BOISE, Idaho — Valentine's Day is coming up and love is hissing in the air at Zoo Boise. Traditionally people may get a loved one flowers or candy, or those without that special someone may lament love lost, but may lack something tangible to do about it. With the name a cockroach valentine at Zoo Boise, people can do both.
Whether you love your partner for eternity, eternally despise an ex or are eternally grateful for a coworker, naming a Madagascar Cockroach after them at Zoo Boise will live on forever.
"There's a saying that you're not supposed to kiss and tell, but with Zoo Boise, and our cockroach program, we encourage people to hiss and tell," said Jeff Agosta, the director of marketing at Zoo Boise. "I think it's really popular because it's something that's different."
For several years at different zoos all over the country, people have professed their love, or hate, by naming a cockroach after somebody. At Zoo Boise the cost is $20, and people get a certificate mailed to them that they can give to their special someone. All the money raised goes to the zoo's general campaign, which is raising money to build a new Red Panda exhibit, an educational complex and renovating the small animal kingdom.
"People think of cockroaches as being something creepy and crawly and scary but if you put the love connotation on them, that like cockroaches, your love can survive anything, there's people who are looking for something fun and different and I'm sure a little humorous as well," Agosta said.
For all the haters out there, there are still plenty of people who name a roach because someone was creepy, crawly or just downright scary.
NAMED COCKROACHES 2024:
- Aaron Cold Cuts
- Charlie Barley
- Chingona Life Partner
- David S. McAuliffe
- Dee Dee
- Dolphin Estates Architectural Committee
- Dr. Cox
- Dusty Miller
- Georgia
- Jim-Jim Ginger Snapped
- Kara
- Kara Marie
- Lea
- Lily Mae
- Marius
- PaulA More D’Eh
- Phteven Woody
- Putzy’s Consolation Goat
- Rotten Rodney
- Sarah
- Scooter
- Wavy Davy
- William Heyward McCants
NAMED COCKROACHES 2023:
- Al Roacher
- Alana the Land Doctor Rader
- “Alvino the Great”
- Alexia Quintana
- Alexsendit
- Amaya Bug
- Andrew Don Lockwood McMurray
- Bekir
- Betty Torres
- Big Boss D-Money $tack Dds MD
- Boogs
- Brianna Goldberg
- Chuck-E-cheese
- Cindy Pooh Young
- Colby Craft
- Dada Peanut
- Daina
- Danielle Wilkuhrt
- David McAuliffe
- Dawn the Cockroach “Poop Whisperer” Irons
- Dirty Dan
- Dogmantis Monday McGrath
- Doug
- Dr Ausroachtin McCullroachough
- Dr Michael J Robb
- Dr. Sarrah & Dr. Kenny
- Drea
- Emily Walgamott- the Slayer Of Roaches
- Francis A VonRoachhorn
- Frank Black
- Frank Richard Torrez
- Fredbird
- Garden City
- Geoffrey Mostow
- Gerry Crocket
- HottSerdon
- Hunters CockRoach (;
- I Love You More Than This Roach Loves Philly
- Jacob M Jaeger
- Jean
- Jennifer Darling
- Joe Corderio
- Joni
- Junior Jayme
- Karizzy
- Kassa II, the Careless Whisperer
- Kelsey Bock
- Kenna
- Kevin
- Kootie
- Ladies and GENTLEMEN… Mr. Cockroach HIMSELF… Mitch Kron
- Lee Kun Hao
- Lelan
- Logan Cunningham
- Lottie Lou
- Mandi
- Margo Mae
- Marianna
- Mark
- Marticular
- Michicajo
- Minnie
- Miranda Deur
- Misty Sterk
- Monica “Mo” Violante
- NammieTickles
- Nate Dawg
- Noah Ray
- Obi-Wan Kenaubrey
- Paige Kolnes
- Paige Plotzke Jr.
- Peanut
- Pachunguis
- Queen Emma II
- Quinn R. Allen
- Rachel Zoovanich
- Reed Harrison Walker
- Rickey Clyde
- Roachard “Roachie” Roacherson
- Roachy Poo Jay
- Robin Roach
- Rucas
- Scott Glozzy
- Scott Jr.
- Seham
- Sir Duke Ari Lovington
- Sir Roachington, 2nd Of His Name, House Of the Basement, Breaker Of Glass Enclosures, the True King
- Squatch Jr.
- Staff Sergeant Luke “Cockroach Commander” Parve
- Steven
- Steven Jr.
- Sunday Funday
- Taniya Sellers
- Taraizer
- Terra P. Dacktil
- Tessla Ocean
- That Was My Nickname In College
- The Buffalo Club, Inc.
- The DIVA of all cockroaches…Linda “Lisa” Stormes
- Tim Pakutka
- Tony Roachini
- Victor Coronel-Lopez
- Wesley James
- Will I Am the Roach
For more information on naming a Zoo Boise cockroach, click here.
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