ANIMAL ENRICHMENT

Enrichment plays an important role in giving our animals a positive daily experience. Keepers give the animals items that encourage natural behaviors, ward off boredom and allow them to just have fun. The keepers try to find new uses for children and pet toys, different foods and scents.

When you support the Enrichment Fund, you help our animals lead long, healthy and fulfilling lives here at the Zoo. You can be recognized as a Zoo donor, qualify for a charitable deduction, and provide needed supplies and materials to the Zoo’s many programs. Your assistance will contribute to the Zoo’s mission while providing significant budget relief.

If you wish to give an in-kind enrichment donation to the Potawatomi Zoo, please check with the Zoo by calling (574) 235-9800 or emailing info@potawatomizoo.org first to ensure that the Zoo is currently accepting donations.

We maintain a Zoo Wish List to let the community know some hard-to-find (or hard to purchase!) items that we need. If you are interested in contributing items that are on our Wish List or would like to know if we need an item that you have (even if it’s not on the Wish List), please contact us. Items should be new or in excellent condition.

Gifts to the Potawatomi Zoo are tax-deductible. When items are donated to the Potawatomi Zoo it is understood by both parties that no further claims will be made regarding the item(s) by the donor. It is further understood that the item(s) may be disposed of in any way that may be necessary in the best interests of the Zoo.

ANIMAL ENRICHMENT

Enrichment plays an important role in giving our animals a positive daily experience. Keepers give the animals items that encourage natural behaviors, ward off boredom and allow them to just have fun. The keepers try to find new uses for children and pet toys, different foods and scents.

When you support the Enrichment Fund, you help our animals lead long, healthy and fulfilling lives here at the Zoo. You can be recognized as a Zoo donor, qualify for a charitable deduction, and provide needed supplies and materials to the Zoo’s many programs. Your assistance will contribute to the Zoo’s mission while providing significant budget relief.

If you wish to give an in-kind enrichment donation to the Potawatomi Zoo, please check with the Zoo by calling (574) 235-9800 or emailing info@potawatomizoo.org first to ensure that the Zoo is currently accepting donations.

We maintain a Zoo Wish List to let the community know some hard-to-find (or hard to purchase!) items that we need. If you are interested in contributing items that are on our Wish List or would like to know if we need an item that you have (even if it’s not on the Wish List), please contact us. Items should be new or in excellent condition.

Gifts to the Potawatomi Zoo are tax-deductible. When items are donated to the Potawatomi Zoo it is understood by both parties that no further claims will be made regarding the item(s) by the donor. It is further understood that the item(s) may be disposed of in any way that may be necessary in the best interests of the Zoo.

View our Amazon Wish List here.

Or contact the Zoo at info@potawatomizoo.org for more ideas.

What do animals want right now? In no particular order:

  • Grocery, pet, or hardware store gift cards
  • Large plastic barrels (preferably watertight)
  • Low sugar cereal
  • Large paper lawn bags
  • Canned fish in water only (no tuna please)

The Zoo sometimes accepts other donations too. Please call 574-235-9800 or email info@potawatomizoo.org to see if we currently need:

  • Paper birthday supplies (banners, streamers, lanterns)
  • Large shredded paper (no staples please)
  • Wood wool
  • Paper grocery bags
  • Window paint
  • Large bird toys
  • Non-toxic tempera paint
  • Canvas boards (8"x10", 11"x16")
  • Horse toys
  • Burlap sacks
  • Sugar free and/or low sodium snack foods
  • Paper cups and plates
  • Spices and extracts
  • Evaporated milk
  • Low/no sugar jams and jellies
  • Canned fruit with no added sugar or sweeteners
  • Pails/buckets
  • Sand
  • Large rocks (larger than 150 pounds)
  • Hard plastic children's pools
  • House plants (like hibiscus, cactus, philodendrons, mosses, aquatic plants, ficus, dracaena, zeezee plants, ferns, croton)
  • Bamboo (contact us if you have bamboo you would like to donate. We can arrange a pick up.)
  • Plastic mirrors (NO glass!)

*No newspapers please

These items help our keepers do their work.

  • Grocery store or pet store gift cards
  • Clothes washer and or dryer (electric only)
  • Power drill
  • Food dehydrator
  • Powdered laundry detergent (to clean blankets, towels, and sheets)
  • Deep freezer (new or used)

For larger donations please call 574-235-9800 or email info@potawatomizoo.org to set up a drop-off time.

Help us keep our animals healthy!

  • Pediatric ventilator
  • Cordless veterinary hair clippers
  • Medical gurney
  • Deep freezer (new or used)

For larger donations please call 574-235-9800 or email info@potawatomizoo.org to set up a drop-off time.

Not only can you give gifts in kind, but you can donate money to our Enrichment Fund.

The Enrichment Fund is used exclusively used on shopping trips to buy toys or food items for the animals.

Enrichment Fund donations can be made at the Zoo entrance. For larger gifts, please contact 574-235-7654.

As with gifts in kind, Enrichment Fund donations are tax deductible.

The staff, as well as the animals, thank you for your generosity!

View our Amazon Wish List here.

Or contact the Zoo at info@potawatomizoo.org for more ideas.

What do animals want right now? In no particular order:

  • Grocery, pet, or hardware store gift cards
  • Large plastic barrels (preferably watertight)
  • Low sugar cereal
  • Large paper lawn bags
  • Canned fish in water only (no tuna please)

The Zoo sometimes accepts other donations too. Please call 574-235-9800 or email info@potawatomizoo.org to see if we currently need:

  • Paper birthday supplies (banners, streamers, lanterns)
  • Large shredded paper (no staples please)
  • Wood wool
  • Paper grocery bags
  • Window paint
  • Large bird toys
  • Non-toxic tempera paint
  • Canvas boards (8"x10", 11"x16")
  • Horse toys
  • Burlap sacks
  • Sugar free and/or low sodium snack foods
  • Paper cups and plates
  • Spices and extracts
  • Evaporated milk
  • Low/no sugar jams and jellies
  • Canned fruit with no added sugar or sweeteners
  • Pails/buckets
  • Sand
  • Large rocks (larger than 150 pounds)
  • Hard plastic children's pools
  • House plants (like hibiscus, cactus, philodendrons, mosses, aquatic plants, ficus, dracaena, zeezee plants, ferns, croton)
  • Bamboo (contact us if you have bamboo you would like to donate. We can arrange a pick up.)
  • Plastic mirrors (NO glass!)

*No newspapers please

These items help our keepers do their work.

  • Grocery store or pet store gift cards
  • Clothes washer and or dryer (electric only)
  • Power drill
  • Food dehydrator
  • Powdered laundry detergent (to clean blankets, towels, and sheets)
  • Deep freezer (new or used)

For larger donations please call 574-235-9800 or email info@potawatomizoo.org to set up a drop-off time.

Help us keep our animals healthy!

  • Pediatric ventilator
  • Cordless veterinary hair clippers
  • Medical gurney
  • Deep freezer (new or used)

For larger donations please call 574-235-9800 or email info@potawatomizoo.org to set up a drop-off time.

Not only can you give gifts in kind, but you can donate money to our Enrichment Fund.

The Enrichment Fund is used exclusively used on shopping trips to buy toys or food items for the animals.

Enrichment Fund donations can be made at the Zoo entrance. For larger gifts, please contact 574-235-7654.

As with gifts in kind, Enrichment Fund donations are tax deductible.

The staff, as well as the animals, thank you for your generosity!