CONSERVATION

GREAT LAKES CONSERVATION

CONSERVATION

Green Operations at John Ball Zoo

John Ball Zoo is committed to conserving resources and in doing so we strive to make all of our operations as green as possible. Through our waste management, vegetated walls, green roofs, energy conservation, water conservation and other green operations, we are making a continuous effort to make our environment as safe as possible for our animals and our guests.

CONSERVATION AT THE ZOO
Butterfly orange
CONSERVATION

Field Conservation Projects

Every year John Ball Zoo sends Keepers out into the field to help with conservation projects around Michigan and abroad. Keepers put their expertise to good use helping native species. 

Massasauga Rattlesnake

The Massasauga is Michigan’s only venomous snake and plays an important role in the ecosystem. Unfortunately, these snakes are declining in numbers and are considered a Species of Concern here in Michigan, other states have them listed as endangered or threatened. John Ball Zoo works with other zoos, the Michigan DNR, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife in a long term monitoring program to learn more about the Massasauga in hopes of helping them recover and thrive again. Every spring the team, including keepers for John Ball Zoo, head out to the swamps to find Massasauga’s and tag them. Over the past 6 years over 400 individual snakes have been succesfully tagged. The information gathered has been invaluable to helping this important species of snake.

Kirtland's Warbler

The Kirtland’s Warbler is a small, endangered songbird that nests only in the unique jack pine forests of Michigan’s upper Lower peninsula and winters in the Bahamas. John Ball Zoo has sent a keeper to assist in the annual bird count to monitor the warbler’s population. The John Ball Zoo representative has also assisted in training new volunteers to assist in the count.

Poweshiek Skipperling

The Poweshiek skipperling is one of the world’s most endangered animals and their last frontier is right here in Michigan. This 2022 season, we partnered with Michigan State

University’s Haddad  Lab, U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service, Minnesota Zoo, and Assiniboine Park to breed these butterflies in human care and continue to learn more about the species. There are estimated to be only a few hundred left in the world!

Piping Plover

The plover is a small, migratory shorebird that is highly endangered in Michigan and surrounding areas, with only about 60 breeding pairs left in their Great Lakes range. These little birds nest on the beaches of Lake Michigan and Huron in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio. Each summer JBZ keepers join others at the U of M’s biological station in Pellston, MI to help monitor the Piping Plovers. Volunteers at the station monitor and protect nests on beaches, take in orphaned chicks or abandoned eggs and rear them to be released back into the wild. 

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Box Turtle

Box turtles are considered  threatened in the state of Michigan. John Ball Zoo has been collaborating with Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and Pierce Cedar Creek Institute on a head starting program for these charismatic chelonians. Like many populations of turtles in North America, very few eggs or hatchlings escape raccoon predation. Eggs are incubated and hatchlings raised at John Ball Zoo until they are less vulnerable to predation. Biologists at GVSU study the head starts once they are released back into the wild. This information is critical to determining how effective our head starting efforts have been. 

Kirtland's Warbler

The Kirtland's Warbler is a small, endangered songbird that nests only in the unique jack pine forests of Michigan's upper Lower peninsula and winters in the Bahamas. John Ball Zoo has sent a keeper to assist in the annual bird count to monitor the warbler's population. The John Ball Zoo representative has also assisted in training new volunteers to assist in the count. 

Massasauga Rattlesnake

The Massasauga is Michigan's only venomous snake and plays an important role in the ecosystem. Unfortunately, these snakes are declining in numbers and are considered a Species of Concern here in Michigan, other states have them listed as endangered or threatened. John Ball Zoo works with other zoos, the Michigan DNR, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife in a long term monitoring program to learn more about the Massasauga in hopes of helping them recover and thrive again. Every spring the team, including keepers for John Ball Zoo, head out to the swamps to find Massasauga's and tag them. Over the past 6 years over 400 individual snakes have been succesfully tagged. The information gathered has been invaluable to helping this important species of snake.

Poweshiek Skipperling

The Poweshiek skipperling is one of the world's most endangered animals and their last frontier is right here in Michigan. This 2022 season, we partnered with Michigan State University's Haddad  Lab, U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service, Minnesota Zoo, and Assiniboine Park to breed these butterflies in human care and continue to learn more about the species. There are estimated to be only a few hundred left in the world!

Piping Plover

The plover is a small, migratory shorebird that is highly endangered in Michigan and surrounding areas, with only about 60 breeding pairs left in their Great Lakes range. These little birds nest on the beaches of Lake Michigan and Huron in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio. Each summer JBZ keepers join others at the U of M's biological station in Pellston, MI to help monitor the Piping Plovers. Volunteers at the station monitor and protect nests on beaches, take in orphaned chicks or abandoned eggs and rear them to be released back into the wild. 

Wood Turtle

The Massasauga is Michigan's only venomous snake and plays an important role in the ecosystem. Unfortunately, these snakes are declining in numbers and are considered a Species of Concern here in Michigan, other states have them listed as endangered or threatened. John Ball Zoo works with other zoos, the Michigan DNR, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife in a long term monitoring program to learn more about the Massasauga in hopes of helping them recover and thrive again. Every spring the team, including keepers for John Ball Zoo, head out to the swamps to find Massasauga's and tag them. Over the past 6 years over 400 individual snakes have been succesfully tagged. The information gathered has been invaluable to helping this important species of snake.
CONSERVATION

Species Survival Plan - SSP

As an accredited organization with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), John Ball Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan (SSP). There are over 450 different SSP programs created to cooperatively manage species that are threatened or endangered. Each program is managed by an advisory group made up of animal experts. SSP programs not only help to manage animal populations in captivity but also help contribute to field conservation efforts, species recovery, and veterinary care for wildlife diseases. Look for the SSP symbol on animal signage the next time you visit the zoo to see if your favorite animal is part of this great program working to protect animals from extinction.

Bennett’s Wallaby
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Black Howler Monkey

 

Spotted Turtle
Wood Turtle
N American River Otter
Cougar
Snow Leopard

Maned Wolf
Capybara
Southern Screamer
Chilean Flamingo
White-faced Saki Monkey

Red Panda
Amur Tiger

Chimpanzee
Lion
Eastern Mountain Bongo
Southern Ground Hornbill
Warthog 

Black-headed Spider Monkey
Black Footed Cat
Cotton-top Tamarin
Goeldi’s Monkey
Prehensile-tailed Skink
Mexican Bearded Lizard
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Spotted Turtle
Wood Turtle

Red-crested Cardinal
Magellanic Penguin

1300 W. Fulton St,
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

2023 Season: Mar 24 - Nov 19

Office Hours: Mon – Fri, 9am – 4pm

(616) 336-4300

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