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Franklin Park Zoo
Stone Zoo
We’re committed to protecting the environment through sustainable practices that prioritize the health of our ecosystems. From managing invasive plants to controlling pests, we use innovative, chemical-free methods to reduce our environmental impact while supporting biodiversity.
Invasive plants are non-native species that have been introduced, either intentionally or accidentally, into a new habitat. They can spread aggressively, taking over vegetation around them. Luckily, Zoo New England has a chemical-free method of combating these plants: our animals love to eat them! Aggressive, non-native invasive plants like Japanese knotweed, Russian olive, white mulberry, and porcelain berry threaten the ecology of our zoos, but fortunately they can be repurposed as nutritious food for our animals.
Both Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo avoid the use of chemicals by using techniques of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a science-based process used to minimize pests or weeds without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides and herbicides. Rather than simply eliminating pests repeatedly, IPM looks to determine the reason for the pest’s presence and find a solution that reduces the risk to people and the environment. Once we know what environmental factors allow pests to thrive, we can create unfavorable conditions for them.
IPM techniques include:
See the zoo from a new point of view in our exclusive encounters with sloths, giraffes, red pandas, tortoises, and more!
