Pine Grove Zoo Will Have Plenty Of New Events In 2024

LITLE FALLS (WJON News) -- With Spring arriving many zoos across the state are preparing to open. Pine Grove Zoo in Little Falls will open on Thursday and it has a lot of fun events planned for this year.

The zoo will have a class to create your own pollinator on Saturday, an Ice Cream Social on June 22nd, and a Sleepover Safari on July 19th and 20th to name a few. Zoo Director Marnita Van Hoecke says the sleepover is a great way for families to experience the animals in a whole different way:

"The animals act differently when the sun goes down so you’re gonna, you might be sleeping in your sleeping bag hearing a wolf howl or the tigers talking and you might be serenaded to sleep with the sounds of the wild so to speak.”

Marnita Van Hoecke, Pine Grove Zoo

She says in addition to their new programs many of their favorites are returning too:

“We’re pretty excited about this year. It’s going to be a crazy year. Of course, we’re bringing back some old faithfuls like the yoga so we do yoga with our kangaroos, we’re actually out and about with them that they help (laughs) they help our yoga participants by, well they kind of investigate purses and things like that.”

Plus, Van Hoecke says the zoo may also have a new resident soon:

“Looks like Bonnie and Clyde are going to become parents soon so we’re excited about that and they’re kind of new to the zoo as of last fall so we’re pretty excited to have them out and about.”

Marnita Van Hoecke, Pine Grove Zoo

Bonnie and Clyde are the zoo’s new Coatimundi they added last year, which are a Racoon-like animal. Pine Grove Zoo is the 2nd oldest zoo in the state and features 35 different species of animals.

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The zoo will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays - Sundays in April and then daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. May 1st to September 2nd.

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