The foremost goals of the zoo staff are for you to enjoy your zoo visit and at the same time keep you, zoo representatives and the animals safe and healthy. As such, we are working to put measures in place in response to COVID-19 that will include:

• Per EIPH’s countywide mandate, everyone over the age of 2 is required to wear a mask while visiting the zoo.
• The zoo staff is encouraging social distancing and the number of people inside the zoo at any one time will be limited. See the zoo’s social media feeds on Facebook, Instagram, and the zoo’s website for the most up-to-date information.
• While in the zoo, patrons are expected to respect social distancing at all times and remain at least 6 feet away from other zoo guests to which they are not related.
• All in-person education programs including EdZOOcation camps and classes, the Penguin Interaction Program, Meet a Zookeeper talks, Behind the Scenes tours, and public penguin feedings will be canceled until further notice.
• Zoo representatives will wear masks whenever they’re in direct contact with the public.
• For the safety of the animals as well as visitors, the goat yard and petting areas of the Children’s Zoo will also be closed to the public. However, guests are still encouraged to walk around the Children’s Zoo and enjoy seeing those animals.
• Zoo memberships will ONLY be available for purchase online, not at admissions. We hope you’ll support your zoo by purchasing a membership online. Once your online purchase has been verified, you can pick up your packet at the admissions window. Purchase your membership here.
  • Call (208) 612-8421 if you have questions or problems when purchasing memberships. Leave a message if your call isn’t answered so we can better serve you.

“The measures we’re taking are precautionary for the health and safety of our zoo guests, staff, and of course the animals,” says Idaho Falls Parks & Recreation Director PJ Holm. “The current health crisis has hit zoos and cultural organizations throughout the world particularly hard. We ask for everyone’s help in supporting the zoo this summer in a safe, positive way.”

This year, you’ll also have the option to interact with the zoo in a whole new way! Enhance your zoo visit by downloading the brand-new interactive zoo app here.

“We are really excited about our new app,” states Education Curator Sunny Katseanes, “We’ve been working with Liiingo, a digital experience design company out of Boise, on the perfect zoo complement for some time. This app will enable you to explore some of the individual animals at the zoo and learn about them from those who know them best—the zookeepers.”

The best part? The new app is completely free.

“Yes, the app is free and it is truly amazing. You will definitely want to download it. It will provide you the opportunity to really get to know some of our animals and will blow your zoo visit out of the water,” Katseanes says.

But, the zoo staff hope you’ll help the zoo a little when you use the app. There are options built into the platform to allow you to donate to support the zoo, and we hope our patrons will show us some love and be generous. Even small donations add up to big help for the zoo and the maintenance of this cool new app. Donate to the zoo here.

For up-to-date information on zoo policies, happenings, and news like Idaho Falls Zoo on Facebook or Instagram.