North American Porcupine
North American porcupines have a wide range throughout the continent, from the southern half of Canada, throughout much of the United States and into Mexico. Within the U.S. North American porcupines can be found mainly in the northern and western parts of the country, with scattered populations in eastern states. With a range this broad, North American ...
Mourning the Loss of Renowned Vet & Wildlife Conservationist, Dr. Mike Cranfield
BALTIMORE, MD – The world has lost a great wildlife champion this week when retired Maryland Zoo veterinarian and conservationist, Dr. Mike Cranfield, passed away after suffering from an unconfirmed case of West Nile Virus. Mike first came to the Maryland Zoo in 1982 as Chief Veterinarian. He subsequently became the Director of Animal Health, Research, ...
Unpacking the Buzz About the Infestation
Have you recently noticed lanternflies outside? We’ve been getting questions from guests about them and maybe you have questions yourself. We wanted to help shed some light on the subject and provide guidance on how to possibly deal with this scourge. What are spotted lanternflies? The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), or SLF, is a ...
Maryland Zoo Partners with Columbus Zoo to Provide Specialized Healthcare for Newborn Giraffe Calf
The Maryland Zoo has partnered with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio, to provide additional support to the male giraffe calf born at The Maryland Zoo on Thursday, June 15. “The first 48 hours after birth is the critical time for giraffe calves to get the antibodies from mother’s milk, or in our case, the colostrum supplement. While markers ...
Off Exhibit: Preventative Medicine for Animals
It’s no secret that good veterinary care is vital to the health and wellbeing of Zoo animals. But what you may not know is how much time and effort is spent on preventative medicine. On this episode of Off Exhibit meet Associate Veternarian Dr. Christy Rettenmund and learn about the extensive programs helping treat animals long before they show any ...
Off Exhibit: New Giraffe Calf, New Heights
She’s the first giraffe calf born at the Maryland Zoo in more than 20 years. Two weeks ago the Zoo welcomed the newest (and tallest) newborn into the herd. How is this 6ft tall addition acclimating behind-the-scenes? On this edition of Off Exhibit we talk with Animal Keeper Amy Botke. Amy is part of the Giraffe House team and is one of several keepers ...
National Zookeeper Week Profile – Amy H.
They’re some of the most hardworking, dedicated and passionate people you’ll meet. It’s National Zookeeper Appreciation Week and we’re celebrating the amazing work our zookeepers do for wildlife every day. The Maryland Zoo is fortunate to have expert teams of animal professionals focused on the care of more than 200 species big and small ...
Maryland Zoo Says Farewell to African Leopard Hobbes
BALTIMORE — The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is saddened to announce the death of Hobbes, the Zoo’s remaining African leopard, who had been a staff and guest favorite for over 20 years. Hobbes, age 22, was humanely euthanized at the Zoo after his health declined rapidly over the past week. “This is truly the end of an era here at the Zoo,” said Mike ...
Saying Goodbye to Daisy the Rhino
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Daisy Mae, the Zoo’s 48-year-old Southern white rhinoceros. “This is an incredibly difficult day for staff as you might expect,” said Zoo President Don Hutchinson. “Daisy has been a fixture here at the Zoo since the opening of the African Watering Hole in 1992, and she has ...
Zoo Welcomes New River Otter
BALTIMORE, MD – The Maryland Zoo is excited to welcome Piper, a one-year-old North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) to the Otter Stream habitat in the Maryland Wilderness section of the Zoo. Piper came to the Zoo from the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana. Piper was found by a fisherman in Houma, Louisiana, when she was only about ...
Polar Bear Denning Update
In early October, the Zoo announced that you might not be able to see female polar bear Anoki on exhibit for a few months due to denning season. (You can catch up on what denning season is and what it means for Anoki here). Recently we caught up with the polar bear team to bring you a behind-the-scenes look at what Anoki has been up to since denning season ...
Announcing Von der Decken’s Hornbill Chicks
BALTIMORE, MD — The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is happy to announce the hatching of three Von der Decken’s hornbill (Tockus deckeni) chicks in the African Aviary.Von der Decken’s hornbill is a small member of the hornbill family and was named after the German explorer Baron Karl Klaus Von der Decken, who described this bird in his writings about his ...