December Buzz: What's new at the Zoo?

2018 December Buzz

Give the Gift of the Zoo

December 11 is the last day to purchase memberships and animal adoptions to ensure that they will arrive before December 25! They're unique gifts that keep on giving, and the perfect addition to your family celebration.

There are a variety of memberships to fit your family, from a grandparents membership to a single membership. You can even add on guests!

View our membership benefits and sign up

Symbolically adopting an animal is a great way to help someone learn more about an animal they love, and every adoption helps feed and care for the adopted animal. Plus, it's completely tax-deductible!

Learn more and adopt an Zoo animal

Winter Fun at the Zoo

The Potawatomi Zoo will be open for Winter Days January 19, February 2, February 16, and March 2, from 12 to 3 pm (last admission is half an hour before closing). Regular admission is $5.50 per person. Members and babies 2 and younger are free. There will be a $5 wristband available for an extra craft experience. Weather permitting, the train and carousel will be running.

Keep an eye on our events for further details

We also still have a few spots available in our Winter Break Camps for 7 to 12-year-olds . This year, our camps will focus on how animals grow and change throughout the seasons (especially winter!) in order to thrive in their environments. Campers will learn about animal adaptations through games and challenges, meet some of our ambassador animals, and more.

Future Zoologists Camp, ages 7-9, is January 3.

Wild Rangers Camp, ages 10-12, is January 4.

To sign up, visit EdZOOcation

The Gift of Lights Continues

We have three Gift of Lights weekends left! Make sure you check our Facebook page for the most up-to-date information and details!

On Friday, December 7, Indiana Michigan Power will be handing out holiday lights to the first 100 people who have the I&M app on their phone. On Saturday, December 8, we will be partnering with the Food Bank of Northern Indiana for a canned soup drive. For every can of soup you bring in, you can get a discount on admission. Discount information is on Facebook .

On December 14 and 15, the South Bend Civic Theatre will be performing around 6:45 pm at the Christmas tree.

For our final weekend, we're having an Ugly Sweater Party, sponsored by U-93, on Saturday, December 22. This is a family friendly event. Details are on Facebook .

See The Gift of Lights schedule

Announcing a Tiny Armored Baby

The Zoo staff was excited to welcome a baby southern three-banded armadillo to the Zoo on November 7.

The so-far-unnamed baby weighed only 118 grams at its first weight check a week after its birth, about half a cup of armadillo. It has thrived in its mother's care during its first month of life and now weighs a healthy 334 grams, about the size of a tall Starbucks latte.

The southern three-banded armadillo is native to north central Argentina, east central Bolivia and sections of Brazil and Paraguay. They are considered near-threatened. Adults weigh 1000-1500 grams, much less than the more familiar nine-banded armadillo native to the United States. Three-banded armadillos are unique for their ability to lock into a defensive ball that seals completely.

Learn about three-banded armadillos

All Aboard the Potawatomi Express!

We've added lights to the Potawatomi Zoo Train route and are opening rides back up, starting December 7. Rides will be $3, but not only will you get to see the new lights, you'll get a bell, a sticker, and hot chocolate. Although we won't be selling new attraction passes or tickets, if you have them from the regular season, you're welcome to use them and only pay $1 extra per ride.