Cast your vote and contribute to a brighter future for the zoo’s newest bear
A new chapter is unfolding at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, and the community is invited to help write it—by naming the zoo’s newest resident.
After a heartwarming reunion between two longtime bear companions, the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary is celebrating the arrival of a female Eurasian Brown Bear who has joined her friend Herbie, a black bear welcomed to the zoo back in March. With the two now back together, the zoo is turning to the public for help in choosing the perfect name for the newest member of the bear family.
Three fitting names have been shortlisted: Matilda, Petunia, and Magnolia. For a minimum donation of $5, animal lovers can vote for their favorite. Every dollar donated counts as one vote, and the funds will go directly toward covering the bear’s intake costs, veterinary care, nutrition, enrichment, and—yes—plenty of pool toys. To cast your vote, visit the official contest page HERE.
For this female bear, now enjoying her forever home in Folsom, life has taken a turn for the better. Formerly housed at a Northern California wildlife facility that closed earlier this year, she was separated from Herbie despite the duo’s long companionship. But after persistent advocacy from the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary team and a change in circumstances, she was finally reunited with Herbie—marking a joyful milestone for both the bears and the staff who care for them.
The new Eurasian Brown Bear is enjoying her new habitat and, for the first time in her life, taking daily dips in a pool.
The contest is more than just a fun way to get involved—it’s a meaningful way to support the mission of the Friends of the Folsom Zoo, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of the animals that call the sanctuary home. The organization works hand in hand with the city to provide enhanced care, habitat improvements, and engaging experiences for visitors.
The sanctuary is open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering a unique opportunity to see the new bear duo up close. While you’re there, you might just catch them lounging by their pool or playing with one of their enrichment toys—provided, in part, by donations like yours.
So, will it be Matilda, Petunia, or Magnolia? That decision is up to you. Your vote helps shape her story and supports a brighter future for her and her companion Herbie.
To vote and donate, click HERE and make your choice count.
Friends of Folsom Zoo presents $100,000 to city
The nonprofit Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary donated $100,000 last month to the city to support the zoo.
Board Directors Peggy Platt and Rochelle Barcellona presented a giant, oversized check for $100,000 to Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino at the regular City Council meeting on May 27.
Friends of the Folsom Zoo was established in 1981 to help support the sanctuary. The mission of the group is to preserve and enhance the city treasure by assisting in the enrichment of the lives of the animals living at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary.
The nonprofit’s goal is to reduce reliance on city funding for zoo operations and subsidize the zoo budget, said Platt, president of the Friends Board of Directors.
The volunteer-run organization has donated nearly $2.4 million over the past 19 years. The funds have been used to provide veterinary care, specialized zookeeper training, and special diet foods for the animals, along with ongoing improvements to the zoo grounds.
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