Zoo Boise Unveils Cockroaches Named in Valentine's Day Event

Annual "Name a Cockroach" promotion continues to draw interest in Boise.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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For the ninth year in a row, Zoo Boise has unveiled the names of cockroaches adopted by the public as part of its popular "Name a Cockroach" Valentine's Day promotion. This year's list of named cockroaches includes a familiar face from local news station KTVB.

Why it matters

The annual "Name a Cockroach" event at Zoo Boise has become a quirky local tradition, allowing people to name cockroaches after exes, annoying coworkers, or loved ones as a unique Valentine's Day gift. The promotion helps drive traffic and interest in the zoo during the slower winter months.

The details

The "Name a Cockroach" promotion at Zoo Boise allows people to pay a small fee to name a cockroach after someone for Valentine's Day. The zoo then unveils the list of named cockroaches each year around February 14th. This year's list includes a cockroach named after a well-known KTVB news personality, though the station has not confirmed if the news anchor is aware of or approves of the honor.

  • The "Name a Cockroach" promotion at Zoo Boise began in 2018.
  • The 2026 list of named cockroaches was unveiled on February 16, 2026.

The players

Zoo Boise

A zoo located in Boise, Idaho that has hosted the annual "Name a Cockroach" Valentine's Day event since 2018.

KTVB

A local news station in Boise, Idaho that has a news personality featured on the 2026 list of named cockroaches from the Zoo Boise promotion.

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The takeaway

The annual "Name a Cockroach" promotion at Zoo Boise has become a quirky local tradition that allows people to get creative with their Valentine's Day gifts, while also driving traffic and interest to the zoo during the slower winter months.