Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo

06/05/2026

Come on out for tomorrow's free public program, Feed the Deer and Elk! Meet at the nature center and take a short walk to the deer and elk exhibit to learn fun facts and watch them eat.

06/04/2026

Tune into Nature Notes to learn about the adorable red-bellied snake! Listen at 10:40am on KRPR 89.9.

05/28/2026

Listen to Nature Notes today at 10:40am to learn about blue racer snakes! Tune into KRPR 89.8.

05/27/2026

Do you want your children to continue to learn this summer? Sign up for one or all of our school-aged nature education classes taught by Oxbow Park Naturalists. Classes vary and may be geared toward a certain age group. Classes are $5 per student. Sign up and pay by calling 507-328-7340.
Find more information on the Oxbow Park Website under Teachers Corner.

05/26/2026

This is great info from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota (WRC) ! Oxbow Park can be a good resource for information on sick or injured animals but we CANNOT take in injured, sick, or abandoned animals.

: Fawns!

Fawns are being born this month, and this is a perfect time of year to review what is normal for fawns, and signs that a fawn truly does need help.

💚Fawns spend a lot of time alone. Mom will leave the fawn while she forages throughout the day. That little fawn simply cannot keep up with her. If you find a fawn, leave it alone unless you see signs of concerns outlined below.

🔴 Any injured fawn can come straight to us - no need to call.
🔴 Fawns should be curled up, looking alert (or sleeping). Unlike cats and dogs, fawns do NOT stretch out on their sides. If you find a fawn stretched out on its side, it'll probably be too weak to lift its head. Bring it to WRC immediately.

💚 If the fawn becomes separated from mom it will cry for her. This is perfectly normal. Mom may not be within hearing distance, so the fawn may call repeatedly, bed down for an hour or so then call again.
🔴 A fawn that is running around crying nonstop for hours (truly, nonstop) probably needs help. Give us a call: 651-486-9453.

🚫 Never feed a fawn. They have sensitive GI systems and diarrhea can be lethal.
🚫 Do not chase a fawn. Fawns can die from capture myopathy (from a medical standpoint it's actually a fascinating chemical reaction and worth the Google). Make sure if you have to transport a fawn it's in a large enough pet carrier (borrow one if you need to) with a blanket and then another blanket covering the door.
🚫Never transport a fawn in your arms or loose in the car. Keep the fawn in a very quiet dark area until you can transport it to us.

📲As always, we're here to answer your questions. This time of year you will likely reach our voicemail. We will do our best to call you back within an hour.

05/25/2026

Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo are wishing you a safe and thoughtful Memorial Day. The zoo and nature center are open normal hours from 10am-4pm.

05/24/2026

Come out to Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo for Memorial Day weekend, just in time to meet some of the newest zoo residents! We are open Memorial Day normal hours from 10am-4pm.

05/21/2026

Have you spotted these invasive jumping worms? If so, please report to the DNR!

05/21/2026

Tune in this morning to Nature Notes at 10:40 to learn about feral hogs! Listen on KRPR 89.9 or Live online!

05/20/2026

This is great information to share!

Oh no! You’ve found a baby bird on the ground, apparently alone and in distress. 🐥 Its tiny chirps may pull at your heartstrings, and it can be tempting to spring into action—but, not all baby birds need rescuing. That's why it's so important to stop and assess the situation.

If they do need your help, how to help them depends on a few factors: does this bird need immediate medical attention? And is it a nestling or a fledgling? Take a look at this graphic to determine how and when to assist baby birds—then click the link in our comments to learn more!

🖌️: Julie Rossman/Audubon