Where to see captive animals in the USA

biggest_dreamer said:
Very interested in following this thread. Figures you're going alphabetically, though, since that means my state (SC) will be near the bottom. Still, can't wait for more updates! I love reading these sort of lists that aim to be comprehensive.
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Think of how long I have to wait on an alphabetical list. :p
 
biggest_dreamer said:
Very interested in following this thread. Figures you're going alphabetically, though, since that means my state (SC) will be near the bottom. Still, can't wait for more updates! I love reading these sort of lists that aim to be comprehensive.
Click to expand...

birdsandbats said:
Think of how long I have to wait on an alphabetical list. :p
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Alphabetical was the only fair way I could think to do it, sorry! It was also the easiest way for people to look through for a state in the future. I'll probably stick everything in a google doc at the end for people to reference.
 
ARIZONA

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson – Zoo – AZA, AAM – All native species, gardens and animals.
  • Bearizona Wildlife Park, Williams – Safari – ZAA – Drive yourself. All native species.
  • Funny Foot Farm & Tucson Petting Zoo, Tucson – Petting Zoo – Small zoo, primarily domestics. Chacoan mara!
  • Grand Canyon Deer Farm, Williams – Petting Zoo - Small zoo with deer, bison, coati, domestics.
  • Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, Prescott – Zoo – Primarily native species.
  • International Raptor & Falconry Center, Flagstaff – Birds – Tours – BOP.
  • Keepers of the Wild Nature Park, Valentine – Zoo – ASA, BCSA – Non-profit sanctuary, mostly carnivores.
  • Navajo Nation Zoo, Window Rock – Zoo - Only Native American zoo in USA. Native species.
  • OdySea Aquarium, Scottsdale – Aquarium – AZA – Have otters, penguins.
  • Out of Africa Wildlife Park, Camp Verde – Zoo, Safari - Safari part is on their truck with others.
  • Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix – Zoo – AZA, WAZA – The tram ride that doesn't show anything different.
  • R Lazy J Wildlife Ranch, Eagar – Zoo – Also own Roer’s Zoofari in VA.
  • Reid Park Zoo, Tucson – Zoo – AZA.
  • Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, Picacho – Petting Zoo - Ostrich ranch with cownose rays, fallow deer, lots of domestics.
  • Runnin W Wildlife Center, Cornville – Rescue – Appointment - Have native species and smaller exotics kept as pets - kangaroos, lemurs, etc.
  • SEA LIFE Arizona, Tempe – Aquarium – AZA – In shopping center.
  • Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, Scottsdale – Rescue – Tours – ASA – Native species. A holding facility for Mexican wolf.
  • Superstition Serpentarium, Apache Junction – Herps – Weekends – Part of Goldfield Ghost Town & Mines. Specialize in hots.
  • Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium, & Safari Park, Litchfield Park – Zoo, Aquarium, Safari – ZAA, AAM, AMMPA – Safari is by tram.

Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Alchesay National Fish Hatchery, Whiteriver – Hatchery – USFWS – Brown trout, rainbow trout.
  • Bubbling Ponds Hatchery, Cornville – Hatchery - AZGFD (AZ Game & Fish Dept) - Razorback sucker, roundtail chub, Gila top minnow, rainbow trout, largemouth bass. Building a visitor center.
  • Butterfly Wonderland, Scottsdale – Insects - Have several butterfly areas, lots of insects, aquarium, herp area.
  • Canyon Creek Hatchery, Forest Lake Estates – Hatchery - Visitor center. Gila trout, rainbow trout, arctic grayling.
  • Environmental Education Center, Chandler – NC – A few native species.
  • Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium – Tucson – Science Museum, Insects - Bug exhibit has live insects. Also have shark exhibit, fossils. Museums For All.
  • Gray Hawk Nature Center, Sierra Vista – NC – Native species.
  • International Wildlife Museum, Tucson – NH Museum, live animals – A few aquariums, common pet ambassadors.
  • Liberty Wildlife, Phoenix – NC – Seasonal - Primarily BOP but also a herp room, a few small mammals.
  • Page Springs hatchery, Cornville – Hatchery – Rainbow trout, brown trout, Gila trout.
  • Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary, Scottsdale – Herps – Tours - Only do tours, parties, etc. Have full size crocs.
  • Raptor Ranch, Williams - Birds, Camping - BOP. Flight demos, encounters & experiences.
  • Silver Creek Hatchery, Show Low – Hatchery – Apache trout, rainbow trout.
  • Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery, Payson – Hatchery, Aquarium - Aquarium, Visitor center. Trout: Apache, rainbow, brook, cutthroat, tiger, brown.
  • Tucson Wildlife Center, Tucson – Rehab – Tours? – GFAS – Previously gave tours, no longer mention them on website.
  • White Mountain Nature Center, Pinetop – NC – BOP.
  • White Tank Library and Nature Center, Waddell – NC – Herps.
  • Wild at Heart, Cave Creek – Birds – Tours – BOP, tours by reservation.
  • Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery, McNary – Hatchery – USFWS - Apache trout, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout.
  • Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, Willow Beach – Hatchery – USFWS - 5 strains of rainbow trout, razorback sucker, bonytail chub.

Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • Arboretum at Flagstaff, Flagstaff – Arboretum – Doesn’t appear to have any live animals currently.
  • Arizona Museum of Natural History, Mesa – NH Museum – No animals? Museums For All.
  • Highlands Center for Natural History, Prescott – NC – No live animals.
  • Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff – NH Museum – No animals.
 
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TinoPup said:
ARIZONA

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson – Zoo – AZA, AAM – All native species, gardens and animals.
  • Bearizona Wildlife Park, Williams – Safari – ZAA – Drive yourself. All native species.
  • Funny Foot Farm & Tucson Petting Zoo, Tucson – Petting Zoo – Small zoo, primarily domestics. Chacoan mara!
  • Grand Canyon Deer Farm, Williams – Petting Zoo - Small zoo with deer, bison, coati, domestics.
  • Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, Prescott – Zoo – Primarily native species.
  • International Raptor & Falconry Center, Flagstaff – Birds – Tours – BOP.
  • Keepers of the Wild Nature Park, Valentine – Zoo – ASA, BCSA – Non-profit sanctuary, mostly carnivores.
  • Navajo Nation Zoo, Window Rock – Zoo - Only Native American zoo in USA. Native species.
  • OdySea Aquarium, Scottsdale – Aquarium – AZA – Have otters, penguins.
  • Out of Africa Wildlife Park, Camp Verde – Zoo, Safari - Safari part is on their truck with others.
  • Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix – Zoo – AZA, WAZA – The tram ride that doesn't show anything different.
  • R Lazy J Wildlife Ranch, Eagar – Zoo – Also own Roer’s Zoofari in VA.
  • Reid Park Zoo, Tucson – Zoo – AZA.
  • Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, Picacho – Petting Zoo - Ostrich ranch with cownose rays, fallow deer, lots of domestics.
  • Runnin W Wildlife Center, Cornville – Rescue – Appointment - Have native species and smaller exotics kept as pets - kangaroos, lemurs, etc.
  • SEA LIFE Arizona, Tempe – Aquarium – AZA – In shopping center.
  • Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, Scottsdale – Rescue – Tours – ASA – Native species. A holding facility for Mexican wolf.
  • Superstition Serpentarium, Apache Junction – Herps – Weekends – Part of Goldfield Ghost Town & Mines. Specialize in hots.
  • Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium, & Safari Park, Litchfield Park – Zoo, Aquarium, Safari – ZAA, AAM, AMMPA – Safari is by tram.

Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Alchesay National Fish Hatchery, Whiteriver – Hatchery – USFWS – Brown trout, rainbow trout.
  • Bubbling Ponds Hatchery, Cornville – Hatchery - AZGFD (AZ Game & Fish Dept) - Razorback sucker, roundtail chub, Gila top minnow, rainbow trout, largemouth bass. Building a visitor center.
  • Butterfly Wonderland, Scottsdale – Insects - Have several butterfly areas, lots of insects, aquarium, herp area.
  • Canyon Creek Hatchery, Forest Lake Estates – Hatchery - Visitor center. Gila trout, rainbow trout, arctic grayling.
  • Environmental Education Center, Chandler – NC – A few native species.
  • Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium – Tucson – Science Museum, Insects - Bug exhibit has live insects. Also have shark exhibit, fossils. Museums For All.
  • Gray Hawk Nature Center, Sierra Vista – NC – Native species.
  • International Wildlife Museum, Tucson – NH Museum, live animals – A few aquariums, common pet ambassadors.
  • Liberty Wildlife, Phoenix – NC – Seasonal - Primarily BOP but also a herp room, a few small mammals.
  • Page Springs hatchery, Cornville – Hatchery – Rainbow trout, brown trout, Gila trout.
  • Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary, Scottsdale – Herps – Tours - Only do tours, parties, etc. Have full size crocs.
  • Silver Creek Hatchery, Show Low – Hatchery – Apache trout, rainbow trout.
  • Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery, Payson – Hatchery, Aquarium - Aquarium, Visitor center. Trout: Apache, rainbow, brook, cutthroat, tiger, brown.
  • Tucson Wildlife Center, Tucson – Rehab – Tours? – GFAS – Previously gave tours, no longer mention them on website.
  • White Mountain Nature Center, Pinetop – NC – BOP.
  • White Tank Library and Nature Center, Waddell – NC – Herps.
  • Wild at Heart, Cave Creek – Birds – Tours – BOP, tours by reservation.
  • Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery, McNary – Hatchery – USFWS - Apache trout, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout.
  • Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, Willow Beach – Hatchery – USFWS - 5 strains of rainbow trout, razorback sucker, bonytail chub.

Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • Arboretum at Flagstaff, Flagstaff – Arboretum – Doesn’t appear to have any live animals currently.
  • Arizona Museum of Natural History, Mesa – NH Museum – No animals? Museums For All.
  • Highlands Center for Natural History, Prescott – NC – No live animals.
  • Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff – NH Museum – No animals.
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Would this facility count?

Raptor Ranch - Williams, AZ
 
The Arizona list is impressive, with that state famous for some notable zoos such as ASDM, Reid Park, Wildlife World and Phoenix.

There's also Oasis Sanctuary, which is a facility with rescued parrots. There is an ambitious plan for the future that is still looking for funding that will top out at $1.2 million.

Capital Campaign
 
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SwampDonkey said:
Paradise Earth is under development in Scottsdale at Arizona Boardwalk. It is going to be an indoor rainforest with birds, reptiles, small mammals, and insects.
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I forgot to add that back in, I had it in a separate tab! I'm hoping it ends up being as nice as it sounds.

snowleopard said:
There's also Oasis Sanctuary, which is a facility with rescued parrots. There is an ambitious plan for the future that is still looking for funding that will top out at $1.2 million.

Capital Campaign
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I couldn't find info on visiting this place before, but I found it this time, from a link at the bottom of the page.
 
SwampDonkey said:
That is interesting as Roer's Zoofari is ZAA accredited but they have chosen not to do so for this place.
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The zoofari is a facility they took over. It was awful, but it at least had the basis of a layout, structures, and animals. R Lazy J they've done from scratch. I'm not sure if that's the reason for the difference or not, but it could be part of it. Animals go back and forth between the two places fairly often.
 
TinoPup said:
The zoofari is a facility they took over. It was awful, but it at least had the basis of a layout, structures, and animals. R Lazy J they've done from scratch. I'm not sure if that's the reason for the difference or not, but it could be part of it. Animals go back and forth between the two places fairly often.
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Interesting, thank you for that information.
 
From here on, I'll be adding a note about KultureCity if the facility is a member. KultureCity is a program any business can get certified in, to show that they are sensory inclusive. Most have quiet zones in the parks, along with bags available for rent (free) that include noise cancelling headphones, fidget toys, and ID cards. Places can add other things if they'd like, as well. This supports not just autistics but people with PSD, Parkinson's, and other physical and/or mental issues (to use a broad term) that might not be obvious to strangers but which they may need assistance with.

Of the states that have already been covered, these facilities are certified:

ALABAMA
Birmingham Zoo
McWane Science Center
Montgomery Zoo

ALASKA
Alaska SeaLife Center

ARIZONA
Phoenix Zoo
 
A place that got missed for ARIZONA:
Center for Native and Urban Wildlife, Scottsdale – NC – A few native herps. Scottsdale Community College.

ARKANSAS

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo, Hot Springs – Herps, Zoo – Alligator farm with petting zoo, pumas, monkeys, wolves, birds.
  • Bacchus Family Adventure Farm, Lamar – Farm Park – Farm park with foxes, lemurs, hybrid cats, aoudad, rodents.
  • Little Rock Zoo, Little Rock – Zoo – AZA – Train that goes around domestics yard and swan pond.
  • Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, Eureka Springs – Carnivore, Lodging – GFAS, BCSA – Carnivore sanctuary. Have lodging.
Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, Fort Smith – NC – Aquarium. AKA Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
  • Central Arkansas Nature Center, Little Rock – NC – Aquariums, herps, waterfowl. Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center.
  • Cockrills Country Critters, Austin – Traveling – Traveling zoo that has farm visits. Kangaroos, camels, a monkey.
  • Delta Rivers Nature Center, Pine Bluff – BOP, aquarium, herps. AKA Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center.
  • Grandview Prairie Nature Center, Columbus – NC – AKA Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center.
  • Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery, Heber Springs – Hatchery – USFWS – Brook trout, rainbow trout.
  • Mammoth Springs National Fish Hatchery, Mammoth Spring – Aquarium, Hatchery – USFWS – Lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, golden shiner, threadfin shad, alligator gar, striped bass, snufflebox mussel, rabbitsfoot mussel.
  • Museum of Discovery, Little Rock – Science Museum – Science museum with a few small mammals (opossum, chinchilla, etc). Museums For All.
  • Norfork National Fish Hatchery, Mountain Home – Hatchery – USFWS – Visitor center. Brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout.
  • Ozark Highlands Nature Center, Springdale – NC – Fish, herps. AKA J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center.
  • Ponca Nature Center / Ponca Elk Education Center – Ponca – NC – Have elk.
  • Roo Doo’s Wildlife Park, Greenwood – Traveling – Traveling, possibly allow visits?
Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • Turner Neal Museum of Natural History, Monticello – NH Museum – Part of University of Arkansas at Monticello.
State fish hatcheries: Hatcheries
 
Man, the zoo scene in Arkansas is rough. You listed a few more nature centers then I expected, but I had a hard time finding any proof that they actually held species, and what exactly they hold.
 
SusScrofa said:
Man, the zoo scene in Arkansas is rough. You listed a few more nature centers then I expected, but I had a hard time finding any proof that they actually held species, and what exactly they hold.
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Your implication that I'm not checking this stuff was unnecessary. Like my other list threads, I put a lot of time, probably too much time, into verifying things. If I'm not sure, there's a question mark, or the description is more vague (ex. "live animals").
 
SusScrofa said:
You listed a few more nature centers then I expected, but I had a hard time finding any proof that they actually held species, and what exactly they hold.
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It's not like it's easy to find what species certain institutions hold. It's hard enough finding the institutions themselves, so I feel like this is quite rude and uncalled for.

@TinoPup, I'd like to thank you for this wonderful thread, it will be a valuable resource in the future. I may be able to help a little bit when you get to Illinois, as I'm aware of at least one small nature center that may slip under the radar. Once again, I'm really enjoying reading this, thanks for your hard work.
 
TinoPup said:
Your implication that I'm not checking this stuff was unnecessary. Like my other list threads, I put a lot of time, probably too much time, into verifying things. If I'm not sure, there's a question mark, or the description is more vague (ex. "live animals").
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I never implied that you didn't. I said I couldnt find any info on what's held on my own.
 
Bengal Tiger said:
It's not like it's easy to find what species certain institutions hold. It's hard enough finding the institutions themselves, so I feel like this is quite rude and uncalled for.

@TinoPup, I'd like to thank you for this wonderful thread, it will be a valuable resource in the future. I may be able to help a little bit when you get to Illinois, as I'm aware of at least one small nature center that may slip under the radar. Once again, I'm really enjoying reading this, thanks for your hard work.
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Thanks :) I also try to be a little vague because species change, especially in places like nature centers where they're often rescues, but they'll generally keep the same type of animal in the exhibit.
 
Bengal Tiger said:
Most small facilities don't put species lists online. Some are part of larger park districts and just get a page on the park district's website.
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Yes. And I found that Arkansas in particular seems to be a very hard state to find anything on what's held, or even if the nature centers hold live animals. Usually many nature centers have a number of images online with captive animals, but with some in Arkansas its been lacking in that regard. That's all I'm saying, not implying a knowledgable member like @TinoPup is wrong or lying.
 
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