A day of educating events focuses on animals native to Oklahoma and surrounding states.
Every day is a celebration of wildlife and wild places at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, but on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to noon guests will learn that Oklahoma is plenty wild on its own.
Native Species Awareness Day wraps up the Zoo’s annual animal awareness day celebrations with a focus on creatures big and small who hail from the Sooner State and surrounding areas.
“Oklahoma has a fascinating array of life zones, each of them perfect for nurturing different kinds of wildlife,” said Dr. Dwight Lawson, Executive Director and CEO of the OKC Zoo. “I hope everyone who visits us takes some time to meet and learn more about the animals native to Oklahoma’s forests, mountains, lakes, and streams.”
Caretakers have special activities planned for Native Species Awareness Day being hosted in and around the Zoo’s Oklahoma Trails habitat. The day begins with a training demonstration with mountain lions and information on what sets them apart from African lions before continuing with bison biofacts in front of the Joan Kirkpatrick Animal Hospital.
Members of the Zoo’s bird team will take visitors on a guided tour of the Oklahoma Trails Aviary and the aquatics team has a fish-feeding demonstration and caretaker chat scheduled for the Big Rivers building, presented by the Cresap Family Foundation.
All Native Species Awareness Day activities are free with general admission.
The Oklahoma Zoological Society will be on hand for Plush with a Purpose bison plush adoptions for $25 and selling Art Gone Wild keychains featuring miniature works of art made by bison, black bears, and a grizzly bear at the OKC Zoo for $5. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Bison SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program.
Members of the Zoo’s horticulture team will be selling native plants and Zoo Poo compost in the entry plaza. There will also be free water bottles given away starting at 9:30 a.m. courtesy of Shape Your Future, a program of TSET, to guests while supplies last.
Some of the Zoo’s conservation partners will also be in attendance to educate guests on initiatives across the state benefitting wildlife. Attendees include the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center, Okies for Monarchs, The Nature Conservancy, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.
A dog adoption event from the Oklahoma City Animal Shelter begins at 10 a.m. in front of the Rosser Conservation Education Center at the east end of the Zoo’s parking lot.
Saturday, October 4, 2025 is also the first day of Haunt the Zoo. Purchase official Haunt the Zoo treat bags at the Guest Services office for $10 for non-members and $9 for ZOOfriends members. An official bag is required for trick-or-treating. Haunt the Zoo continues each weekend through October.
The Oklahoma City Zoo’s regular daytime hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. Avoid the entry lines and purchase advance Zoo admission tickets online at okczoo.org/tickets. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District.
Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Zoo more with a ZOOfriends membership! As a ZOOfriends member of the Oklahoma City Zoo, enjoy free admission for 12-months, plus additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming, and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at www.okczoo.org/membership.