Belle Isle Zoo Celebrates Mudpuppypalooza

The Belle Isle Nature Zoo will host Mudpuppypalooza, an annual event, to celebrate mudpuppies, a salamander native to the Detroit River, this March.
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The Belle Isle Nature Zoo will host Mudpuppypalooza, an annual event, to celebrate mudpuppies, a salamander native to the Detroit River, this March.

“While not a threatened species, mudpuppies are considered good environmental indicators of pollution and other potentially harmful changes in the ecosystem,” says Scott Carter, chief life sciences officer of the Detroit Zoo. “The information gathered in our mudpuppy surveys provides a valuable baseline for monitoring the health of the Detroit River ecosystem.”

Mudpuppypalooza, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 5, will feature educational activities such as mask-making, games, and mudpuppy cookie decorating and will also include zookeeper talks and the opportunity to view mudpuppies up close while learning about the species and conservation efforts, Carter says.

For more information, visit detroitzoo.org.