Milwaukee County Zoo small mammals building to close by end of 2025

Milwaukee County Zoo small mammals building to close

The Milwaukee County Zoo announced on Wednesday, June 11 that it will be closing the small mammals building by the end of 2025.

MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee County Zoo announced on Wednesday, June 11 that it will be closing the small mammals building by the end of 2025. 

Small mammals building to close

What we know:

The move to close the small mammals building is part of a strategic plan focused on the future of the zoo. That master plan was released in April 2025. 

Officials said the small mammals building has been a mainstay of the Milwaukee County Zoo as one of its original buildings. They say though "the animals are doing well, the building has outlived its prime when it comes to modernized animal care."

Small mammals building, Milwaukee County Zoo

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The fennec fox, lemurs, porcupines and fruit bats all shared a home at the zoo. The zoo moved to its current home in 1958 and the building is an original.

Amos Morris is the Milwaukee County Zoo's executive director. While he notes the excitement from those entering the building, his team has picked up on how people feel coming out of it.

Small mammals building, Milwaukee County Zoo

"The habitats are too small. The habitats don't lend themselves to get animals outdoors. The habitats aren't big enough for some of the animals to practice their natural behavior," Morris said. "Some people, when they're in that space, they're sad. They get sad after they leave. I don't want people to be sad when they leave the zoo."

County Executive David Crowley sees it this way:

"It doesn't mean that they're gonna be gone for too long. We have a great plan — a capital projects plan — that we're looking at as we look to make sure we're modernizing our zoo, making sure that we continue to have the best zoo in the Midwest."

The zoo will look for funding to demolish the building after its rhino exhibit opens.

Any future project at the zoo requires a 50/50 split of costs, half for the county and half for the zoo.

What's next:

A news release says animal leadership at the zoo has begun to relocate animals to other AZA-accredited zoos. As these new locations are secured, the animals will transfer out.

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In its place, Morris said the zoo wants to build a new tropical exhibit, as outlined in the updated master plan.

Zookeepers working in the building will move to other exhibits.

Zookeepers impacted by the building’s closure will transfer to alternate animal care areas in the zoo.