article by Stephanie Hobby | photos by Jessica Plance

After overcoming incredible challenges, ZooMontana has become one of Billings’ most recognizable assets. In 2024 and 2025, ZooMontana was ranked in the top 10, and again as a runner-up, of zoos nationwide in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, which regularly includes the acclaimed zoos of San Diego, St. Louis, Omaha, and Cincinnati. The honor reflects ZooMontana’s ongoing commitment to outstanding animal care, excellence in visitor education, beautifully kept grounds, and proactive conservation efforts. It has come a long way since facing dire realities fifteen years ago, when the organization lost accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, largely due to funding concerns and the subsequent inability to care for animals. Jeff Ewelt took over as president and CEO of ZooMontana in 2011, marking the start of a new era. The zoo flourished again, earning AZA accreditation in 2019.

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

In January of 2025, the ZooMontana Board of Directors announced Ewelt’s pending departure for the famed Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, and by February, the board had appointed Billings native Jessica Hart as the interim president and CEO. In October, the board finalized Hart as the permanent president and CEO of ZooMontana.

Having been with the zoo since 2020, Hart was a natural choice to lead ZooMontana into the next era. Hart had previously worked as the events manager for the Billings Chamber of Commerce, where she had gotten to know Ewelt. “Jeff drew me to this place. He has an incredible energy for his people and his community at the same time,” she said. “I stepped in in July of 2020, right in the middle of Covid, and ran events here for about two years.”

REBUILDING THE FOUNDATION

Hart quickly realized the need for more operational structure to run the business side more efficiently. After applying for a grant to hire a chief operating officer, the zoo selected Hart to fill that position, placing her in a crucial role during the arduous AZA re-accreditation process. Institutions must apply for reaccreditation every five years, and for Hart, that meant a 900-page comprehensive report, site visits by inspectors, a follow-up report addressing the inspection findings, and, finally, a meeting before the commission of 25 people.

Inspectors had only seven minor concerns, things like plugging an electric cord into the wall instead of an extension cord. After their presentation to the commission, which demonstrated they had addressed these issues, Hart and her leadership team had to wait only 10 minutes before it was announced that they had again obtained accreditation. “It feels great, and that’s a testament to the work that Jeff had done,” Hart said. With an AZA accreditation behind her, Hart could turn her attention to other endeavors.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANIMAL CARE

Immediately after earning accreditation, one of the zoo veterinarians called to alert Hart’s team that a bobcat was going to be euthanized, and was hoping ZooMontana could take it in. Without hesitation, Hart and her team said yes. “I was like, this is really cool that we get to bring in an animal that has a connection to Montana, not only as an animal, but as a mascot.” Shortly after, she got a call about taking a second bobcat. “We said absolutely, and they lived in Helena for a while until we could build a quarantine space for them,” she said.

While the bobcats are not yet on display, they are behind the scenes, getting acquainted with their human handlers. The goal is to acclimate them to the point that they can serve as animal ambassadors for outreach and education, potentially in partnership with Montana State University events. “But then people say, ‘Well, what about the Grizzlies?’ We can’t bring our grizzlies anywhere,” Hart laughed. “But we can absolutely build a partnership with the University of Montana.”

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Hart is currently heading up a $3.9 million Wild and Well capital campaign for an animal health center at ZooMontana. “Most people think that we have an animal hospital on the grounds, and we do not. So, this is a first-time animal hospital that we are trying to build,” Hart said of the past three-year effort. “We are so close to the finish line. We are working to do final renderings of the building soon, and are hoping to break ground in 2026.”

The facility will include a surgery suite and quarantine areas for sick or new animals. In January, ZooMontana announced a $300,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to support the project.

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY IMPACT

The Animal Health Center will also serve as an educational hub. Through a partnership with Rocky Vista University, veterinary students and residents will gain hands-on experience caring for zoo animals. The center will also support three students from the Billings School District 2 Career Center’s Agriculture Track, giving them exposure to animal healthcare careers.

Hart says she is encouraged by the zoo's growth and development and looks forward to upholding the values and standards the community has come to expect from the organization.

“I have learned so much in this first year. What has kept me here is the ability to change and grow, and our people are incredible. I’ve never felt more comfortable in a job than I do here because the people are so great,” Hart said. “And then I get to watch kids get really excited, and every day they come here and see something maybe magical or pivotal in their life, and of course, our animals are very cool. I’m still learning a lot. It’s been great.”

Originally printed in the March 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

Check this article out in the digital issue of Simply Local here!

related articles: