Surprise! Small Town Iowa Zoo Welcomes Rare Baby Snow Monkey

A small-town Iowa zoo is celebrating in a huge way!

The Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa has been keeping a secret from zoo visitors. The staff at Blank Park Zoo is proud to introduce Yumi, a new baby Japanese macaque (otherwise known as a snow monkey)!

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This little bundle of joy was born at the Blank Park Zoo in Iowa late in August of 2024. Since her incredible birth, Yumi has been exploring her new Iowa home at the Blank Park Zoo and bonding with her mom.

The Blank Park Zoo introduced Yumi to Iowa and the whole in a Facebook post early last week. I love Yumi's cute ears!

With a little snow in Iowa, Yumi is trying to live up to her snow monkey roots. She tastes snow for the first time. Literally!

Born in late August of 2024, Yumi, the Japanese macaque, discovered snow for the first time today. At first little Yumi wasn't too sure about it, clinging to her mom to stay dry. However, after a few chilly licks Yumi realized there was nothing to fear. In fact, mom showed her that keepers hide food under the snow for them to forge for. It seems that Yumi will be living up to her species nickname of "snow monkey" in no time!

Yumi is a special monkey. According to the Animal Diversity website, the Japanese macaque populations are considered to be "stable." However, these monkeys face deforestation and hunting threats because they are known to be "agricultural pests." They can easily live near humans and can carry similar diseases to humans. But the Japanese macaques "eat a variety of plants and insects and, because they eat fruit and seeds, act as seed dispersed." Not to mention, these snow monkeys are adorable.

These Are The 7 Cheapest Place To Live In All Of Iowa!

Iowa offers several affordable living destinations that can be attractive to budget-conscious residents.

According to Houzeo.com these are the “7 Cheapest Places to Live in Iowa in 2024”

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown