ZooMontana, Wildlife park in Billings, United States.
ZooMontana is a zoo on the western edge of Billings, Montana, home to animals native to the American West as well as a few species from other parts of the world. The grounds are divided into separate areas, with enclosures for animals such as gray wolves, grizzly bears, American bison, and red pandas.
ZooMontana was incorporated and established as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 1992, making it Montana's only zoo and botanical park. It was founded to focus year-round on wildlife native to Montana, the Rocky Mountains and other cold-temperature regions at or above the 45th parallel. In 2018 the Yellowstone Arboretum was established on the zoo grounds, and from 2016 new exhibits added takin, wolverines, American bison and raptors.
ZooMontana sits on the edge of Billings and draws school groups and families who come to see animals that are closely tied to the history of the American West. The grizzly bear and bison enclosures tend to attract the most attention, as both animals carry a strong meaning for people in Montana.
The paths between enclosures are wide and clearly marked, making it easy to move from one area to another. Animals tend to be more active in the morning and late afternoon, so those are generally the best times to visit.
The Yellowstone Arboretum was established on ZooMontana's grounds in 2018, holding a large selection of native and non-native trees. The zoo also keeps a 1-acre Sensory Garden planted with native and exotic species meant to stimulate the senses, a popular site for weddings, plus a Montana garden of native plants and Dottie's Garden, which grows plants needing very little water.
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