Do you have unresolved Valentine’s feelings? With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, the San Antonio Zoo is back with its iconic Cry Me a Cockroach fundraiser, proving once again that nothing heals heartbreak quite like feeding it to an animal.
This popular (and delightfully petty) tradition lets you name a cockroach, rat, or even a veggie after an ex (or any not-so-special someone) and watch it get served up as lunch to a zoo resident—all while supporting conservation.
Prices are even rolled back ($5 roach, $5 veggie, $15 rat), and every donation comes with a shareable Valentine’s card and a special animal video for maximum closure.
It is cheeky and for a great cause—because if love bites, at least let wildlife benefit. Just remember: vengeance is sweet, conservation is sweeter, and you have to be 18 to play.
CLICK HERE for more information, and check out their FAQs about the fundraiser from their website below:
What does my donation include?
As a part of your $5.00 or $15.00 donation, the Donor, will receive:
- A downloadable Valentine’s Day card to share with friends—or former flames.
- A special Valentine’s Day video featuring one of the zoo’s popular animal residents.
Are there refunds?
This donation is non-refundable.
How do funds raised through the Cry Me a Cockroach fundraiser make an impact?
Funds raised through the Cry Me a Cockroach fundraiser support animal care, conservation, and education programs at San Antonio Zoo. Your donation to our Cry Me a Cockroach Fundraiser will continue to help San Antonio Zoo in our mission of securing a future for wildlife.
Where and when can I watch the Cry Me A Cockroach feeding frenzy?
Be sure to follow us on social media @SanAntonioZoo to view more Cry Me a Cockroach content.
Can international countries participate?
Yes! Our annual Cry Me a Cockroach Fundraiser is global.
Do we feed live rodents to our snakes or other animals?
No, the pre-frozen rodents we utilize are part of regular daily scheduled feedings of our animals. They are delivered frozen from a mouse farm and stored at our Nutrition Center until thawed for feedings.
How do we house our roaches until they are fed to our animals?
Live roaches are sourced from professional roach breeders, the colony is cared for and maintained by the Reptile Department in the Reptile House.
What is a “Veggie” Option?
You can purchase a Veggie option to be fed to one of our vegetarian animals on Valentine’s Day. Veggies consist of romaine lettuce, cabbage, and other leafy greens!
How do you care for your feeders such as cockroaches?
American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare practices, announced in November that San Antonio Zoo has once again earned an American Humane Certified™ seal. This audit includes the treatment of all animals in San Antonio Zoo’s care, including feeder insects like cockroaches and rodents. San Antonio Zoo was the first zoological facility in the world to be accredited and certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Zoological Association of America, and American Humane.
