American Zoos that ONLY have American animals

Arizona Docent

Arizona Docent

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
This related thread What zoo has the best display/# species of North American animals? got me thinking about how many zoos there are in the United States that have ONLY animals native to the United States. I realize a lot of zoos have a section devoted to their region as well as animals from other parts of the world. Those are included in the other thread. I am simply interested in a list of facilities (zoos and aquariums and nature centers) that have American animals exclusively. If they have a section for that but also sections for other parts of the world, please do NOT list them. I am using the term American and America to refer to the United States specifically (which is how the term is generally used), though of course I am well aware that America consists of two continents covering dozens of nations.
 
I will list a few off the top of my head, but I am sure there are a ton of regional nature centers I am unaware of. Please complete as needed.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Arizona)
Northwest Trek (Washington)
Albuquerque Aquarium (New Mexico)
Monterey Bay Aquarium (California)
Wildlife West (New Mexico)
California Wolf Center (California)
California Living Museum (California)
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (New Mexico)
Spring River Park Zoo (New Mexico)
Bearizona (Arizona)
Grizzly Wolf Discovery Center (Montana)
North American Bear Center (Minnesota)
International Wolf Center (Minnesota)
Oregon Coast Aquarium (Oregon)
Florida Aquarium (Florida)
Texas Aquarium (Texas)
North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoake Island (North Carolina)
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores (North Carolina)
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (North Carolina)
North Carolina Aquarium at Jennette's Pier (North Carolina)
Hersheypark Zoo America (Pennsylvania)
Wildlife Prairie Park (Illinois)
Navajo Nation Zoo and Botanical Park (Arizona)
 
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Lone Elk Park (Missouri)
Wildwood Zoo (Wisconsin)
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Nature Center (Wisconsin)
Cabela's of Green Bay (Wisconsin)
MacKenzie Center (Wisconsin)
Gabbert Raptor Center (Minnesota)
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Iowa)

Also worth mentioning Is Menominee Park Zoo in Oshkosh, WI. While it does have exotic animals currently, it is slowly renovating and plans on eventually having only American animals.
 
Arizona Docent said:
I will list a few off the top of my head, but I am sure there are a ton of regional nature centers I am unaware of. Please complete as needed.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Arizona)
Northwest Trek (Washington)
Albuquerque Aquarium (New Mexico)
Monterey Bay Aquarium (California)
Wildlife West (New Mexico)
California Wolf Center (California)
California Living Museum (California)
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (New Mexico)
Spring River Park Zoo (New Mexico)
Bearizona (Arizona)
Grizzly Wolf Discovery Center (Montana)
North American Bear Center (Minnesota)
International Wolf Center (Minnesota)
Oregon Coast Aquarium (Oregon)
Florida Aquarium (Florida)
Texas Aquarium (Texas)
North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoake Island (North Carolina)
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores (North Carolina)
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (North Carolina)
North Carolina Aquarium at Jennette's Pier (North Carolina)
Hersheypark Zoo America (Pennsylvania)
Wildlife Prairie Park (Illinois)
Navajo Nation Zoo and Botanical Park (Arizona)
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Monterey Bay Aquarium would not work on this list as the facility houses African penguins.
 
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Alaska)
Trailside Zoo (New York)
Squam Lake (New Hampshire)

Although AWCC and Squam Lake have (or had) domestic Reindeer, which are the exact same species as the Caribou, but technically maybe are not considered “American”
 
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New York State Zoo at Thompson Park (Watertown, NY)
Maine Wildlife Park (Gray, ME)
Maine State Aquarium (Boothbay Harbor, ME)
Woods Hole Science Aquarium (Falmouth, MA)
UGA Aquarium (Savannah, GA)
Oatland Island Wildlife Center (Savannah, GA)
 
CGSwans said:
Northwest Trek?
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I am not sure if your question mark means you are asking what it is (since it is in my initial list) or if you are asking if it should be included (meaning you did not see it in my original list). Either way it's there.
 
Curiodyssey - formerly Coyote Point Museum (California)
High Desert Museum (Oregon)
Springs Preserve (Nevada)
 
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Arizona Docent said:
I am not sure if your question mark means you are asking what it is (since it is in my initial list) or if you are asking if it should be included (meaning you did not see it in my original list). Either way it's there.
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Yep, just missed it. :oops: My apologies.
 
Until the recent opening of their new Australia exhibit, Salisbury Zoo (Salisbury, MD) had only north and south american animals.

I think Bergen County, in NJ, has only north/south american species?
Others I have marked as having mostly/all local species that aren't already mentioned:
Boonshoft Museum (Dayton OH)
Brookgreen Gardens (Murrells Inlet SC)
Cosley Zoo (Wheaton IL)
Hutchinson Zoo (Hutchinson KS)
Lee Simmons Wildlife Park (Ashland NE)
Museum of Science (Boston)
Queens Zoo (Queens NYC)
Virginia Living Museum (Newport News VA)
WNC Nature Center (Asheville NC)
Maymont (Richmond VA)
Delmarva Discovery Center (Pocomoke City MD)
 
I would question the aquariums listed, as many of the fish species common to aquariums are not found off our shores. Depends on how particular you want to be.
 
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