Zoos in Montana

Montana has few zoos, and most are tied closely to the state's wildlife. Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center sits beside Yellowstone National Park's west entrance in West Yellowstone, opened in 1993, and is AZA-accredited. It houses grizzly bears and gray wolves that cannot survive in the wild, and since its bears do not hibernate, they can be seen year-round. ZooMontana in Billings covers 70 acres just off Interstate 90, is also AZA-accredited, and focuses on animals from cold regions at or above the 45th parallel. Montana Grizzly Encounter in Bozeman, founded in 2004, is a privately owned sanctuary for rescued grizzlies. The state's attractions lie far apart, so plan driving time between Billings, Bozeman, and West Yellowstone.