Tour of Ellen Trout Zoo After The Storm

Things are returning to normal at Ellen Trout Zoo on the loop in Lufkin, Texas. Their first week open has garnered quite a few visitors due to some local school districts having spring break this past week. Lots of things have been fixed and repaired, but the scars of our latest winter storm remain.

The zoo reopened Monday, March 15th 2021 after being closed for four weeks after winter storm Uri. The many broken walkway barriers have been repaired. Thanks to all the crews that took out all the 'widow makers' in the trees above the zoo.

Last year the zoo closed on March 16th, 2020 for the pandemic. This year it closed again for Winter Storm Uri. These are unprecedented times for the Ellen Trout Zoo. They have really come together as an organization to make this zoo opening happen, and we are very appreciative.

I am heartened to see so many of my favorite parts of the zoo have been repaired and returned to normal. What ever normal is for this facility billed as the "Wildest Place In Town, and your place to connect to the natural world."

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This week they had a birthday for Paddy, their 26 year old female Southern White Rhino. She is a favorite in the African Safari Exhibit. The Ellen Trout Zoo houses over 800 mammals, birds, and reptiles from all over the world. Paddy is part of the AZA Species Survival Plan. SSP is led by expert advisors that work to maximize genetic diversity and long term survival of these protected species.