Here's what to know about the Ice Age animal exhibit at the Milwaukee County Zoo this summer

This summer, visitors to the Milwaukee County Zoo will be able to see more than their favorite elephants, giraffes and slow lorises; there will also be giant robotic Ice Age creatures.

The special exhibit, Dino Don's Journey to the Ice Age, will be at the zoo from May 20 through Oct. 7 in the wooded area behind the small mammals building.

Regular zoo visitors will remember previous summers' special exhibits by Dino Don, including the one featuring animatronic dinosaurs and last summer's dragon exhibit.

The Milwaukee County Zoo's visitor services lead, Tristan Petashnick, said they chose Dino Don for this year's exhibit because they were interested in an Ice Age theme.

"We had seen the Ice Age exhibit at another zoo and thought it would be a great way to help our guests develop empathy for the wildlife and humans affected by climate change," said Petashnick. "We also think it fits well with Wisconsin's past and its connection to glaciers and the Ice Age."

There will be 25 animatronic creatures who move and make sounds set up in foliage provided by the zoo's horticulture department. Petashnick said there will be signs and facts provided about the Ice Age animals that will connect them to the living animals at the zoo.

"For example, we have woolly mammoths and mastodons to see in the exhibit and then encourage visitors to see our African elephants," said Petashnick. "We also have a woolly rhino, and that's a good connection to the fundraising we're doing to build a new rhino habitat at the zoo."

On several weekends during the summer, there will also be hands-on experiences related to climate change for guests to take part in — things like demonstrations with ice cubes to replicate shifting icebergs and experiments with plastic wrap and thermometers to illustrate the warming climate.

If you go

When: May 20-Oct. 7, during the zoo's operating hours, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. May 27-Sept. 4; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. otherwise

Where: Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Road, behind the small mammals building

Admission price: $4 in addition to regular zoo admission