ZooAmerica may be the best kept secret at Hershey Park. I was not aware of a zoo at Hershey Park Pa until I stumbled on information on the Hershy Park website. I was also delighted to learn ZooAmerica was included with our Hershey Park tickets. You can just visit the zoo if you wish and the ticket price is $9 for ages 9-54 and $7.50 for ages 3-8. Children 2 and under are admitted free. ZooAmerica operates at various times throughout the year, so be sure to check their website for the current hours. Our son loves animals, so I knew we had to take time to visit ZooAmerica while at Hersey Park.
Hershey Park entrance to ZooAmerica
The name says it all Zoo “America” is home to over 200 animals from five regions of North America. This really appealed to me – just animals native to North America. Plus, they have gray wolves. Our son loves wolves and couldn’t wait to see them. I wasn’t surprised that this ended up being his favorite animal at the zoo. We also like that bobcat kittens. They were so cute. The mountain lions were really cool. They were screeching the entire time. We saw lots of alligators, crocodiles and other reptiles. My favorites were the prairie dogs. They were so fun to watch. The black bear exhibit is also very good.
The Five Regions
The zoo is broken down into five areas which features animals you would find in those areas across North America. The five area are…
Southern Swamps: The Florida Everglades, or “Grassy Waters” as it was called by the Native Americans, is a vast prairie of sawgrass. Within and surrounding this freshwater marsh are islands of hardwood trees called hammocks, palmetto pine scrub, cypress heads, and coastal mangroves, each a natural and distinct community in itself. Animals in this area of the zoo include the American Alligator, American Crocodile, barred owl, dusky pygmy rattlesnake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake and more.
Northlands: The second largest forest left in the world is the northern evergreen forest stretching from Newfoundland across Canada into Alaska. Animals of the North Woods face long, frigid winters and short summers. Animals featured in this area include the Bald Eagle, American Martin, Canada Lynx, gray wolves, peregrine falcons, porcupines and snowy owls.
Black Bear at Hershey Park ZooAmerica
Eastern Woodlands: The Eastern Woodlands is a community of broadleaf trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and animals that respond to the four-season cycle of the moderate climate found in the eastern woodlands. Fields now break up the once endless forest. Man-made changes have eliminated some animals of the deep woods, but have invited newcomers who live in fields and the forest edge. In spite of the changed environment, some animals, like the white-tailed deer and the raccoon, are more plentiful today than ever before. Animals featured in this area of the zoo include barn owls, bobcats, black bears, river otters, great horned owls, white-tailed deer, red tailed hawks and more.
Big Sky Country: In western North America, the Rocky Mountains rise to snow-capped peaks. In this environment, life changes with elevation. Lichens and grasses are found near the mountain summits. Below the timberline, evergreen forests of spruce, fir, and pine clad the slopes. Mule deer and elk winter at lower levels, moving higher in the summer. Pumas and eagles range widely in search of food. Animals featured in this area include American Elk, Bison, Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, Long-eared Owls, Mountain Lions and turkey vultures.
Great Southwest: Deserts are not deserted by wildlife. They are places of little rain and much sun, and are home to a surprising variety of plants and animals. In this area or the zoo you will find many creatures including vampire bats, swift foxes, tarantulas, whitethroated woodrats, gila monsters, ringtails, roadrunners, a variety of snakes and more.
Be sure to meet Ranger Scratch while at Hershey Park ZooAmerica.
More Fun at ZooAmerica
Be sure to look for Ranger Scratch during your visit to ZooAmerica. He’s the zoo’s mascot. If you live close to Hersey Park’s ZooAmerica, your child(ren) can even join the Ranger Scratch Kid’s Club for just $25 per child. Club membership is great for kids 12 and under and offers many benefits including FREE admission to ZooAmerica for the year, a FREE one-year subscription to Ranger Rick magazine or Your Big Backyard, a monthly newletter and membership card, Ranger Scratch Kid’s Club binolculars and more. For complete details, visit the Ranger Scratch Kid’s Club page.
You can also celebrate your child’s birthday at ZooAmerica. Birthday parties are available from September through May. They offer two packages. All packages include use of an indoor room, an animal program, and a party host who will be on-site to meet and greet guests and help with the special celebration. For prices and complete information, visit the ZooAmerica birthday page.
For everything ZooAmerica has to offer, be sure to visit the ZooAmerica website or you can link to ZooAmerica via Hershey Park com.
