Food Donations

We gladly accept food donations 365 days a year at our donation freezer located at the end of the lower zoo lot near the greenhouse fence. Zookeepers check this donation drop off location 5-6 times a day. The following guidelines always apply:

Here is our special list of needs made in December 2024 by zoo animal staff:

The Alaska Zoo is a private, non-profit organization that thrives on donations of all kinds, including food donations to fill the bowls of our animals! We always provide for all of their needs and more, but food donations help our nonprofit expenses and allow the community to donate unwanted food. We also accept donations of enrichment items used to stimulate the animals in their habitats.

We accept the following:

• Frozen, unseasoned, unsmoked and sealed fish and meat which is less than 2 years old and without significant freezer burn.

• Produce of all kinds

• Unsalted nuts

• Peanut butter, honey

• Bread, rolls

• Fresh veggies grown in your garden which are free of pesticides or herbicides

• Cut willow and birch (mid-May through Labor Day)

• Perfumes, spices and scents - drop off with admissions staff during open hours.

Contact us here if you would like to ask us about other food donation ideas you have.

We have a drop-off location in our lower parking lot by the greenhouse, a marked freezer which is checked by zookeepers throughout the day. This freezer location is available for dropping off items any time of the day.

The zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.