Jaclyn Figg

Staff Writer

A local spot for ISU students and the surrounding community to experience animals indigenous to Idaho is looking to make lucrative renovations.

Pocatello’s local zoo aims to change its name from Pocatello Zoo to Zoo Idaho.

The Zoo is run by the city, so city council members will make the official decision March 3.

“We had the luxury of looking at a name that describes not only our zoo but also our mission statement,” said Peter Pruett, zoo superintendent.

The zoo’s mission statement is “preserving intermountain west wildlife and habitat through conservation and education.”

Native species across the state of Idaho are the only animals inhabiting the zoo.

Other zoos in Idaho have some indigenous animals but Pocatello Zoo is the only one to restrict its exhibit to just this.

“We thought we’d create some increased marketing opportunities for the zoo, and bring some new attention beyond the Pocatello community and Southeast Idaho,” said Director of Parks and Recreation, John Banks.

Through a Google search for a zoos in Idaho, Pocatello Zoo is not the first to pop up. This is one of the marketing opportunities in changing the name.

“We have a lot of exciting improvements going on at the zoo and we wanted to give a fresh brand to try and create some new excitement, something easily identifiable with the zoo,” Banks said.

A master plan is in the works for a 20-year strategic guide to make improvements at the zoo.

Projects need to be realistic according to Pruett; the community needs to be able to support them.

There are two components to the zoo. It is part of the Parks and Recreation Department and the city of Pocatello.

Operating budgets for the zoo come from taxes, admissions and the Pocatello Zoological Society.

The Zoological Society is a non-profit organization, “It’s the financial support arm for the zoo,” Pruett said.

Supporting the zoo, this society puts together events and opens more doors for fundraising opportunities.   

“They were instrumental in raising the funds to build our grizzly bear exhibit,” Pruett said, adding, “without the Zoological Society we wouldn’t have the exhibit right now.”

A revamp of the zoo entrance  is being discussed pending funding, which will incorporate a new ADA path, gift shop, public restrooms, snack bar, ticket booth and a plaza to sit around picnic tables.

Since opening in 1932, the zoo has never had flushable restroom facilities.

Bathrooms in lower Ross Park are currently being renovated in an effort to accommodate more visitors.

During business hours, only customers will be able to use them, but during closed hours, the gate will move so Ross Park visitors can utilize the restrooms.

According to Pruett, a big priority is development and reconstruction of pathways throughout the zoo, with many of them needing repaved. He hopes to direct a pathway to the zoo office, which would provide restrooms at the top of the zoo as well.

A majority of animals at the zoo, besides those born in-house, come through Idaho Fish and Game and rehabilitators.

Approximately 90 percent of animals came to the zoo because they were injured or picked up as baby spawn, which meant they could no longer survive in the wild. 

“All of our animals, outside of barn animals, cannot thrive in the wild,” Pruett said. “We give them a happy, healthy and long life here.”

Recent renovations on the turkey vulture, raccoon and bobcat exhibits were completed due to some grants awarded.

Fish and Wildlife awarded a grant for construction of a new trumpeter swan marshland exhibit later this year.

Sitting steady with attendance, the goal is to increase the amount of people who visit the zoo annually. Members hope these renovations are the way to make this happen.

For the Zoo to thrive it needs people outside the community in addition to locals, according to Pruett.

“Zoo Idaho is one of those things we could move beyond just the state of Idaho and start bringing recognition towards us and Pocatello across the United States,” he said.

Bringing people in will perhaps not only benefit the zoo but Pocatello as a whole. 

Opening day this season is April 1. Weekend hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and as of May 1 hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.

Perhaps a visit to the zoo is something ISU and community members should think about in support of our local area.

“We are excited. With spring coming we invite everyone to support our zoo,” Banks said. “Come out to see all of the exciting changes going on and our great animals.”