Lake Superior Zoo — Zoo in St. Louis County

Lake Superior Zoo and its collection

Lake Superior Zoo, opened in 1923, is a zoo in Duluth, United States.

The zoo covers about 19 acres in the Fairmount neighbourhood below Spirit Mountain and is the sole zoo across northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. Kingsbury Creek, designated a trout stream by the state DNR, crosses grounds carrying over a mile of paved paths.

Animals and collection

Over 400 animals of more than 140 species are kept. An elephant named Bessie, who arrived in 1937 aged 12 as the elephant house opened, became an early draw; before fencing went up she strayed into nearby streets, and one story has a keeper in pyjamas walking her back by the trunk.

Exhibits

Bear Country was rebuilt and enlarged after a flood in 2012 using state bonding money, and has an all-season pool for the brown bears Tundra and Banks. The indoor core and learning centre hold reptiles, amphibians and small mammals, including sand cats, an axolotl and a Gila monster.

Conservation and approach

Its accreditation covers welfare, veterinary care, finances and involvement in conservation or research. It takes part in a number of AZA Species Survival Plans, which coordinate breeding of threatened animals between accredited institutions.

What the venue says

• The on-site Safari Café offers quick bites, ready-to-go snacks, pizzas, milkshakes, and beverages during your visit.
• Parking is completely free across two large lots on-site, with bike racks available near the front entrance admissions booth.
• The zoo offers designated accessible parking spaces and welcomes service animals (with certain guidelines for sensitive animal areas).