At the beginning of BYU-Idaho's Spring 2026 semester, the mammal exhibit on campus is planningon hosting a grand event as it reopens its doors to the general public.

The museum before changes were made

For nearly two decades, the mammal exhibit on the second floor of the Ezra Taft Benson Building remained unchanged, featuring mounted animal heads on the walls and damaged light fixtures.

That is when Mikayla Khilobok, a sophomore majoring in fisheries range and wildlife management with an emphasis in wildlife, answered the call. One of her professors asked her to revive and revamp the museum, so more people in Rexburg will be drawn to it. Visitors could also have the chance to learn more about mammal life and endangered species.

"There wasn't a whole lot to tell you about the animals," Khilobok said. "So we were just looking into ways we could teach that a little bit more. Most of us are wildlife management majors, so we wanted to focus a little more on conservation. We do have a lot of animals in here that are endangered or at least a little rarer."

Changes made to the exhibit

The first thing Khilobok did, alongside two other students working at the museum, was reach out to organizations that could hopefully help kickstart their cause. Luck was on their side because the Museum of Idaho and the Idaho Falls Zoo graciously donated multiple specimens they could use to display for all students and Rexburg community members alike.

One of them specifically is the late Thomas the Lion, who came from the Idaho Falls Zoo.

BYU-Idaho students are helping run the new and improved museum. "We also have a lot of students right now learning how to do taxidermy repairs. So it's kind of fun to see where everybody places themselves," Khilobok said.

She and two fellow students spearheading the changes created five exhibits, with a sixth currently in production. The new museum includes an antlers-versus-horns display and another focused on extinct species such as mammoths.

For wildlife management majors, the museum is foundational. Nearly every class in the program uses it for educational purposes, and many exams rely heavily on the content displayed. Khilobok hopes the updates will further support students’ learning and make the space even more useful.

Even if you are not part of the wildlife management major, Khilobok wants everyone to feel welcome. With more interactive activities in development, the museum offers a hands-on way to learn about the featured animals.

“We've created partnerships with places like the Idaho Falls Zoo and the Museum of Idaho so that we can better educate people in Rexburg, not just in Idaho Falls,” said Carrie Coleby, a junior majoring in range fisheries and wildlife with a wildlife emphasis.

Beyond academics, Khilobok also hopes the museum becomes a place where students can relax and take a break from their studies and everyday stressors.

Looking towards the future

Khilobok is hopeful that the museum will be completely refurnished by the beginning of next semester. By that time, she hopes to have a grand reopening.

To ensure the museum doesn’t fade away like its predecessor, professors overseeing the space hope someone will eventually step in to continue Khilobok’s work.

She is currently looking for both volunteers and students interested in being hired.

“So long as the passion for that goes on to the next people, then it’ll be good,” Khilobok said.

And that could be you. Whether or not you have experience in wildlife management and preservation, all students are welcome. Keep an eye out and your schedule open for the grand reopening of the Benson Building mammal exhibit, expected early next semester..