January — the tigers own the place
Cold bright mornings, the Amurs come out of the heated dens and pace. Not stress pacing — patrol. Cats in a good enclosure walk a route and check it, the way you check the doors before bed. If you see a tiger walking the same line for twenty minutes with its tail low and ears forward, that is a content animal. If the tail is flicking and the head is low, back off the glass and give it room.
February — feeding the gorillas before a cold snap
When the forecast drops twenty degrees overnight, we feed the gorillas heavier the evening before: more browse, more root vegetables, and the heat in the night quarters comes up two degrees. They do not shiver like us; they get quiet and still, which is worse. If you visit on a deep-cold day and the troop is sitting in a huddle near the glass, that is why. They are fine. They are conserving.
April — penguin walk logistics
The Humboldt walk happens when it happens for a reason: the birds go out when the ground temperature and wind are inside their comfort window, and when the keeper on shift can spare two people for the rope line. That is usually late morning, but on a wet cold day they stay in. If you came for the walk and it is cancelled, the birds are not being punished and neither are you — go see the Amurs, they are better in the rain anyway.
July — the shade map
Everyone goes left at the gate because the map says so. Go right. The Canadian Wilds loop has the long shade in the afternoon, the bears are more active, and you will not be queuing behind four strollers at every window.
October — the lights go up
Zoolights is a real thing and it is genuinely good, but understand what it is: the animals are mostly inside and asleep, and you are walking a lit trail. Come for the lights, not for the animals. Details on the winter page.