ROARING WITH EXCITEMENT. Irvine Park Zoo is ramping up for summertime visitors with returning favorites, and even some new additions!

Chippewa Falls’ Irvine Park is home to amenities and attractions that bring folks to its grounds year-round, though the zoo is certainly a summertime highlight. With Olson’s Ice Cream scooping on-site, the seasonal petting zoo opening on Memorial Day, and animals grazing in its enclosed pastures, it’s an all-ages gem for a variety of reasons. This year, new animals and familiar favorites await visitors.

Alongside programming like Zoo Talks and Zoo Camp – the schedules for each to be released online soon by the city Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department – familiar big mammals like tigers, black bears, and hyenas, and small mammals like monkeys, porcupines, and foxes will return, as well as birds.

Zookeeper Cynthia Valentino said among the new additions this season are tortoises, which the zoo has not had in quite some time. Waterbucks, an African antelope, are also grazing in the pastures.

Folks may notice one of the zoo’s pastures is currently empty, Valentino said, which is due to tree maintenance. Also receiving maintenance is Irvine Park’s Jefferson Avenue entrance, which has been closed since April 22. City Parks Director John Jimenez said the entrance is estimated to reopen by the end of May or early June.

Visits to the zoo and petting zoo are free, though donations are appreciated. Irvine Park Zoo is open from about 8am to sunset.

Learn more about Irvine Park Zoo online • Keep up with the Chippewa Falls Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department on Facebook to see future zoo-related updates and announcements