If you're having trouble viewing this email, you cansee it online.
Issue: Summer 2025
Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary Board president, Peggy Plett (center), and board member, Rochelle Barcellona (right), present a $100,000 donation to Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino
$100,000 to Support the Animals, Thanks to You!
On May 27, board president Peggy Plett and board member Rochelle Barcellona, accompanied by many zoo sanctuary docents in the audience, presented a check for $100,000 to the City of Folsom to help support the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary. Your contributions over the past 19 years have enabled the Friends to donate a total of $2.4M to support everything that goes into keeping the zoo sanctuary a vital community treasure.
Herbie & Matilda
In March, we welcomed Herbie, a Black Bear in need of a home after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) stepped in due to the closure of a Northern California wildlife facility. When we learned that Herbie had been living with another bear his entire life, we advocated to keep the pair together. Sadly, at the time, the facility declined to allow her to be placed with Herbie.
But now—we’re thrilled to share that circumstances have changed! Herbie’s longtime companion, a beautiful female Eurasian Brown Bear, has joined him here at the zoo sanctuary.
To mark this heartwarming reunion, we invited the community to help name her through a special fundraising vote. Thanks to your incredible support, the votes are in—and her name is Matilda!
The $2,200 raised during the naming contest will help provide the Bear Necessities (pun intended) to care for both bears.
If you haven't yet visited our new residents, take notice of Matilda's ears because they are the cutest classic teddy bear ears you've ever seen.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated and helped write this new chapter for Matilda and Herbie. Your compassion truly makes a difference.
Herbie the (Black Bear) Love Bug
Bathing beauty, Matilda
Pick Up a Herbie Original!
An exhibition of charming art created by animals from the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, including Herbie, is happening this Friday, June 27, from 6 to 8 p.m., and all sales support the zoo sanctuary’s programming.
Enjoy an evening of art, listen to live music, and nosh on light refreshments during this FREE reception open to the public.
Can't make the reception? The exhibition will be on display from June 27 through August 13, so be sure to visit during gallery hours!
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended evening hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m.
Jonathan Brickner, Volunteer Beekeeper
Jonathan was introduced to beekeeping by his twin brother, Jeremy, back in 2010. His brother wanted to try beekeeping but couldn’t have a hive at his residence, so Jonathan and their sister, Heather, set up their first hive at his home. The brothers quickly fell in love with beekeeping.
After his brother passed away, Jonathan wanted to put his energy into something that he not only loved but would also help him feel close to his brother. Since Jeremy had volunteered at the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary before, Jonathan approached the manager about setting up hives on the property, and the answer was a resounding, “YES!”
Today, Jonathan manages three hives in the dry creek bed at the zoo sanctuary. He also shares his enthusiasm and knowledge with the Zookeeper Camp kids, and sends them home with free honey.
When not tending to the zoo sanctuary’s hives, Jonathan keeps busy farming root veggies and managing an apiary in Linden and tending to his personal bees that he keeps watch over with Pepper the chicken, Ralphie the cat, and some freeloading mallard ducks.
Celebrate National Honey Bee Day
Buzz on over to the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary for a sweet celebration of National Honey Bee Day on Saturday, August 16! From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests can enjoy a variety of bee-themed activities and learn about the importance of pollinators through educational displays and live bee demonstrations. (Safely enclosed, of course!)
Don’t forget to stop by our honey tasting tables and pick up a jar of delicious honey harvested by Jonathan. Last year’s batch sold out quickly! Regular zoo admission rates apply. Visit www.folsom.ca.us/zoofor details.
A five-year-old visitor was asked by a docent what a bird's nest made out of wolf hybrid hair would look like. The answer? An old grandma's hair!
In case you're wondering, this is a nest made of fur. Was he wrong?
The Friends of the Folsom Zoo, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1981 to help support the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. Our mission is to preserve and enhance this city treasure by assisting in the enrichment of the lives of the animals living at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary.
