‘Quick Fire’

Panicle Hydrangea or Hydrangea paniculata

‘Quick Fire’ hydrangea is a wonderful shrub that blooms white flowers maturing to a reddish-purple color June to September.  ‘Quick Fire’ flowers up to a month earlier than other hydrangeas and blooms on new wood, so no pruning is required and the flowers can get up to 6” tall! ‘Quick Fire’, along with several other hydrangeas can be found in the Aquarium, Pheasantry and Aquarium Adventure Trail landscapes at the Zoo.

To learn more, click here.

While the name American Coot may not ring a bell for many, when the Mudhen nickname is mentioned, the proverbial light bulb flashes!

American Coots or Mudhens (yes, like the Toledo minor league baseball team) are found all across the United States but are common in the marshes of Lake Erie. Mudhens have slate gray bodies, red eyes and an ivory bill with dark markings on the top and tip. They also have lobed feet instead of webbed feet. Mudhens are omnivores that eat plants, algae, insects, fish crustaceans and eggs. These tough, adaptable waterbirds can both swim and walk on land well. They are commonly found in flocks near shallow freshwater sources. Mudhens are known to be aggressive and noisy birds that have a large variety of calls and sound off often. Interestingly, Mudhens are known to fight each other with their feet, usually over territory.

The Zoo currently has an American Coot, supported by the Gary Marck family, on exhibit in Flamingo Key. Our bird staff suggests looking toward the back of the exhibit to spot the Mudhen!

Overcome your fears and learn more about the amazing residents of our WPA-era Reptile House! 

The scientific name for the Green mamba is Dendroaspis angusticeps, which in ancient Greek means tree snake with a long, narrow head. Green mambas, like their name implies, are bright almost neon green snakes that average 6-7 feet in length.

These snakes are fairly common in their native range of Tanzania, Zimbabwe and southern Africa. Additionally, these venomous creatures are arboreal, meaning they live in trees. They will occasionally descent to the ground to forage, drink and sun but when startled or after attack quickly retreat to higher ground.

Interestingly, green mambas hatch from eggs being a blue green color and get greener with each skin shedding as they grow. Green mambas are the smallest of the four species of mambas and prey on small mammals, birds, eggs and rodents. These snakes are known to strike quickly (they can move as fast as 7 miles per hour) and bite multiple times, injecting large amounts of venom into their prey. Check out this incredible snake on exhibit in the Reptile House!

Do you need an excuse to get of the house over the holiday break?

Come out and explore Nature’s Neighborhood, which boasts an array of indoor activities for children all year long at the Toledo Zoo! Explore ‘Home sweet home,’ where you can learn about taking care of pets and interact with our guinea pigs, or discover ‘The Workshop’ where visitors can try various activities to learn about animal behaviors and their diets. Click here to learn more.

Did you know walleye are the largest member of the perch family, capable of living for decades and growing up to 31 inches long and weighing 20 lbs, with females usually being larger than males?

The walleye name comes from the fact that their eyes point outward, like looking at a wall. While this placement helps the fish see in the rough waters, it also catches light which provides what fishers refer to as eye-shine to help catch fish in the dark.

In the spring and fall, walleye congregate in the rocky areas of shallow bay waters. They spawn in the spring and then seek cooler temperatures in deeper waters in the summer time. Walleye are a favorite of local fisherman as they actively feed all winter and can be caught year-round, even ice fishing. Come visit our walleye at the Toledo Zoo, on exhibit in the Native Fishes exhibit in the Aquarium.

Join us at the Toledo Zoo for Zoo Brew, sponsored by Meijer, on Friday, 10/6.

Whether you prefer sours or stouts, pale ale or porters, IPAs or imports, Zoo Brew has the perfect pick to please your palate. The 21 and over crowd can sample craft brews from several local microbreweries and distributors in a new progressive tasting format with stations in both the Malawi Event Center and the Lodge. There will be live music from local acoustic guitarists in both facilities.

Your ticket to Zoo Brew includes admission to Luminous Nights. Click here to learn more and purchase  ticket.