Miller Park Zoo to reopen Katthoefer Building

Posted on July 24, 2024
The building has been closed for four years. (Photo courtesy: Miller Park Zoo/Facebook)

By WMBD

BLOOMINGTON – Miller Park Zoo will soon be reopening the Katthoefer Animal Building to the public after being closed for over four years.

According to a Miller Park Zoo news release, the building has been closed since March of 2020 due to animal welfare concerns during the pandemic.

“Over the past few months, through the support of the City, the Miller Park Zoological Society (MPZS), and the efforts of Zoo staff, we have made several changes in the KAB in order to open the interior viewing space once again.” said Jay Pratte, Director of Miller Park Zoo.

A news release divulges the new additions coming, which can be found below:

  • Addition of industrial fans to facilitate air movement inside of the building, including electrical infrastructure assessments and upgrades.
  • Full clean and repair after the emergency event last fall.
  • Animals vaccinated against COVID-19 through a program offered by Zoetis, administered over several weeks through the combined efforts of our animal care and veterinary teams.

The building will reopen on July 31 during Miller Park Zoo’s Member’s Night, with only Miller Park Zoo members getting limited access.

All visitors will be welcome starting Aug. 1.

Large mammals like big cats, primates, and members of the weasel family are susceptible to COVID-19, and human access to the building was limited under veterinary team advisement.

Anyone interested in signing up to become a Miller Park Zoo member can click here.

WMBD can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…