A long, lean and streamlined body, short legs, fully webbed feet, and a highly muscular tail makes the River Otter one highly skilled swimmer.

They’re also one of nature’s most social and playful animals—whether frolicking in the riverways or rolling on logs.

And boy are they noisy! River Otters exhibit a variety of vocalizations ranging from whistles, buzzes, twitters, to chuckles, chirps, growls and chittering.

The Carousel’s otter always has something to say and he says it loudly. Poor fella, he’s no longer allowed in the Helena Public Library.

Bighorn Sheep have—you guessed it—big horns! Their horns can weigh up to thirty pounds and the size can tell you their age. Horns are also a status symbol in the herd and as well as their weapons!

Female sheep are called Ewes and male sheep are called Rams.

Rams will race twenty mph into another Ram, cracking their heads against each other to establish dominance.

The Carousel Bighorn doesn’t head butt, but he’s a climber. A bad climber. Once he gets up, he can’t get himself down. We’ve had to call the Fire Department to help him down from the Big Top. Some think he should be embarrassed but, if you ask him, he’d love to share the story!

Did you know pronghorn antelope aren’t really antelope, but are actually related to giraffes?

It’s the only North American big game animal with branched horns, hence its name. And their horns are made of modified, fused hair covering a bony inner core.

With speeds up to 60 mph, they’ve earned several nicknames such as "sagebrush rocket," "speed goat," and "prairie ghost." The Carousel’s Pronghorn is super speedy too, so make sure to buckle up and hang on tightly!

The Gray Wolf is the largest of the wild dogs and sure is intimidating! With a length up to 6.5 ft and a weight to 110 pounds, 42 teeth made for shredding prey, and a clocked speed of 38 mph, you certainly don’t want to sneak up on one.

Hunted to near extermination back in the 1930s, they are repopulating due to conservation efforts. Yellowstone National Park provides an ideal opportunity to spot one. If you don’t see one, you may be fortunate enough to hear a howl.

The Carousel’s Gray Wolf is the only one we know of fully tamed and docile. So don’t be shy. The worst he might do is lick the ice cream off your face!

Who says dinosaurs are extinct? We’ve got a Triceratops saddled up waiting to take you on a time trippin’ ride!

Did you know Triceratops fossils have been found in Eastern Montana? It was the most numerous of the horned cretaceous dinosaurs as well as the largest ceratopsian. It was one of the last dinosaurs to become extinct.

Its name means "three horned face."

Triceratops was an herbivore, meaning it was a vegetarian and ate plants. Ours has been viewed on the security cameras trying to use the blender. He confessed when confronted, admitting he really wants to try a banana shake. Will you share yours?

You don’t need bear spray for our Grizzly! But definitely carry a can while hiking in Yellowstone or Glacier.

Adults can weigh up to 600 lbs. They have a characteristic hump below the neck composed of large muscular tissue and long hairs on their shoulders giving a grizzled appearance, hence their name.

With four-inch front claws, they can climb trees and and are also good swimmers. Despite their bulky size, they can run quite fast.

Grizzlies hibernate, which means they go into a deep sleep through the winter for about 5-7 months. Our grizzly never sleeps but he may try to take your ice cream.

First discovered by explorer William Clarke, Cutthroat Trout are easily identified by orange marks underside their jaw and gill plate.

They’re aggressive feeders and will lunge at almost any lure or fly.

Cutthroat also vary greatly in size from just a foot to almost 3ft and thirty pounds!

An anglers delight for sure—try for yourself and see how long you can hang on to our slippery swimmer!

American Bison are the largest mammal in North America, weighing up to a ton and standing six feet tall.

Given their size, they’re surprisingly nimble and can run up to 35 mph.

They have a characteristic considerably-sized shoulder hump comprised of large, thick muscles which allow them to swing their heads side to side acting as a snow plow, clearing pathways during heavy winters. Our Bison keeps the Carousel clear of snow too so you can ride anytime!

True story: Two mountain goats backpacking from Glacier National Park stopped in Helena, MT at the exact moment the Carousel mechanism was first being installed. They were mesmerized by the lights, colors, and sounds. But it was the ice cream station that stole their hearts.

We just happened to have two spaces left on the Carousel for animals and they asked to have them. We couldn’t have been prouder!

Rocky Mountain Goats are woolly, white fluffballs with beards, short tails, and long black horns. A male is called a Billy, female is a Nanny and the babies are Kids.

Did you know they’re not related to goats but actually members of the antelope family?

They’re also exceptional climbers! Due to pliable hooves and a strong muscular build, they can scale steep, rocky mountains and craggy ledges.

Rugged, one of our two Rocky Mountain Goats, is now our mascot and model for the new Carousel logo.

Come visit them today!

The Hippocampus.

Say what? Hippocampus derives from the Greek word hippokampos: hippos "horse" and kampos "sea monster."

The Hippocampus is a mythical version of a sea horse, having the powerful upper body of a horse joined by a segmented, armored lower body with a curled prehensile tail.

Who’s to say the hippocampus isn’t a Montana native? Though it’s been long considered a purely mythological creature, paleontologists claim to have a complete fossilized hippocampus skeleton found near Hauser Dam back in 1924. (Not really!)

Our hippocampus awaits a sea god brave enough to drive him around the Carousel!

Bobcats are the most common wildcat found in North America.

Weighing about 30 pounds, they’re easily distinguished by a spotted pattern on their coats, a bobbed tail, and of course those pointed tufts of hair at the ends of their ears.

Bobcats quietly sneak up on their prey—then pounce! You might be able to surprise our Bobcat and take a ride—depends on how clever and quick you are!

The Sandhill Crane is a regal, red headed avian beauty.

Tall and elegant, sandhill cranes congregate in huge numbers during migration where they fly in V-formations—where each bird’s average wingspan is up to 7 ft! They can travel as far as 500 miles per day.

They have an unforgettable trumpeting call produced by a modified windpipe that has been likened to a French horn.

Sandhill cranes are highly social and accomplished dancers. Ours are also great listeners and never share secrets.

Montana Horses, like other domesticated equine, continue to provide an integral relationship with humans from warfare and competition to agriculture and therapy.

Males are called stallions and females are known as mares. They can weigh over 1,200 pounds! And they can sleep standing up.

However, Montana Horses, as any Montanan will tell you, are just a bit more majestic than any other place’s horses. For sure, the noble steeds of the Carousel originally grazed on Wild Horse Island in Flathead Lake, Montana.

Perhaps it’s the alpenglow off of the Missions Mountains, the wild cherries from the peninsula orchards, or the fresh water from the lake, these horses are simply magical.

When asked if they’d take a special spot on the Carousel, they whinnied and neighed in delight. Next time you’re here, take one around a time or two and see who gets the most rings!

Found along swamps, marshes and streams, Northern Leopard Frogs are greenish-brown colored and dotted with rounded dark spots adorning their backs and legs.

Once abundant in population, their numbers have been massively reduced due to several natural and human factors.

They’re about three to five inches long with females being slightly larger than the males.

They’ll eat almost anything they can fit in their mouths, even their own species!

Our frog wins every Carousel eating contest—last year he stuffed an entire five gallons of cotton candy ice cream down his gullet. Yes, including the bin!