Requested Donation Items

Gifts for the Animals

Looking for a unique way to support the animals? You’re in the right place!

Whether you’re hosting a birthday party and want guests to bring gifts for the animals, planning your next zoo visit and want to bring a treat for your favorite species, or simply have gently used items you think we could use — we’d love your help.

Our animal care team has put together a list of most-needed and most-loved items. Some donations do have specific requirements, so please be sure to check the notes before dropping anything off.

Birthday with a Purpose

Hosting a birthday party and want to give back? Instead of traditional gifts, consider asking your guests to bring something from our Wishlist Below! It’s a fun and meaningful way to help our animals thrive. Great for kids, teens, and animal-loving adults.

Seasonal Donation: Recycle Your Pine Tree for the Animals!

Finished with your holiday tree? Don’t toss it—donate it!

Your natural pine tree can become enrichment for many of our animals, providing them with scents, textures, and new ways to explore their environment.

It’s easy: follow us on Facebook and we’ll let you know where and when to drop it off.

Please note: We can only accept real trees, free of decorations, tinsel, flocking, or chemical treatments.

Bring a Gift on Your Next Visit

Want to hand-deliver a gift to the zoo? We welcome donations of new or gently used enrichment items, tools, and supplies from our approved lists below.

Zoo Wishlist

We’ve put together a list of commonly requested items from our keepers below. Keep in mind some items have special rules in order for us to accept them.

Food Items

All food items must be unopened and in-date

  • Animal Crackers, plain
  • Applesauce, unsweetened
  • Baby food – meat, fruit, or veggie
  • Barbecue Sauce
  • Beans, dry
  • Bread, multi-grain
  • Peppermint candy – including candy canes
  • Catfood, canned, paste
  • Cereal (non sugared)
  • Coconut, whole
  • Crackers, 
  • Dried fruits
  • Fig Newton
  • Frozen Fruit
  • Frozen Veggies
  • Fruit Snacks
  • Fruit, canned, in 100% juice
  • Granola Bars without Chocolate
  • Honey
  • Jello, sugar free
  • Jelly/Jam
  • Juice, Bottled (not refrigerated)
  • Juice, concentrated
  • Ketchup
  • Kool-aid packets (NOT sugar free)
  • Maple Syrup
  • Mustard
  • Nuts, in shell
  • Oatmeal packets, low sugar
  • Oats
  • Pasta, Dry
  • Peanut Butter, creamy or chunky
  • Peanuts, in shell
  • Peppermint Patties
  • Pickles
  • Pineapple, fresh, whole
  • Pistachios
  • Popcorn kernels, not microwaveable
  • Pretzels
  • Raisins
  • Rice cakes
  • Salad Dressing
  • Spices (all types) including Catnip
  • Sunflower Seeds, in-shell, unsalted
  • Tuna, canned
  • V-8 juice
  • Vanilla Wafers
  • Yogurt covered raisins

Household, Pet & Hardware Items

  • Bolts/Washers/Nuts (non rusted, non stripped)
  • Bubble Bath, non-toxic, tear free
  • Children’s Board Books
  • Cuttle Bones
  • Fabric
  • Fleece (natural colors only)
  • Large Ferret Ball
  • Lunch Sacks, Paper
  • Parrot Toys
  • Pillowcases – body pillow sized are extra useful!
  • Quick Links, Large (for chain)
  • Rope Dog Toys
  • Plastic plants (natural colors)
  • Sheets (natural colors only)
  • Socks
  • Spring Links, Large (for chain)
  • Terrarium Hides/Rocks (natural colors only)
  • Towels

Large Home Items

Must contact us before donating these items

  • Refrigerator
  • Freezer
  • Washer or Dryer
  • Terrariums

Have something not listed but think we could use it? Reach out before dropping it off!