Zoo Rules

We want everyone who visits the Zoo to have a fun and safe experience! We also want to make sure it's safe for our animals. In addition to our own rules, we also follow the City of South Bend's policies and rules for parks, which can be found here.

The Zoo reserves the right to deny admission or require a person already admitted to leave Zoo grounds without a refund if we consider that the circumstances so require. Please be respectful of the grounds, animals, staff, and other visitors.

  • Proper attire, including shirts and shoes, must be worn at all times inside the Zoo. No full face masks on adults.
  • No smoking of any kind (including electronic cigarettes) is allowed on Zoo grounds.
  • Children ages 14 & under must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
  • Guests must remain on public pathways. Do not climb the walls, fences, or trees.
  • Please don't walk in the flower beds or pick the vegetation.
  • Do not feed the animals. They're on special diets and other food can harm them.
  • Do not throw anything at animals or into animal exhibits.
  • The Zoo is a living collection. Due to weather, animal health checks, periodic maintenance, or other reasons, some attractions, exhibits, or experiences, may not be open.

The following items may not be brought into the Zoo:

  • Food, alcohol, or glass containers
  • Disposable plastic straws and lids
  • Balloons or balls
  • Bikes, skates, scooters, or skateboards
  • Radios
  • Pets and other animals are not allowed in the Zoo, with the exception of trained service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Tickets are required for the Potawatomi Zoo Express Train, Endangered Species Carousel, and giraffe feeding on the deck.

  • A ticket is required for all train riders over the age of 2.
  • A ticket is required for all seated carousel riders.
  • A ticket is required to receive lettuce for giraffe feeding.

All admission, attraction, and encounter tickets are non-refundable, non-exchangeable, and non-replaceable.

Zoo Rules

We want everyone who visits the Zoo to have a fun and safe experience! We also want to make sure it's safe for our animals. In addition to our own rules, we also follow the City of South Bend's policies and rules for parks, which can be found here.

The Zoo reserves the right to deny admission or require a person already admitted to leave Zoo grounds without a refund if we consider that the circumstances so require. Please be respectful of the grounds, animals, staff, and other visitors.

  • Proper attire, including shirts and shoes, must be worn at all times inside the Zoo. No full face masks on adults.
  • No smoking of any kind (including electronic cigarettes) is allowed on Zoo grounds.
  • Children ages 14 & under must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
  • Guests must remain on public pathways. Do not climb the walls, fences, or trees.
  • Please don't walk in the flower beds or pick the vegetation.
  • Do not feed the animals. They're on special diets and other food can harm them.
  • Do not throw anything at animals or into animal exhibits.
  • The Zoo is a living collection. Due to weather, animal health checks, periodic maintenance, or other reasons, some attractions, exhibits, or experiences, may not be open.

The following items may not be brought into the Zoo:

  • Food, alcohol, or glass containers
  • Disposable plastic straws and lids
  • Balloons or balls
  • Bikes, skates, scooters, or skateboards
  • Radios
  • Pets and other animals are not allowed in the Zoo, with the exception of trained service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Tickets are required for the Potawatomi Zoo Express Train, Endangered Species Carousel, and giraffe feeding on the deck.

  • A ticket is required for all train riders over the age of 2.
  • A ticket is required for all seated carousel riders.
  • A ticket is required to receive lettuce for giraffe feeding.

All admission, attraction, and encounter tickets are non-refundable, non-exchangeable, and non-replaceable.

Service Dog Policy

Potawatomi Zoo welcomes guests with disabilities who are accompanied by a trained service dog, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

ONLY WORKING SERVICE ANIMALS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA), ARE ALLOWED AT POTAWATOMI ZOO.

Under the ADA, “a service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to work or perform tasks for assisting a person with a disability.” Service dogs are working animals, not pets. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. Pets, comfort animals, emotional support or therapy animals are not permitted at the Zoo.

Public safety and animal welfare are the top priority at Potawatomi Zoo.  As stipulated by the ADA, Zoo staff may request that a service dog experiencing difficulty or demonstrating problematic behaviors, such as barking or lunging, be removed from the Zoo immediately. We ask that you promptly comply with any such request for the safety and welfare of all.

In compliance with ADA, service dogs are not permitted at any of our animal encounters.  Guests with service dogs wanting to attend an Animal Encounter are to contact Guest Services prior to visiting the zoo.

Service Animals are to follow the below guidelines:

  • Guests with service dogs are required to stop at Admissions upon arrival to receive current information about their visit.
  • Service animals must be on duty and serving in their official capacity and under the control of a handler at all times.
  • The owner of the service animal is solely responsible for its care and supervision, including feeding and waste disposal.
  • Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices.
  • If either a zoo animal or service dog become visibly upset or agitated by the other’s presence, the handler and service animal must move away from that exhibit immediately.
  • If either a zoo animal or service dog are visibly upset or agitated by the other’s presence, the handler and service animal must move away from that exhibit immediately. Signs of agitation include, but are not limited to: barking, howling, growling, bumping into exhibit window or walls, jumping, climbing, running around exhibit and/or erratic movements. At no time should a service dog be in contact with fences, mesh, wire, railings, glass or other exhibit barriers.

For a printable version of this policy, click HERE.

Service Dog Policy

Potawatomi Zoo welcomes guests with disabilities who are accompanied by a trained service dog, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

ONLY WORKING SERVICE ANIMALS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA), ARE ALLOWED AT POTAWATOMI ZOO.

Under the ADA, “a service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to work or perform tasks for assisting a person with a disability.” Service dogs are working animals, not pets. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. Pets, comfort animals, emotional support or therapy animals are not permitted at the Zoo.

Public safety and animal welfare are the top priority at Potawatomi Zoo.  As stipulated by the ADA, Zoo staff may request that a service dog experiencing difficulty or demonstrating problematic behaviors, such as barking or lunging, be removed from the Zoo immediately. We ask that you promptly comply with any such request for the safety and welfare of all.

In compliance with ADA, service dogs are not permitted at any of our animal encounters.  Guests with service dogs wanting to attend an Animal Encounter are to contact Guest Services prior to visiting the zoo.

Service Animals are to follow the below guidelines:

  • Guests with service dogs are required to stop at Admissions upon arrival to receive current information about their visit.
  • Service animals must be on duty and serving in their official capacity and under the control of a handler at all times.
  • The owner of the service animal is solely responsible for its care and supervision, including feeding and waste disposal.
  • Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices.
  • If either a zoo animal or service dog become visibly upset or agitated by the other’s presence, the handler and service animal must move away from that exhibit immediately.
  • If either a zoo animal or service dog are visibly upset or agitated by the other’s presence, the handler and service animal must move away from that exhibit immediately. Signs of agitation include, but are not limited to: barking, howling, growling, bumping into exhibit window or walls, jumping, climbing, running around exhibit and/or erratic movements. At no time should a service dog be in contact with fences, mesh, wire, railings, glass or other exhibit barriers.

For a printable version of this policy, click HERE.

Photo Policy

In consideration of entering the Potawatomi Zoo, visitors (individually and on behalf of their minor dependents, as the case may be): (1) agree that they may be filmed, videotaped, and/or photographed, without notice, by or on behalf of the Potawatomi Zoological Society ("Society"); (2) give the Society permission to use such film(s), video(s), photograph(s), and/or likenesses, whether in original form or edited, for any purpose, such as marketing and advertising, in any media, now known or hereinafter developed, worldwide, indefinitely, without notice or compensation, and with or without associating a visitor's name thereto; and (3) acknowledge that the Society shall own all rights, title, and interests in these film(s), video(s), and photograph(s), and in all materials incorporating the same. If any portion of this paragraph is deemed to be void, the parties agree to modify it such that it is enforceable to the closest effect allowed under law to its original form. If such a provision cannot be modified, it is severable and the remaining portion(s) will remain in full effect.

Photo Policy

In consideration of entering the Potawatomi Zoo, visitors (individually and on behalf of their minor dependents, as the case may be): (1) agree that they may be filmed, videotaped, and/or photographed, without notice, by or on behalf of the Potawatomi Zoological Society ("Society"); (2) give the Society permission to use such film(s), video(s), photograph(s), and/or likenesses, whether in original form or edited, for any purpose, such as marketing and advertising, in any media, now known or hereinafter developed, worldwide, indefinitely, without notice or compensation, and with or without associating a visitor's name thereto; and (3) acknowledge that the Society shall own all rights, title, and interests in these film(s), video(s), and photograph(s), and in all materials incorporating the same. If any portion of this paragraph is deemed to be void, the parties agree to modify it such that it is enforceable to the closest effect allowed under law to its original form. If such a provision cannot be modified, it is severable and the remaining portion(s) will remain in full effect.