Michigan City Zoo passes USDA inspection; director outlines exhibit and program upgrades

The Michigan City Zoo passed a pop-up U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection with no noncompliance findings, Zoo Director Jamie Huss told the Parks and Recreation Board on June 4. Huss said meeting USDA standards is required to maintain the zoo’s license and compared the requirements to those applied at larger facilities.

Why it matters: Passing USDA inspection preserves the zoo’s operating license and allows the facility to continue school programs, camps and community events. Huss also outlined recent capital work and planned projects important to animal care and visitor experience.

Huss reviewed several upgrades undertaken after a May 2024 storm and routine maintenance: roof repairs across exhibits, a completed press box at Patriot Park, and structural and barrier changes to meet inspection expectations (for example, adding secondary barriers where animals encourage contact). She said the zoo had repaired roofs that were vulnerable to bird escapes and had relocated a chicken coop to the red barn as an avian-flu precaution.

The director noted programming and attendance details: 60 school groups have scheduled visits, the zoo limits reservations to 800 paid spots per day, and summer zoo camp sessions filled quickly with 15 children per session and a wait list. Huss announced new arrivals, including a pair of hornbills, and improvements such as a new indoor pool for capybaras and upgraded climbing and enrichment for the leopard exhibit.

Huss also described community partnerships and fundraisers supporting future projects. The zoo is continuing work on the Wings of Wonder exhibit and is participating in retail and restaurant fundraising events (including round-up campaigns and Panda Express give-back nights) to help finance upcoming construction.

Board members thanked zoo staff and volunteers; there were no formal board actions tied to the report.