There's A New Arrival At the Great Plains Zoo!

The Great Plains Zoo is a Sioux Falls treasure! Home to over 1,000 animals from seven continents, it is a place of wonder and discovery.

Their mission is to create connections and inspire the conservation of wild species and spaces.

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Courtesy of Denise DePaolo/Great Plains Zoo-Butterfly House and Aquarium

One of those vulnerable species that we are lucky to have at our zoo is the Humboldt penguin. They are native to South America and live along the coasts of Peru and Chile. Like most penguins, they mate for life and live for about 20 years.

Courtesy Denise DePaolo/Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House and Aquarium

Now they are pleased to announce the arrival of a fluffy new addition to their Humboldt penguin colony. The chick hatched on March 30 and has grown by leaps and bounds.

Courtesy Denise DePaolo/Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium

The parents, Pippa and Quince, have raised 3 other chicks who all still live at the zoo. Right now, the sex of the chick is unknown, but they'll be discovering that soon after doing some bloodwork.

Courtesy Denise DePaolo/Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium

The Great Plains Zoo campus is now open summer hours from 9 AM to 5 PM (last admission is at 4 PM). The splash pad and summer program schedule kick off for the season on May 24.

Best Hiking Trails Around Sioux Falls

There's nothing like spending a few hours outdoors enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer. And what better place to explore but right in your own backyard?

The Sioux Falls area has some fantastic hiking trails. Thanks to Experience Sioux Falls and their hiking guide we can start exploring today.

What a great resource, Experience Sioux Falls is really on top of everything our city has to offer and that includes scenic outdoor fun.

You may think that all these places are part of a state park. Well, some are which require a State Park sticker to enter. And some you don't.