CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO

2. I found an injured baby bird or mammal, what should I do?
A local 24 hour helpline: 719-475-9453 (WILD) and web site www.wildforever.org contains instructions on what to do if you find a baby bird or small mammal and also contains contact information for what to do with animals that they do not handle such as large game animals (adult deer, bears, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, moose, etc.), bats, domestic animals and deceased animals.
When you need to call about an animal in trouble, Wild Forever suggests to please remember:
Be specific about the location.
Describe the animal's condition clearly.
Give a contact phone number and name.
Stay near the animal until help arrives.

3. I have leftover meat that I would like to donate, will you accept that?
For safety/health reasons, we only accept USDA inspected meat – it must be in the original wrapper & must not be expired.  If it does not meet these criteria, we can give you phone numbers of rescue centers & rehabilitators that may accept your meat.

4. I lost my membership card; may I still come to the Zoo?
Yes you may, but you will need to request a new card to use for the remainder of your membership. The admissions gate has a listing of all of our Members. You will just need to show a photo ID.
To order a new card please contact our membership office at 633-9925 ext 130, the charge is $5.00.
View additional member information.

5. I want to get married up at the Shrine, how do I do that?
Wedding ceremonies or any type of parties at the Shrine are not allowed. The Zoo however does have areas to rent for any occasion. Please contact our Wildthings Catering at (719)575-0536 or view additional catering information here.

6. Can I just drive to the Shrine without going through the Zoo?
There is only one road to get to the Shrine and it is through the Zoo. You will need to pay full Zoo admission price to drive up through the Zoo to the Shrine. The admission cost for the Zoo always includes the drive up to the Shrine. If you are a member, you may drive up during regular Zoo hours (up to an hour before closing) at no extra charge.

7. How many hours does it take to go through the Zoo?
It really depends on you. To quick step it through would take an hour and a half. That ensures that you see everything but at a fast pace. To stop and enjoy your favorite animals, have lunch or a snack, I would count on two hours minimum. The Zoo is a wonderful relaxing place to wander through. We suggest taking advantage of some down time!

8. Can the Zoo keepers go into the areas with the animals?
Respect for animal and Keeper safety is our utmost concern. Therefore, it depends on the individual animal and/or species.  Examples are: we work “free contact” with one elephant and “protected contact” with the other – due to her aggressive nature. We do not go in with great apes – they're too large, strong & dangerous.  We can go in with many birds, reptiles & most small mammals when necessary. We do not go in with the tigers, leopards, or lions. We avoid going in with most primates because they are not comfortable with us being in their enclosures and they can carry diseases that are transmittable to humans (& vice versa). We also have what's called a “two-person” rule - whenever we're going to enter an enclosure with most animals. This is a safety rule so no one is ever alone with a potentially dangerous animal (most exotic animals – even the one's we go in with – are potentially dangerous).

9. Don't the animals get bored just sitting around day to day?
They certainly can become bored – especially the more intelligent ones.  That is why we have extensive training and enrichment programs.  The keepers spend a lot of time everyday giving the animals things to do that mentally stimulate them and elicit natural behaviors.  Some examples of enrichment:  you may see sheets, boxes, bags etc. in with the primates – they love to play with and explore these items.  Carnivores & some raptors may have bones to pick at or chew on.  Lots of the animals – elephants, cats, bears, primates & other small mammals – get scent enrichments too.  These may include various perfumes, other animal scents & spices.  Training programs are also important not only to keep the animals stimulated, but also for medical reasons.  We can collect blood from elephants & tapirs simply by “asking” them to hold still.  Some of our Great apes are trained to accept routine inoculations.  This is only a small example of our training and enrichment programs we have for the animals.

10. Why isn't the Tram running today?
The tram is up and running in the late spring through Labor Day. It does depend on the weather if it runs or not. Heavy rains and or snow may keep it from running on a particular day. Once in a while we experience some mechanical difficulties. However, we utilize our Zoo Mobile in case the tram is not operating. Please call ahead or email to find out if in fact it will be open (in off-season).

11. Why aren't the Giraffes outside?
If the giraffes are not out, it's most likely due to weather or yard conditions.  We generally do not put them out if it's below 40 degrees F or if the yard is muddy or icy.  Giraffes do not do well on slippery surfaces – with their long legs, if they were to fall they could injure themselves very badly.  Other reasons they may not be out include, construction or yard maintenance, a veterinary procedure or a training session utilizing the chute which is in their yard. You may check our live GiraffeCam to see if the giraffes are out today. You can still visit and feed the giraffes when they are inside their building too!

12.  Is the carousel operating today?
The carousel operates May through Labor Day. However, if we have seasonally warm weather during the off season, we try and open it up. A call ahead or an email to find out if in fact it will be open (in off-season) is suggested.

13. Can we bring pets into the Zoo or to the Shrine?
We love all animals. However, your pets are not allowed in the Zoo or at the Shrine as they can startle the Zoo animals and may stress them. Visually impaired visitors may tour certain areas of the Zoo with their assistance dogs, or the Zoo will kennel the dogs and provide staff guidance. To schedule a tour with you and your assistant dog please contact Guest Services in advance (719)633-9925, ext. 121.

14.  Can I cash a personal check?
You may purchase your admission tickets with a personal check from Colorado. You will also need to have a driver's license. We do not give cash back on any personal checks.

15. Do you accept out of state checks?
No we do not. We accept in-state checks, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.

16. Where are the rest rooms?
There are rest rooms in the Thundergod Gift Shop, Mountain Outfitters building, African Rift Valley View Tower, Primate World, Bird & Reptile House, underneath the Monkey Pavilion, at Colobus Cafe and at the entrance to the Elephant Building.

17. Can we go out and then come back in?
Yes, for only the day of the purchased ticket. Save your receipt!

18. Where can we get a golf cart?
Only the Zoo staff uses the golf carts for company transportation. There are no motorized vehicles for hire at the Zoo.

19. Where are the bears?
The easiest way to get to the bears is to orient you in front of the Monkey Pavilion main entrance doors.  These are the DOUBLE glass doors of the building.  The path up to bears is directly across from these doors. Go to the on-site Zoo map for  illustrative details.

20. Who took my dog out of my car?
Most likely the Zoo called the Humane Society/Animal Control Officer. We would only do this if it were too hot for the dog to be in the car or it was having obvious health trouble. If we call the Humane Society up to remove the dog – it will be taken to the shelter and you will have to pay a fine to get it released.  Please be kind to your pet – leave it at home, not in your car.

21. I want to be a Zoo Veterinarian. Can I volunteer with the Zoo Vets?
The Veterinary Department accepts Veterinarian and Veterninary Technician interns. Our Veterinary Internship is only offered to 4th year Veterinary students. These are students who are enrolled in a Veterinary college or Veterinary Technician program. Acceptance is competitive. Please send a resume and letter of interest to the Zoo Attn:Vet Department to be considered.

CMZoo Homepage

4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road Colorado Springs, CO  80906 Phone(719)633-9925  Fax (719)633-2254