Sioux Falls Great Plains Zoo 'Heartbroken' After Red Wolf Passes

It has been a rollercoaster of emotions for the staff at the Sioux Falls Great Plains Zoo. One minute they are welcoming summer fun into their family, and the next they are saying goodbye to others.

In an emotional Facebook post, the staff at the Great Plains Zoo made the devastating announcement that one of their beloved American red wolves has passed away.

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Great Plains Zoo (via Facebook)

Uyosi was a 13-year-old Red Wolf who was experiencing "experiencing age-related mobility issues, for which he’d been under medical care." He's been declining and staff made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize him. It's not a decision they take lightly at the Sioux Falls Great Plains Zoo.

Great Plains Zoo (via Facebook)

Uyosi's partner was Camellia and together they welcomed six pups into the world.

Remember The Wolf Pups?: Sioux Falls Great Plains Zoo Welcomes 6 Adorable Red Wolf Pups

These two got together thanks to the efforts of "The Association of Zoos and Aquariums SAFE American Red Wolf program, to promote genetic diversity and bring this critically endangered species back from the brink of extinction. The wolves quickly bonded, forming a devoted partnership." Staff at the Great Plains Zoo said it was an honor to witness Uyosi be an amazing father and mate for the last three years.

Great Plains Zoo (via Facebook)

You can tell Uyosi was a favorite around this pack. Carnivore Area Supervisor Angela Blommer says he was nothing short of amazing, especially towards Camellia.

“His bond with Camellia was remarkable and such an honor to witness. Camellia was very shy and refused to step out of her comfort zone until he walked up to her. As soon as he walked up and locked eyes on her, she ran to him. From then on, if she felt unsettled, she’d wait for him to look her direction and give the ‘let’s go.’”

Great Plains Zoo (via Facebook)

You can see Camellia, as well as one female pup and the four male pups at the Great Plains Zoo wondering their new habitat.

You might be gone, Uyosi. But your legacy will live on at the Great Plains Zoo!

Great Plains Zoo (via Facebook)

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives Guy Fieri Forgot to Visit in Sioux Falls

When Guy Fieri’s classic 1968 red Camaro rolled into town in 2020, it was the first time he visited South Dakota for his Food Network show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” The show had been airing for 13 years and 31 seasons before he finally showed up to visit the 50th state on his list. I guess he saved the best for last.

Since 2007, he’d been road tripping around the country, and beyond, looking for local, independent restaurants that used fresh ingredients, time-tested recipes, and unique approaches to preparing the food. While he was in Sioux Falls, he stopped by six local restaurants to shoot for his TV show.

Guy visited the Queen City and Garretson in June of 2020. January 1, 2021, Season 33 aired the first South Dakota episode in a show called ‘South Dakota Smorgasbord.’

The first episode featured Lalibela Restaurant, South Dakota’s first Ethiopian restaurant located at 200 South Kiwanis Avenue in Sioux Falls. He had glowing reviews of the Injera Bread, which he tried making, but was poured too thick and he called it “beefy” and unfortunately, it wasn’t cooked through. He also tried an Ethiopian chicken curry dish called Doro Wot, and Misir Wot which is made with lentils instead of meat.

The other two South Dakota restaurants featured in the episode have since closed.

Only seven months after the show aired, Chef Omar closed O So Good in Garretson, South Dakota. It featured southern-inspired dishes including collard greens, which Fieri called “lights out greens,” and jerk chicken.

Guy and Season 8 winner of “The Next Food Network Star” and Rapid City resident, Justin Warner, visited Urban Chislic, the first South Dakota restaurant dedicated to the “state nosh,” chislic, although mutton chislic, the South Dakota original, wasn’t even featured. Traditional chislic is cubed, fried mutton served on a stick with lots of garlic salt and saltine crackers. Since Urban Chislic wasn’t traditional with all of their chislic, the show included the BBQ Pork Chislic Sandwich and the Regret Lamburger. Urban Chislic closed August 30, 2024.

Three more episodes aired in Season 33 featuring Sioux Falls restaurants. In an episode called “Spicin’ Things Up,” Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen at 600 N. Main Avenue was featured. Guy tried the very popular Vietnamese fried chicken sandwich which he said “everything was done right.” Chef Jordan Taylor also prepared Roasted Curry Cauliflower on naan bread.

In the episode “Savory Meat and a Little Sweet” Guy and Justin Warner, stopped by Look’s Marketplace at 500 E. 69th Street. They tried the Motor City Pizza and Porcules sandwich. Guy liked the concept of the restaurant/brewery/meat market/grocery store and said it was “unique to the world.”

The gluten-free, vegan friendly restaurant, Daily Clean Food and Drink at 6215 S. Western Avenue was featured on the season 33 episode called “Rib-Stickers.” Guy had the veggie burger called the No Bull Burger and the Mightiest Mac, a mac and cheese made with chickpeas and butternut squash and topped with bison meatballs.

Guy Fieri, along with his son, Hunter, and celebrity chef, Antonia Lofaso, made a visit to South Dakota in 2023. This time, they explored the west side of the Mount Rushmore state. The restaurant they visited was Justin Warner’s. Justin was the winner of Season 8 of “The Next Food Network Star,” and ironically, joined Guy for the filming of the Sioux Falls restaurants that were shown on “DDD”. Justin, his wife and son live in Rapid City and own Bokujo Ramen at 518 Mt. Rushmore Rd.

All of the South Dakota restaurants previously visited were good choices, but we think there are many more Mr. Fieri needs to put on his list. Here are a few restaurants Guy Fieri needs to visit when he comes back to Sioux Falls, which hopefully, will be soon. We’ll welcome you anytime to our great state.

This list is only a small sampling of some exceptional Sioux Falls restaurants. We know there are more that need to be mentioned. That's where you come in.

If you want Guy Fieri to come back to South Dakota, you need to do some leg work and let him know which restaurants he needs to visit. E-mail storyideas@tripledinfo.com or https://www.guyfieri.com/contact#.

Remember, if it’s funky, he’ll find it. The show looks for restaurants with good food, a story, and those that have character.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown / Townsquare Media

10 Things You Should Never Do in South Dakota

Go anywhere in the U.S. and you'll find traditions and customs that only exist in that part of the country. South Dakota is no different, and there are definitely some "do's and don'ts" when it comes to living here.

Be careful trying any of these things in the Mount Rushmore State.