Awesome Animal Academy

10/14/2026

It's time for another road trip!

10/14/2026

Before you pull that goldenrod, look closer.

Late summer and fall are when many other blooms are fading. Goldenrod provides nectar and pollen for bees still foraging before winter.

And goldenrod usually isn’t the reason you’re sneezing. Its heavy, sticky pollen is carried by insects. Ragweed—the plant often blooming nearby—is wind-pollinated and far more likely to trigger fall allergies.

So if a locally native goldenrod is growing along your fence, beside the driveway, or at the edge of your garden, consider leaving it until it finishes blooming. If you plant it intentionally, choose a native species suited to your region.

That bright yellow “weed” may be one of the last meals a bee gets before winter.

10/13/2026

Calling all Gibbon fans! 📣

SAFE: Gibbon has collaborated with Peppermint Narwhal, and they've designed these amazing white-cheeked gibbon pins! 😍 A portion of the proceeds from each pin sale supports SAFE: Gibbon!

Get yours at peppermintnarwhal.com. Not in the US? No problem! Shipping is available outside the US via Peppermint Narwhal's Etsy store!

https://www.peppermintnarwhal.com/product/white-cheeked-gibbon-pin/WUZBONLWMZEEQ4HN3GZHSYGL?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true

10/11/2026

10/09/2026

That pile of fallen leaves in your yard may seem like a chore, but it’s a cozy home for countless creatures preparing for winter! 🦋

Butterflies, moths, bumblebee queens, beetles, spiders, and more find shelter there, contributing to your garden's health in spring. If you clear it all away, you're tossing out a thriving ecosystem!

Instead, rake leaves into garden beds and around tree bases, leaving some undisturbed for wildlife. Let nature thrive this winter! 🌱🍂

10/09/2026

Who is ready for Halloween Candy!? 🍬🍭🍫

Candy, like many products found at your local grocery store, is often made using palm oil. Palm oil plantations clear valuable forest habitat for animals like gibbons, orangutans, and tigers. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) provides certification to companies that are committed to using sustainable palm oil.

It might seem a bit overwhelming to try to determine if a product is made using sustainable palm oil, but Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has an app to make it much easier! More info ➡ https://www.cmzoo.org/conservation/orangutans-palm-oil/palm-oil-scan-mobile-app/

10/03/2026

It’s International Maned Wolf Day!
Did you know maned wolves are omnivores? Their diet includes both fruits and small animals, making them important members of South America’s grassland and savanna ecosystems.

Celebrate with us at the Zoo and learn more about these unique animals and how we can help protect them.

Schedule of Activities
10:00AM – 12:00PM Educational table with activities at the Maned Wolf Exhibit
10:30AM Enrichment Demo at Maned Wolf Exhibit
2:30PM Cheetah Outpost Keeper Chat