WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

June 29, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 26

ZOO IDAHO[2]

The roots of Zoo Idaho began in a trailer in 1932. Formerly known as the Pocatello Zoo and Ross Park Zoo, Zoo Idaho is home to animals of the Intermountain West. Pocatello, known as “Gate City,” has a rich history. Located in the western foothills of the Rocky Mountains along the Oregon Trail, the zoo provides access to animals that are not readily visible in Yellowstone National Park.

In 1978, the zoo welcomed Charlie, a grizzly orphaned in Alaska. Charlie was later joined by Stripes, a grizzly born in captivity at a Columbus, Ohio zoo. Stripes and Charlie spent 18 years together before Charlie passed away at age 34. In 2014, the zoo welcomed two-year-old Shoni, a grizzly captured near the Pahaska Tepee Resort outside of Cody, Wyoming. Two years before Shoni’s arrival, the zoo opened the Sara W. Ifft Grizzly Bear Exhibit at the base of Scout Mountain.

Zoo Idaho is also home to pronghorns, the fastest land mammal in the United States. Reaching speeds of 60 mph, the Latin name for pronghorns means “American goat-antelope.” Although they resemble an antelope, pronghorns are not members of the goat or antelope family. With a deer-like body, males and females have horns that point backwards, weigh between 90-120 pounds, and have a life span of ten years. They often coexist in the wild with grizzlies. Wyoming has the largest population of pronghorns.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Explore how grizzly bears differ from black bears, and where there have been sightings of blonde grizzly bears. A good starting point is at www.wildgrizzlybear.com.

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: https://zooidaho.org/visit/about/. Sara Ifft and her husband, Nick, established the Ifft Foundation Trust. Sadly, Nick was plagued by health problems and died by suicide in 2003 at age 76, leaving behind Sara, his two children, and three grandchildren. Sara passed away in 2017 at the age of 88. https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/longtime-idaho-newspaperman-dies-of-apparent-suicide; Idaho Community Foundation, https://www.idahoocf.org; www.pocatello.gov.