STROLLING IN THE DARK
BioPark Zoo, Botanic Garden offer summer nighttime tours
Discover the beauty of some ABQ BioPark gems by moonlight.
Summer Night Tours start on Tuesday, June 12, with the twilight tour at the ABQ BioPark Zoo. Bosque moonlight hikes at Tingley Beach follow on June 19, and night walks at the Botanic Garden on June 26. The two hourlong tours also will be held in July and August. Getting tickets in advance is encouraged because the tours usually sell out.
“This is a led tour,” said Cheri Vogel, education curator at ABQ BioPark. “You do have to arrive at the beginning, and we will have experienced docents taking the groups around and telling them about the various animals — reproduction, things that happen at night that don’t necessarily happen during the day. It’s hit or miss. Most of the zoo animals, we give them in and out privileges. They can go out and they can go in. The big cats like the cool evenings, and they will be more active outside of the heat of the day. I have seen some fun things with the lions. They get more vocal, and it’s more fun.”
Docents keep group sizes small, 10 to 15 people, to provide an intimate and exclusive experience. Docents provide insight on the unique offerings at each of the venues.
“The Botanic Garden is such a special place to begin with,” Vogel said. “In the evening, there is a lot of nocturnal pollinators. When you go to the Japanese Garden, you’re more than likely to see bats eating insects that come off the pond and sphinx moths inside the yuccas and flowers that bloom at night. … Most of the time, the tour leader focuses on the pollinators and some of the things that happen at night. Just like the animals, some of the plants are more nocturnal and they don’t like to flower in the day when they lose their moisture.”
Another special spot is Tingley Beach.
“It’s open to the river and all the open space,” Vogel said. “You just never know what you are going to see. Last year, we were literally at a stop talking about a coyote, and a coyote ran by as if on cue. You might see coyotes, porcupines, bats, nighttime birds. It’s very interesting, very wild space, and during the evening time there are animals coming out. You never know what you’ll see.”