San Antonio Zoo’s “Cry Me a Cockroach” fundraiser returns ahead of Valentine’s Day 2026 season

A Valentine’s fundraiser built around animal feedings

San Antonio Zoo has brought back its annual “Cry Me a Cockroach” Valentine’s Day fundraiser for the 2026 season, inviting adults to make small donations that sponsor a feeding item—then name it after an ex-partner or another “not-so-special someone.” The zoo schedules the items to be fed to animal residents as part of regular feeding routines.

The fundraiser is designed for participants 18 and older. The zoo’s online campaign also emphasizes that participation is symbolic and framed as a humorous way to turn seasonal heartbreak into support for zoo operations and programs.

What donors can purchase, and how it works

For 2026, the zoo lists three donation options and corresponding feeding items:

• $5 for a cockroach
• $15 for a rat
• $5 for a “veggie” option intended for herbivorous animals

Participants select an option, complete a form with the chosen name, and submit the donation online. The zoo notes that donations are non-refundable.

What donors receive and when feedings are viewable

Each donation includes two digital items: a downloadable Valentine’s Day card and a Valentine’s Day video featuring one of the zoo’s animal residents. The zoo also promotes Valentine’s Day as the moment when themed feeding content will be shared through its official social media channels.

Animal care details and handling of feeder items

The zoo provides specific handling information for the feeder items used in the promotion. It states that rodents used for feedings are pre-frozen and part of normal scheduled diets for certain animals, stored until thawed for feedings. For cockroaches, the zoo says the insects are sourced from professional breeders, with the colony maintained by staff within the zoo’s reptile operations.

For the vegetable option, the zoo describes leafy greens such as romaine lettuce and cabbage as examples of items used for animals that do not eat meat.

The program combines a Valentine’s-themed naming element with standard feeding routines, positioning the donations as support for animal care, conservation, and education efforts.

Context: a recurring campaign with adjusted 2026 pricing

The zoo describes the fundraiser as an annual tradition and notes that 2026 pricing has been rolled back compared with some prior years’ published donation tiers. The 2026 lineup keeps entry-level participation at $5 for either the cockroach or veggie option, while the rat option remains the higher-priced tier at $15.

With Valentine’s Day falling on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, the fundraiser’s timing aligns with the holiday weekend, when the zoo is expected to concentrate its themed content and donor deliverables around the date.