[1] The zoo is part of a larger park complex including 60-acre (24 ha) of mature second-growth coast redwood forest, Eureka's largest public playground, and a duck pond, in addition to formal and natural gardens.

The zoo's mission is "to inspire wonder, understanding and respect for the natural world by providing fun, rewarding, educational experiences that encourage meaningful connections between animals, humans, and our environment".

Since 1907, the zoo has housed an array of animals including large hoof-stock, exotic birds, and small mammals.

The zoo's "Barnyard" is an educational exhibit that teaches about where food comes from and interact with domesticated animals including: goats, sheep, chickens, red jungle-fowl, rabbits, llamas, alpaca, donkeys, and a cat.

Birds in the walk-in free-flight aviary include scarlet ibis, spotted whistling ducks, band-tailed pigeons, green heron, Guira cuckoos, Nicobar pigeons, grey parrots, California quails, and Golden pheasants.

More exotic animals include crested screamers, Patagonian maras (cavies), Orinoco geese, flamingos, bush dogs, red pandas, Indian muntjac, yaks, Chacoan peccaries, and rheas.

During the construction of the new exhibit, the two bear cubs were sent to live at the Woodland Wildlife Park in Cave Junction, Oregon.