Baby animals around the US that will brighten your election mood (2024)

While sheltering in place this year, new life has sprung forth all across the United States at zoos, animal parks and beyond. These adorable baby animals born this spring are sure to lift spirits as Americans wait for election 2020 results. Take a baby-animal tour with USA TODAY contributor Susan B. Barnes, starting with a bear at Brevard Zoo: Florida black bear Brody was born in early February and was unfortunately abandoned by his mother in the wild. He was deemed unreleasable by the state wildlife agency and now makes his home at Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida.

Brevard Zoo: This beautiful Masai giraffe was born March 29 at Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida.

Brevard Zoo: Little Frank, a tawny frogmouth, hatched April 21 at Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida.

Aquarium of the Pacific: Life is going swimmingly for this flamboyant cuttlefish, who was born in April at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.

Aquarium of the Pacific: This striped pajama squid was born in April at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: Born on Feb. 13, this howler monkey can be seen within the Monkey Pavilion at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: Meet Adrienne and Dave, the world’s first cheetah cubs born via in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. They entered the world on Feb. 19.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: Baby gorilla Jamani was born April 15 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Custer State Park: This little bison calf was born mid-April at Custer State Park in South Dakota.

Custer State Park: Another look at the bison calf at Custer State Park.

Denver Zoo: These African lion cubs were born at the Denver Zoo on April 23 and can be seen in the zoo's Benson Predator Ridge later this summer.

Denver Zoo: This little greater one-horned rhino was born Feb. 22 and can be seen in the Toyota Elephant Passage Exhibit at the Denver Zoo.

Discovery Cove: Born in January at Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida, this eagle ray pup takes flight underwater.

Discovery Cove: A waldrapp ibis chick born April 15 at Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida.

Disney's Animal Kingdom: This little female Hartmann's zebra was born March 31 at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.

Disney's Animal Kingdom: The female Hartmann's zebra, born March 31 at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, goes in for a snuggle.

Disney's Animal Kingdom: Shelley, a prehensile-tailed porcupine, was born Feb. 25 at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Disney's Animal Kingdom: Douglas, an Angolan black-and-white colobus monkey, was born in January at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Disney's Animal Kingdom: Another look at Douglas, the Angolan black-and-white colobus monkey born in January.

Disney's Animal Kingdom: This male Hartmann's zebra was born in January at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Disney's Animal Kingdom: Another look at the Hartmann's zebra born in January.

Disney's Animal Kingdom: This male sitatunga (antelope) was born in February at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Houston Zoo: This sleepy baby giant anteater was born to mom Olive on March 31 at the Houston Zoo.

Houston Zoo: The baby giant anteater born on March 31 at the Houston Zoo will ride on mom Olive's back for almost 12 months.

Houston Zoo: Peter Rabbit, a Schmidt's red-tailed monkey was born at the Houston Zoo on April 10. He’s being hand-raised by zoo staff since could no longer hold on to mom.

Houston Zoo: Another look at Peter Rabbit, a Schmidt's red-tailed monkey who was born at the Houston Zoo on April 10.

L.A. Zoo: She’s ready for her close-up. This female mandrill was born in February at the L.A. Zoo.

L.A. Zoo: This female mandrill was born in February at the L.A. Zoo.

L.A. Zoo: Born on April 9, this baby bighorn sheep hangs out with his mom in the L.A. Zoo's North American exhibit.

L.A. Zoo: The baby bighorn sheep born in April finds his footing at the L.A. Zoo.

L.A. Zoo: This baby markhor (goat), pictured here with his mom, was born April 28 at the L.A. Zoo.

L.A. Zoo: Another look at the baby markhor (goat), pictured here with his mom at the L.A. Zoo.

L.A. Zoo: This howler monkey, pictured with mom, was born March 9 and lives in the L.A. Zoo's Rainforest of Americas exhibit.

Leesburg Animal Park: Though Rebel, a Bennett's wallaby, was born in September 2019 at Leesburg Animal Park in Loudoun County, Virginia, he didn't come out of his pouch for the first time until this February. Now he's ready for his close-up.

Leesburg Animal Park: Yogurt is the name of this baby donkey who was born April 22 at Leesburg Animal Park in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Leesburg Animal Park: Here are three of the four emu chicks born in March and April at Leesburg Animal Park in Loudoun County, Virginia. Their names? Bowie, Elton, Lennon and Bruce.

Leesburg Animal Park: Born in October, Bako, a white-handed gibbon, went outside for the first time on May 3 at Leesburg Animal Park in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Leesburg Animal Park: This zebra foal was born April 28 at Leesburg Animal Park in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Living Desert Zoo: A littler of 11 endangered African wild dogs was born at the Living Desert Zoo in Palm Springs, California, in January.

Living Desert Zoo: Another look at the littler of endangered African wild dogs born at the Living Desert Zoo in Palm Springs, California in January.

Monterey County: A Pacific harbor seal pup and her mother seen here in April. Spot them in Monterey County, California, at popular rookeries such as Hopkins Marine Station and the Pacific Grove coastline.

Nashville Zoo: This baby Cape porcupine was born on Feb. 24 at Nashville Zoo. The Cape porcupine is the largest porcupine species in the world.

Nashville Zoo: A close-up of the Cape porcupine born Feb. 24 at Nashville Zoo.

Nashville Zoo: Born on March 13, this baby Palawan binturong gets something to eat at the Nashville Zoo.

OKC Zoo: Pictured here is one of Oklahoma City Zoo’s 20 Blue-tailed Fire-bellied Newts that hatched March 18. They will be on public display this summer.

Red River Zoo: Zaya, a Bactrian camel, was born in April at the Red River Zoo in Fargo, North Dakota.

Red River Zoo: This baby Sichuan takin was born in April at the Red River Zoo in Fargo, North Dakota

Safari West: These red river hoglets were born April 4 at Safari West in Santa Rosa, California.

Safari West: These red river hoglets were born April 4 at Safari West in Santa Rosa, California.

Saint Louis Zoo: These black-tailed prairie dog pups were born in 2020 at the Saint Louis Zoo.

Saint Louis Zoo: Teak, a Guereza colobus monkey who was born in February, hangs out with his sister Binti in the Primate House at the Saint Louis Zoo.

San Diego Zoo: This baby river hippo giving the side eye was born in February at San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

San Diego Zoo: This lappet-faced vulture chick was born March 25 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

San Diego Zoo: This Andean bear cub was born in January at San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

SeaWorld Orlando: This bottlenose dolphin was born March 26 at SeaWorld Orlando.

Woodland Park Zoo: An agouti pup was born March 18 at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

Woodland Park Zoo: The agouti pup born March 18 at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, out and about.

Woodland Park Zoo: This adorable baby gorilla was born March 4 at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo.

Woodland Park Zoo: Another look at the sleepy baby gorilla born March 4 at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

Woodland Park Zoo: These Humboldt penguin chicks were born in April at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

Woodland Park Zoo: The Humboldt penguin chicks get a check-up at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

Zoo Miami: This adorable baby koala was born in May 2019 at Zoo Miami but first emerged from the pouch at the end of January. The koala is named Hope in honor of all of the people of Australia who were fighting the catastrophic fires at the time.

Zoo Miami: These baby meerkats were born at Zoo Miami in January and first opened their eyes in February; they can be seen on the zoo's Meercam live webcam.

Zoo Miami: Clouded leopard cubs, born Feb. 11 at Zoo Miami.

Georgia Aquarium: A beluga whale calf swims alongside its mother in a tank at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The calf was born on May 17 to its mother, 20-year-old Whisper.