Animal-related:

What’s new at the zoo?

- Be knowledgeable of this at all times!

Where are the alligators?

-The American alligators were transferred to a zoo in Michigan after they outgrew their

habitat at the Salisbury Zoo. Since we don’t currently have a suitable space to safely care for a

larger alligator, we made the decision to move them so they could continue to receive the best

possible care.

I thought you had a bear?

-Our mama bear retired last year and moved to her retirement home in Louisiana. Her cubs have

since relocated to different zoos around the world as part of breeding programs. The plan is to

bring bears back once the new habitat is completed.

I thought you had a capybara?

-We did but unfortunately, she passed away last year. We now have peccary in

the habitat. My favorite part about them is. . . . (They always move as a group and I

love seeing the smaller ones run to keep up).

What was the stuff on that deer you used to have? On his antlers?

-“Velvet antler” is what a deer’s antler is called while it’s still growing and soft, before it

hardens into bone. During this stage, it’s covered in a soft, fuzzy skin called velvet. At Salisbury

Zoo, we only have female deer, and since females don’t grow antlers, we don’t have any

animals in this stage of development.

Where are the ferrets?

-The ferrets are part of our ambassador collection. They live behind the scenes

and come out during events and parties.

What happened to the jaguars/panthers?

-At the Salisbury Zoo, we regularly review the needs of the animals in our care to make

sure they’re living in the best possible conditions. A few years ago, we realized our jaguar

space was too small, so we made the decision to change that habitat and bring in Canada

lynx instead. This allowed us to give the lynx a better home and also take part in broader

conservation efforts for the species.

Do you have lions?

-That would be pretty cool! We don’t have lions here—they need a lot more space than we’re

able to give, and we always want to make sure our animals have room to thrive.

What happened to the otters?

-The former otter habitat was demolished in the winter of 2023 following the passing of

Peanut, our elderly otter, who lived to the age of 17. In her later years, she experienced several

age-related health conditions, including heart disease.

In addition, the habitat no longer met current animal care and habitat standards established by

the USDA and AZA. As part of our long-term development goals, the return of otters is included

in our five-year master plan.

Where are the parrots/macaw?

-The zoo has cared for parrots and macaws for many years, many of which came from

situations where they didn’t have proper long-term care. Because these birds are very intelligent

and social, they need specialized housing, proper group settings, and consistent year-round

care. As we work toward AZA accreditation, we are making sure all of our animal care meets

the highest current standards.

Where are the peacocks?

-The peacocks were a long-loved part of the zoo, but our space wasn’t large enough to

safely contain them, and they often moved into other animal areas and ate food meant for other

species. With concerns about avian influenza, it also became important to reduce the risk of

disease spread among our birds. For these reasons, we relocated the remaining peacocks to a

facility better suited to care for them in a safe, controlled environment.

Do you have a sloth?

-Unfortunately, our sloth passed away last year. Her habitat is now home to our

new green aracari.

Where are the snakes?

-They are on the East end in our Morgan center along the right side, make sure

you check out our new axolotls!

Where are all the animals?

-All of our animals are given choice between indoor and outdoor spaces and it

seems right now they want to be indoor (lead into a comment about the weather being

too hot or too cold or rainy for yourself so you don’t blame them.) Have you seen the

(bison, alpaca, flamingoes since are most always visible)?

Animal care-related:

It’s awful seeing the animals locked up!

-We understand that seeing animals in human care can be hard for some guests. At

Salisbury Zoo, everything we do is focused on the wellbeing of the animals. We take part in

conservation breeding programs and SAFE initiatives that help protect species in the wild,

while also giving our animals excellent daily care, enrichment, veterinary support, and

individualized attention so they can thrive.

I found a (insert all kinds of animals) what should I do?

-Young animals like deer fawns and baby birds may look like they’re in trouble, but they

are often just being watched and cared for by their parents nearby. In most cases, it’s best to

leave them alone so the parents can continue to care for them and they can learn how to

survive in the wild. If an animal is clearly injured or in distress, contact a licensed wildlife

rehabilitator for help.

 What do you feed the animals?

-Each animal at the zoo is fed a carefully designed diet tailored to its species and

individual needs. This includes meat for carnivores, fresh fruits and vegetables, and specially

formulated feeds to support overall health. Our animal care team works closely with a

veterinarian and a nutritionist to ensure every diet is appropriate, balanced, and up to date.

Services-/Program-related:

Where are the bathrooms?

-(From East) Go up this path here on the left, you will see a green building on

your right. They are right there.

-(From West) Stay on the mail path until you see the information TV, you will see

a green building with a mural on it to the right. Around the backside of that are the

bathrooms.

Do you have refreshments anywhere?

Kona is located at the west end near bens red swings every day starting but

right now only on the weekends.

How do I become a member?

-You can go right on our website and sign up from there. Or, if you would rather,

you could go to the gift shop and they could help you. (During the season)

 Who do I talk to about birthday parties?

-You can go right to our website and all the information is there under our events

tab. There is an email you can get in contact with, it’s zoobookings@salisbury.md. Or

you could go talk to someone in the shop (during the season).

Volunteer-/Employment-related:

I want to volunteer; how do I sign up?

-Awesome! We love our volunteers, they do so much to help keep the zoo in

order. You can go on our webpage and click the volunteer button.

 How can I get a job here?

-This is a wonderful place to work! On our website there is a tab that says

ABOUT US. Under there the job opportunities are listed.