Spring Cleaning…even our animals keep it clean!

Poe is a Raven and can be seen everyday at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in the Loft.

What do Giraffes Eat? Not just crackers…

Photo by guest, Rachael Wooten

While at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo you might think that the giraffes only eat crackers (a favorite treat, but not the bulk of their diet). Giraffes are the tallest of all animals living on the land, and are one of the most fascinating creatures in the world. Giraffes are herbivores, which mean that they eat no meat. Giraffes love to eat twigs of plants and will also eat plant leaves. Their long neck and very long tongue is useful in picking the best twigs and leaves off the very tall trees. Their tongue, which is around 18 inches long, is also very tough to withstand thorns that may be on the plants they are eating. They also have thick, sticky saliva that coats any thorns they might swallow. You may have felt it if you have ever fed the giraffes at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Giraffes can eat 75-100 lbs of twigs and leaves in just one day! Giraffes also use their exceptionally long tongue to clean off any bugs and insects that are annoying them, but they don’t eat them.

When we asked the giraffe keepers at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo some of their favorite stories about guests feeding the giraffes here is what they said:

Jeremy, a keeper at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for 6 years, said, “ A mom handed her kid a dollar and said “Go feed the giraffe.” So the little kid walked right up to a giraffe and hands the dollar him. The giraffe promptly ate the dollar.” Jeremy said, “That starts to make for expensive poop.” (As a side note, the giraffe was fine, but we recommend that you do not feed them dollar bills.)

Tell us about your experience feeding the giraffes for a chance to win giraffe crackers! For more GIVEAWAYS, COUPONS, and PRIZES, check out our Spring Break Giveaway Days online online at facebook, twitter, and right here on the blog!


Photo by guest, Rachael Wooten

Grizzly Grill Update

As most of you who visit the Zoo frequently know, the old Grizzly Grill is gone and a brand new building stands in its place. This beautiful new building is scheduled to open in the next few weeks (opening date TBA). We wanted to keep you updated and show you some of the progress as the artwork goes up and JE Dunn puts the finishing touches on the building construction. We are excited to open the brand new Grizzly Grill very soon!

Peacocks in Bloom

Check out more Zoo photos on Flickr.

Come visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo peacocks who are coming into full bloom. It is not unusual to see several peacocks “strutting their stuff” around the Zoo during your visit. Our peacocks roam free here on the mountain and provide wonderful photo opportunities at every turn. The peacocks keep their full plumage (feathers) from March through mid-July, so make sure not to miss this time of year to see their beautiful colors.

Fun Facts about Peacocks:
• Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues.
• The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.
• Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants, and small creatures.
• The blue peacock lives in India and Sri Lanka, while the green peacock is found in Java and Myanmar (Burma).
• The peacock’s beak is, on average, an inch long in a full-grown bird.
• Peacocks have a crest, or crown, on top their head, making them appear even more regal.

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO WINS “BEST OF SHOW” AT 2010 ADDY AWARDS

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo took home a total of eight achievement awards on Saturday, February 27 at the annual Pikes Peak Advertising Federation ADDY Awards. Included in the covey of awards was the Federation’s “Best of Show” award and trophy for the Zoo’s Non-Traditional Campaign which was unveiled through the summer months of 2009. America’s mountain Zoo also collected four Gold Awards, two Silver Awards and a “Best of Show - Radio” award for their summer Zoo Campaign.


The Non-Traditional Campaign from the summer of 2009 is remembered by area residents for the giant animal appliqués that periodically appeared on downtown high-rise buildings, shopping centers and even a Metro bus. The inspiration behind the animal placements was a demonstration of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo “coming off the mountain” and into the lives and the aesthetic lifestyle of the community. The Zoo did this in a variety of ways, from symbolic giant animals on buildings, to the ZOOM program where the Zoo took animal ambassadors to schools, senior centers, parties and other human gatherings. This interaction of the Zoo with the community helped and continues to help to make the Zoo’s mission a reality…to make the connection between people and wildlife and wild places through experiences that inspire action.


Inspired by the appearance of a giant Panamanian Golden Frog on downtown’s Chase Bank Building, a neighboring retailer even decided to dedicate a special product to the campaign. Josh and John’s Naturally Homemade Ice Cream announced that they would add a new flavor to their rotating menu of ice creams, Panamanian Golden Fudge. The conservation and community- conscious ice cream company also donated 50% of the proceeds from the sales of their Panamanian Golden Fudge ice cream to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project.