have arrived. They are both females and are called Denali and Nuka.

This statement is from their Facebook page:
"We interrupt your timeline to bring you an important pup-date: Two northern sea otter pups will join the raft at the Minnesota Zoo. | Denali (~5 months) and Nuka (~7 weeks), were rescued by the Alaska SeaLife Center just days apart from each other. While there, the orphaned pups received initial triage care for several weeks. Northern sea otter pups are highly dependent on their mothers during the first several months of their life, leading to a drastically reduced survival rate when orphaned. While the two female pups still have a long health journey ahead, their futures are looking more optimistic. Now in the care of Zoo staff, the pups are receiving around-the-clock care, which includes extensive monitoring and assistance with eating, grooming, and swimming. The pair will remain behind the scenes for the next few months as they continue to grow and acclimate."

I'm a bit surprised by this but am certainly not disappointed. It will be fun watching more energetic otters!
 
MidwestFan said:
Appears Brookfield's dolphins will be at the zoo through the end of October 2023 per Minnesota Zoo website:
"Dolphin Training Demonstrations
Join us for daily dolphin demonstrations at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm in Discovery Bay through the end of October 2023. You’ll learn all about these active and acrobatic marine mammals."

Dolphins Return - Minnesota Zoo
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Has anyone been in Discovery Bay lately to report if the dolphins are still there or if they have returned to Brookfield Zoo?
 
MidwestFan said:
Has anyone been in Discovery Bay lately to report if the dolphins are still there or if they have returned to Brookfield Zoo?
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They were off exhibit last time I was there about a month ago, but that was likely just because of the time I visited.
 
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