Utica Zoo

AZA

Utica Zoo and its collection

Utica Zoo is a zoo in Utica, United States.

The city owns the 80-acre property, 40 acres of it developed. Over 200 animals of 99 species are kept across six exhibit areas. Money comes chiefly from the county, a state natural heritage programme and private donors, the city contributing no funding now although it retains the land.

History

It was founded in 1914 with a starting collection of three fallow deer, and the first permanent structure went up in 1920. The city parks department ran it until 1964, when a separate body, now the Utica Zoological Society, took over.

Animals and collection

The African section holds lions, striped hyenas, mountain zebras, ostriches and painted dogs. A Latin American section holds red pandas, spider monkeys and white-handed gibbons.

Exhibits

Its exhibits include Bull Reef, Children's Zoo and Backyards & Barnyards.

Things to do

Things to do include Keeper Talks, Wadas' Wild Play Park, animal encounter, Wellness Mornings and Wild Summer Nights.

Conservation and approach

Local field conservation work covers frosted elfins, Chittenango ovate amber snails and turtles.

What the venue says

animal encounter
Wellness Mornings
Our concession stand Polly’s is OPEN daily from 11am until 4pm (7 days a week starting after Mother’s day 2026 until Labor Day 2026)!
There is FREE parking in two large lots for your convenience! The lots are right on our grounds and only a short walk to our main gate.
Manual, non-electric wheelchairs are available at no charge.