Woodland Park Zoo Plans Easter Festivities

From Woodland Park Zoo: WHAT: Hop, skip, and bounce to Woodland Park Zoo as kiddies scatter for eggs on the North Meadow and zoo animals enjoy special Easter-themed treats at the 17th annual Bunny Bounce.

The spring event offers fun egg hunts for children ages 1 to 8, crafts, animal encounters and eggs-citing zoo programs throughout the day. Space for egg hunts might be limited and is open on a first-come, first-served basis. As part of the zoo’s conservation mission, families must bring their own egg hunt basket or reusable bag. For the health and well-being of the zoo’s animals, candy is not placed inside the eggs—egg hunt participants receive their treats as they exit the zoo.

Grizzlies, meerkats, otters, penguins, and other animals nibble on specially made Easter baskets lined with flowers, berries and other favorite treats. The special treats are part of the zoo’s excellent animal care program to help enrich the lives of the zoo’s animals. The safe activities help encourage natural animal behavior, keep animals mentally and physically stimulated and engage zoo visitors.

WHEN: Bunny Bounce and Easter treats for animals: Saturday, March 31

Bunny Bounce: 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Egg hunts for ages 3 and under at the Picnic Shelter near the North Meadow: 9:30 a.m.-3:00p.m.

Egg hunts for ages 3-5 and 6-8 in the North Meadow: every 30 mins. 10:00 a.m.-noon and 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Easter treats for animals

• Jaguar 10:00
• Lions 10:00
• Snow Leopards 10:45
• Kunekune Pigs 11:30
• River Otters 11:30
• Asian Small-clawed Otters 11:45
• Grizzlies noonAnoa 1:00
• Sloth Bears 1:00
• Ring-tailed Lemurs 1:00 (weather dependent)
• Red Ruffed Lemurs 1:30 (weather dependent)
• Meerkats 1:30
• Visayan Warty Pigs 1:30
• Penguins 2:00
• Wallaroos and Wallabies 2:30

WHERE: Woodland Park Zoo: Enter through West Entrance at Phinney Ave. N. between N. 55th & N. 56th Sts. or South Entrance at N. 50th St. & Fremont Ave. N.

COST: Bunny Bounce and Easter treats for the animals are free with zoo admission or membership.

Admission through March 31:

• Adult (13-64) $14.95;
• Child (3-12) $9.95;
• Toddler (0-2) Free.

Active, retired, and veteran U.S. military and their families, seniors and people with physical disabilities receive an admission discount. Zoo members receive free zoo admission year round. Parking: $6 plus applicable state and local taxes. Avoid lines at the gate and get your tickets for Bunny Bounce now at www.zoo.org/event or become a member for unlimited and quick admission all year long! Discounts and coupons are not applicable for online tickets. Consider taking the bus, biking, walking or carpooling. For bus service to the zoo, visit: www.metro.kingcounty.gov.

INFO: Zoo hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily through April 30 Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the zoo for zoo guests, made possible through products donated by Cisco.

Mobile app: Download the free Woodland Park Zoo mobile app for iPhone, iPad or Android from your app store. Use it to track your location on zoo grounds with GPS, discover more about animals and daily zoo activities, and share the highlights of your visit with friends.

Quarters for Conservation: A portion of your zoo admission and membership is dedicated to funding conservation programs in the wild. Cast your vote for your favorite conservation project at the Quarters for Conservation kiosks located at each entrance.

Gifts/Food: Explore the ZooStores for unique gifts and souvenirs and the Rain Forest Food Pavilion to quench your thirst and appetite. For more information or to become a zoo member, visit www.zoo.org or call 206.548.2500. Woodland Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and certified by the rigorous American Humane Conservation program.

The Humane Certified™ seal of approval is another important validation of the zoo’s long-standing tradition of meeting the highest standards in animal welfare. Woodland Park Zoo is helping to save animals and their habitats through more than 35 field projects in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. By saving wildlife and inspiring everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future ecological health and sustainability. Visit www.zoo.org and follow the zoo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Photos courtesy of Woodland Park Zoo, credit Dennis Dow