Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Looking for a way to make your trip to Duluth even more memorable? No matter which behind-the-scenes experience you choose, it will make your day at the Zoo truly unforgettable!
All tours must be scheduled at least one week in advance! Tours occur daily based on availability and are private for your group of 1-5 people! All tours are approximately 30 minutes.
Please note: Tours are based on availability.
Feed the Animals Tour
Cost: $150 for the first person, $75 per additional person
Times: 2:00 p.m.
Group Size: 1-5 people
Do you love coming to the zoo and watching the animals eat and play? How would you like to feed some of our guest-favorite animals yourself? We’ve got great news – YOU CAN!
Here’s what you’ll get:
- Reserved time with an animal care specialist and the animal of your choice
- Experience of feeding the animal or animals of your choice
- An exclusive “Keeper Chat” where you’ll learn about the animal’s natural habitat, adaptations, and their favorite toys, treats, and hiding spots
Choose from: ALL NEW capybara, fosa, red panda, wolves, cougars, snow leopard, otters, brown bears (not available Nov.-Mar.), KuneKune pigs, or barn animals!
Click here to fill out a form to request this tour!
You can also email mcoble@lszoo.org or call 218-461-3527 ext. 102.
All-Inclusive Carnivore Tour
Cost: $200 for the first person, $100 per additional person
Times: 3:00 p.m. daily or choose your own time (must be scheduled in advance)
Group Size: 1-5 people
Join our carnivore Animal Care Specialists behind-the-scenes on this brand-new tour and get up close to some of our largest residents as you help feed them their dinners and give them access to their bedroom areas, all while learning their personalities and stories from those who know them best! Go behind-the-scenes to see where diets are prepared and help Animal Care Specialists set up the bedroom space for the otters and watch them come inside, eat their dinner, and have fun in the space you prepared! Then see the brown bear bedroom area and feed them their dinner (March–Oct.) or tour the lion bedroom area and get the chance to meet our lion Malkia (Nov.–March). Finally, wrap up your experience by feeding our coyote pack their dinner!
Please note that children under 5 years old must be held or hold the hand of an adult for the duration of this tour, and masks must be worn when in the carnivore bedroom areas.
Click here to fill out a form to request this tour!
You can also email mcoble@lszoo.org or call 218-461-3527 ext. 102.
Primate Painting Tour
Cost: $100 for the first person, $50 per additional person
Times: 2:00 p.m. (year-round)
Group Size: 1-5 people
Watch our Callimico monkeys create a unique piece of iPad art, then take their masterpiece home with you! The monkeys “paint” by reaching for treats placed on the surface of the iPad and making brushstrokes with their fingers! You will receive two cardstock copies of an 8″ x 10″ computer-generated painting in your choice of color and brushstroke, created by one of our fluffy monkey artists while you learn all about these unique primates and their individual personalities!
Click here to fill out a form to request this tour!
You can also email mcoble@lszoo.org or call 218-461-3527 ext. 102.
Bear Country Tour
Cost: $150 for the first person, $75 per additional person
Times: 2:00 p.m. daily or choose your own time (must be scheduled in advance)
Group Size: 1-5 people
Are you excited about our Brown Bear and North American River Otter habitats and the amazing animals that live there? Come on this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of our recently renovated Bear Country building and see where the bears and otters call home. Learn all about the incredible backstory of this historic building and get an up close look at the specialized care that goes into providing the best possible living space for these wonderful animals.
Please note that animals will be in their habitat during this tour and can be viewed after the behind-the-scenes experience!
Click here to fill out a form to request this tour!
You can also email mcoble@lszoo.org or call 218-461-3527 ext. 102.
Animal Care Center Tour
Cost: $100 for the first person, $50 per additional person
Times: 11:00 a.m. daily or choose your own time (must be scheduled in advance)
Group Size: 1-5 people
Have you ever wondered how we care for the over 300 animals that call the Lake Superior Zoo home? Join the animal care staff for a special tour up to our Willard Munger Animal Care Center, a facility that is normally closed to the public, to view and learn about our animal hospital and commissary areas. Get a first look at new arrivals in quarantine! This tour provides a sneak peek into the amazing veterinary care that goes into keeping zoo animals healthy and happy. Come learn some of the secrets of the zoo!
Click here to fill out a form to request this tour!
You can also email mcoble@lszoo.org or call 218-461-3527 ext. 102.
Ring-tailed Lemur Experience
Cost: $200 for the first person, $100 per additional person
Times: 10:00 a.m., year-round
Group Size: 1-5 people
Have you always wondered what it would be like to be an Animal Care Specialist? Come get up close with our lemur troop on this exciting new tour! Go behind-the-scenes in our Primate Conservation Center to prepare the diet for our lemur troop, select their enrichment for the day, view the lemurs in their off-exhibit bedroom area, and watch them eat the lovely food you have prepared!
Please note that children under 5 years old must be held or hold the hand of an adult for the duration of this tour and masks must be worn when in the primate bedroom areas.
Click here to fill out a form to request this tour!
You can also email mcoble@lszoo.org or call 218-461-3527 ext. 102.
Nocturnal Tour + Feeding
Cost: $200 for the first person, $100 per additional person
Times: 11:00 a.m., year-round
Group Size: 1-5 people
Experience the magic of morning in our Nocturnal House with a private, behind-the-scenes tour! During this exclusive experience, the building will be closed to the public, giving you the place entirely to yourself.
Guided by one of our Animal Care Specialists, you’ll get to know the unique personalities and stories of our nocturnal residents while helping feed them breakfast. Watch and participate as animals like Pabu the Pallas’ cat, our fruit bat colony, Georgie the sloth, our spiny mouse family, and pygmy slow lorises Colby and Giorgio enjoy their morning meal.
You’ll also hand-feed our prehensile-tailed porcupine Paulo, and finish the morning by helping train Twix the cape porcupine — and yes, he’ll get his favorite snack: peanuts! 🥜
Click here to fill out a form to request this tour!
You can also email mcoble@lszoo.org or call 218-461-3527 ext. 102.
