Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s New North America Trek Highlights Native Wildlife

Seeing animals from around the globe has always been part of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium experience, but now the conservation destination’s new North America Trek brings visitors the opportunity to learn about creatures from our own continent.

The six revitalized habitats for American songbirds, trumpeter swans, black bears, North American river otters, Mexican wolves and bald eagles opened in June 2025. The updates provide multiple vantage points for viewing the animals, and theming and signs throughout North America Trek were inspired by our nation’s national parks. 

“We wanted to find a way that would resonate with an experience in North America, and what better way [than to] leverage our national park system,” says Tyler Menke, vice president of planning, construction and facilities at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. 

North America Trek is the result of a four-year process to overhaul the zoo’s North America area, which has been around for nearly four decades. Immersive design transports visitors to other parts of North America, particularly in the Mexican wolf habitat where a faux rock formation with cascading water looks as if it were plucked from the American Southwest. 

“We created viewing angles so the animals could have that dominant view on us, and that creates better well-being for the animals and gets them more interactive,” Menke says.
Phase two of North America Trek is currently being designed and is expected to include updates to the red fox, moose, cougar, lynx and wolverine habitats, as well as reintroduce a natural play space where kids can make their own discoveries.

“We want to bring that natural play back,” Menke says, “because there’s so much to being able to go out in your backyard and run around and play.” 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell 43065, 614/645-3400, columbuszoo.org 

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