Where to see captive animals in the USA

Smaggledagle said:
Milford Nature Center (Kansas) as it appears no longer has bobcats, their 2 females were transferred to the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo (also Kansas).

Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo
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The facilities with a few species mentioned are included as guidelines for the types of animals they might have and are not meant to be exhaustive or necessarily correct. In this case, bobcats shows they might have species larger than the small mammals that are more typical of nature centers. It's a rescue/rehab facility, so what they have can frequently change.
 
TinoPup said:
ALABAMA

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Alabama Aquarium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island – Aquarium - Formerly called George F. Crozier Estuarium. 31 aquariums, 30,000 gallons, 100+ species.
  • Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, Gulf Shores – Zoo – ZAA - Animal Planet's "The Little Zoo That Could", 2006-2007. Reopened at new location in 2020.
  • Alabama Safari Park, Hope Hull – Safari - Drive yourself. 350 acres. Owned by Zoofari Parks/Eric Mogensen, which own/founded VA Safari, AL Safari, bought Gulf Breeze, and are building TX Safari.
  • Alligator Alley, Summerdale – Herps – Alligator farm with a few other species.
  • Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham – Zoo – AZA - Long train ride goes around perimeter of most of the zoo, possible to see animals from it, especially elephants.
  • Harmony Park Safari, Huntsville – Safari – Seasonal - Drive yourself. Very little info on website.
  • Kritter Kids Kountry Korner, McKenzie – Zoo - Small zoo with only class 3 animals (foxes, coati, tayra, petting animals).
  • McWane Science Center, Birmingham – Aquarium, Science Museum - First floor is an aquarium. Museums For All.
  • Montgomery Zoo & Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, Montgomery – Zoo, NH Museum – ZAA - Train goes around perimeter of most of the zoo. Skylift is a straight line, loops around. Mann Museum has taxidermy dioramas.
  • Tigers For Tomorrow, Attalla – Carnivore – Seasonal – Nonprofit.

Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Alabama Museum of Natural History, Tuscaloosa – NH Museum, live animals - Mussels, bees. University of Alabama. Museums For All.
  • Alabama Wildlife Center, Pelham – Birds - Bird rehab with boardwalk trail past BOP enclosures. Oak Mountain State Park.
  • Anniston Museum of Natural History, Anniston – NH Museum, live animals – Trail with BOP. Snakes. Oldest bird dioramas in USA.
  • Bama Bucks Steakhouse & Exotic Animal Park, Sardis City – Restaurant, Zoo – Black bear, lemur, red kangaroo, elk, bison, fallow deer, turkey, ostrich. That’s it.
  • Barking Cow Farms, Brilliant – Traveling - Allow photographers to use their property. Serval, caracal, zebra, kangaroos.
  • Environmental Studies Center, Mobile – NC – Species native to Alabama.
  • George H. Carroll Lion Habitat, University of North Alabama, Florence – Carnivore – School’s live lion mascot.
  • Graham Creek Nature Preserve, Foley – NC – Herps, possibly small mammals.
  • Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds, Gadsden – Park, Campground – Park has waterfall, animal habitat (lynx, fox, coati, farm), mini golf, etc.
  • Ruffner Mountain, Birmingham – NC – Native herps, BOP, occasional rehab animals.
  • Southern Environmental Center, Birmingham – NC - Educational facility, unsure if they have live species. Birmingham-Southern College.
  • Tickled Pink Petting Zoo, Graham – Traveling – Appointment - Open by appointment for visitors. Lemurs, kangaroos, normal petting zoo species.
  • Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Fairhope – NC - Research estuary with a few live captive species in the interpretive center.
Better places to see domestics:
  • Burritt on the Mountain, Huntsville – LH Museum – Domestics. Museums For All.
I couldn’t find much on the state’s fish hatcheries, including any details on whether they’re ever to the public. If you’re interested and want to try calling them or something, they are:
Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center, Marion – focus on mussels and rare species. The largest state non-game recovery program of its kind in the United States.
Carbon Hill Fish Hatchery, Carbon Hill - largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), hybrid striped bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and forage fish.
Eastaboga Fish Hatchery, Eastaboga - largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), hybrid striped bass, spotted bass, grass carp, channel catfish, black crappie, redeye bass and forage fish.
Marion Fish Hatchery, Marion - largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), striped bass, hybrid striped bass, channel catfish, grass carp, southern strain walleye and forage fish.
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Harmony Park Safari has closed. Alabama drive-thru safari park ‘permanently closed’
 
TinoPup said:
COLORADO

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs – Zoo – AZA, WAZA – Skyfari (playground at other end, no zoo access, must ride both ways).
  • Colorado Gators Reptile Park, Mosca – Herps – Hundreds of herps. Buy a bucket of gator chow for $2, learn to wrestle them.
  • Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center, Divide – Carnivore – Tours – AZAc – Wolves, foxes, coyotes, singers.
  • Denver Zoo, Denver – Zoo – AZA, WAZA – Small train ride goes around carousel.
  • Downtown Aquarium / Landry’s Aquarium Denver, Denver – Aquarium, Restaurant – AZA, ZAA – Aquarium and restaurant. Tigers.
  • Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park, Pagosa Springs – Zoo – AKA Pagosa Wildlife Park. Mostly native species. Seasonal horseback tours.
  • SeaQuest Littleton, Littleton – Aquarium, Petting Zoo – Mall aquarium with herps, birds, wallabies, etc.
  • Wild Animal Refuge, Springfield – Carnivore – Tours – GFAS, ASA - Extension of Wild Animal Sanctuary. Tours on specific dates only.
  • Wild Animal Sanctuary, Keenesburg – Carnivore – GFAS, ASA - Major rescue sanctuary that specializes in carnivores, has a few horses and alpacas.
Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster – Insects – AZA – Butterflies, other insects, aquatic inverts.
  • Catamount Creek Ranch, Florissant – Carnivore – Private – Mountain lions.
  • Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Fort Collins – NH Museum, live animals – NH & Science museum with black-footed ferrets, herps.
  • Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center, Colorado Springs – NC – Museums For All.
  • Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery, Hotchkiss – Hatchery – USFWS – Rainbow trout.
  • Leadville National Fish Hatchery, Leadville – Hatchery – USFWS – Visitor center. Greenback cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Wyoming toad.
  • Mission: Wolf, Westcliffe – Carnivore – Tours – Wolves. Visitors are considered “day volunteers”.
  • Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center, River Campus, Pueblo – Birds – Raptor Center.
  • Rocky Mountain Adventures Fort Collins Store, Fort Collins – Store, Birds - RMA uses pigeons to transport film and SD cards from people on adventures back to their store, where they get the photos ready by the time you're back. At the store, you can meet the pigeons and see the coop.
  • Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge, Commerce City – Carnivore - Have a few black-footed ferrets that are viewable. Home to National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center.
  • Standley Lake Regional Park Nature Center, Westminster – NC – Herps.
  • Wild Bear Nature Center, Nederland – NC – A few live animals. Working on building a new facility.
  • Wyman Living History Ranch & Museum, Craig – LH Museum – An elk, domestics.
  • Zoo Chateau, Golden – Lodge – Currently CLOSED while looking for a new location.
Better places to see domestics:
  • Farm at Lee Martinez Park, Fort Collins – Petting Zoo – Town park with petting zoo, domestics.
  • Laughing Valley Ranch, Santa’s Southern Reindeer Ranch, Idaho Springs – Petting Zoo – AKA Red Tail’s Old West Burro Farm & Petting Zoo. LH Museum? Domestics, reindeer.
  • North Pole Santa’s Workshop, Cascade – Theme Park – Seasonal – Reindeer.
  • Wishing Star Farm, Calhan – Farm Park – Petting zoo, small rides.
Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver – NH Museum – AAM – Dioramas. No live animals? Smithsonian Affiliate, Museums For All.
  • May Museum / May Natural History Museum / John May Museum Center, Colorado Springs – NH Museum – Insects.
  • Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder – NH Museum.
  • University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder – NH Museum – No live animals.
There's also 17 state fish hatcheries:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
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There is also the Reborn Animal Refuge in Strasburg, Colorado. The facility has mostly domestics but also 11 wolf hybrids with the long-term goal to rescue native animals.

Reborn Animal Refuge of Colorado
Reborn Animal Refuge
 
MAINE

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • DEW Haven / Maine Zoo, Mt Vernon – Zoo – Seasonal.
  • Kisma Preserve, Trenton – Carnivore, Camping – Tours – Tours year round, regular hours in summer. Camping available. Wolves, bears, lynx.
  • Maine State Aquarium, West Boothbay Harbor – Aquarium – Seasonal – Local species. Has been closed for a few years, reopens June 28 2023.
  • Maine Wildlife Park, Gray – Zoo, Hatchery – Seasonal – Native species. Run by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Also home to Dry Mills hatchery.
  • York’s Wild Kingdom, York – Zoo, Theme Park – Seasonal – ZAA – Train, paddle boats, ferris wheel, rides for kids.
Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center, Amity – NC – Tours – Rehab, rescue animals. Very little info on.
  • Birdsacre, Ellsworth – NC – Wildlife sanctuary with trails, NC with birds, ornithologist Cordelia J. Stanwood homestead has bird taxidermy.
  • Center For Wildlife, Cape Neddick – NC – Appointment – BOP, herps, fish.
  • Coastal Children’s Museum, Knox – Museum, live animals – Touch tank, a few aquariums.
  • Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery, East Orland – Hatchery – Seasonal – USFWS – Atlantic salmon.
  • Discovery Wharf at MCCF (Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries), Stonington – Aquarium – Seasonal – Touch tank of local species.
  • Dorr Museum of Natural History, Bar Harbor – NH Museum, live animals – Touch tank of local species. College of the Atlantic.
  • Green Lake National Fish Hatchery, Ellsworth – Hatchery – USFWS – Atlantic salmon.
  • Maine Art Glass Butterfly and Insect Museum, Lisbon Falls – Insects – Live and preserved specimens.
  • Maine Discovery Museum, Bangor – Museum, live animals – Herps.
  • The Oceanarium and Education Center, Bar Harbor – Aquarium – Seasonal – Formerly Mount Desert Oceanarium. Located in Acadia National Park.
  • Saco River Wildlife Center, Limington – Rescue – Events – Smaller mammals.
Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • L.C. Bates Museum, Hinckley – NH Museum – Early 1900s NH museum.
  • Northern Maine Museum of Science, Presque Isle – NH Museum – Collection includes a passenger pigeon.
  • Project Puffin Visitor Center, Rockland – NC – Seasonal – No live animals but lots of information, films, shop.

State Fish Hatcheries: Hatcheries: Fish & Wildlife: Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Downeast Fisheries Trail: Home - Downeast Fisheries Trail
 
TinoPup said:
Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center, Amity – NC – Tours – Rehab, rescue animals. Very little info on.
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Are you sure the A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center in Maine is still open? According to a Facebook group, it closed down in early July 2021 due to a variety of factors.

Spruce Acres Refuge | Just would like everyone to know that as of this spring we are officially closed to the public.Due to a lot of issues including lack of support,lack o...
 
TinoPup said:
MAINE

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • DEW Haven / Maine Zoo, Mt Vernon – Zoo – Seasonal.
  • Kisma Preserve, Trenton – Carnivore, Camping – Tours – Tours year round, regular hours in summer. Camping available. Wolves, bears, lynx.
  • Maine State Aquarium, West Boothbay Harbor – Aquarium – Seasonal – Local species. Has been closed for a few years, reopens June 28 2023.
  • Maine Wildlife Park, Gray – Zoo, Hatchery – Seasonal – Native species. Run by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Also home to Dry Mills hatchery.
  • York’s Wild Kingdom, York – Zoo, Theme Park – Seasonal – ZAA – Train, paddle boats, ferris wheel, rides for kids.
Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center, Amity – NC – Tours – Rehab, rescue animals. Very little info on.
  • Birdsacre, Ellsworth – NC – Wildlife sanctuary with trails, NC with birds, ornithologist Cordelia J. Stanwood homestead has bird taxidermy.
  • Center For Wildlife, Cape Neddick – NC – Appointment – BOP, herps, fish.
  • Coastal Children’s Museum, Knox – Museum, live animals – Touch tank, a few aquariums.
  • Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery, East Orland – Hatchery – Seasonal – USFWS – Atlantic salmon.
  • Discovery Wharf at MCCF (Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries), Stonington – Aquarium – Seasonal – Touch tank of local species.
  • Dorr Museum of Natural History, Bar Harbor – NH Museum, live animals – Touch tank of local species. College of the Atlantic.
  • Green Lake National Fish Hatchery, Ellsworth – Hatchery – USFWS – Atlantic salmon.
  • Maine Art Glass Butterfly and Insect Museum, Lisbon Falls – Insects – Live and preserved specimens.
  • Maine Discovery Museum, Bangor – Museum, live animals – Herps.
  • The Oceanarium and Education Center, Bar Harbor – Aquarium – Seasonal – Formerly Mount Desert Oceanarium. Located in Acadia National Park.
  • Saco River Wildlife Center, Limington – Rescue – Events – Smaller mammals.
Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • L.C. Bates Museum, Hinckley – NH Museum – Early 1900s NH museum.
  • Northern Maine Museum of Science, Presque Isle – NH Museum – Collection includes a passenger pigeon.
  • Project Puffin Visitor Center, Rockland – NC – Seasonal – No live animals but lots of information, films, shop.

State Fish Hatcheries: Hatcheries: Fish & Wildlife: Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Downeast Fisheries Trail: Home - Downeast Fisheries Trail
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The Children's Museum and Center of Maine has an aquarium gallery and the Center For Wildlife is now open to the public Thursday-Sunday, in addition to the raptors, herps, and fishes they have some mammals including microbats.
 
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New facility in Idaho - Twin Falls Zoological Center, Twin Falls. Inside Magic Valley Mall. Mostly herps, a few aquatics and birds, chinchillas and a crested porcupine.
 
SeaQuest Stonecrest in Georgia is now closed but the storefront is supposed to be reopening under new ownership in a couple of months. I wonder if it will just become a Blue Zoo?

Also Georgia is missing the Fernbank Science Center which is completely unrelated to the Fernbank Museum. I've been there and its a free kiddie museum that also has a few live animals.
 
MARYLAND

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons – Aquarium, Museum – AAM – Otters, some fish and sharks. Museums For All.
  • Catoctin Wildlife Preserve, Thurmont – Zoo – Seasonal – ZAA – Have a safari section in the back, you must ride a wagon. Separate charge.
  • Delmarva Discovery Museum, Pocomoke City – Aquarium, Museum – Otters, native fish and herps.
  • Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Baltimore – Zoo – AZA – Tram from entrance to middle of zoo, train that goes around a few domestic yards. KultureCity.
  • National Aquarium, Baltimore – Aquarium – AZA – Bottlenose dolphins. KultureCity.
  • Plumpton Park Zoo, Rising Sun – Zoo.
  • Salisbury Zoological Park, Salisbury – Zoo – AZAptm – Mostly species from the Americas. Formerly AZA. Free.

Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, Abingdon – NC – Native herps, fish. Otter Point Creek.
  • Bear Branch Nature Center, Westminster – NC – BOP, herps. In Hashawha Environmental Center.
  • Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton – NC – Live animals.
  • Burleigh Manor, Ellicott City – Rescue – Domestics, deer.
  • Carrie Murray Nature Center, Baltimore – NC – Herps, birds. In Gwynns Falls Leakin Park.
  • Catoctin Creek Park and Nature Center, Middletown – NC – Live animals.
  • Chesapeake Biological Laboratory Visitor Center, Solomons – Aquarium – Seasonal – Oyster reef aquarium, info on research, the bay, dolphin watch.
  • Clearwater Nature Center, Clinton – NC – Herps, birds.
  • Croydon Creek Nature Center, Rockville– NC – Herps, birds.
  • Glen Echo Park Aquarium, Glen Echo – Aquarium – Tiny aquarium in one room.
  • Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills – NC – 60+ ambassadors, Robert L. Mardiney Aviary.
  • Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville – NC – BOP.
  • Oregon Ridge Nature Center, Cockeysville – NC – A few herps.
  • Robinson Nature Center, Columbia – NC – A few herps.
  • Susquehannock Wildlife Center, Darlington – NC – Research and rescue currently building/renovating a nature center for the public in Hopkins Branch Wildlife Management Area.
  • Watkins Nature Center, Kettering – NC – Herps, BOP.
  • Willow Grove Nature Education Center, Parkville – NC – Herps, birds, opossum.
  • Work Horse Farm, Denton – Petting Zoo – Some ungulates in a yard with a few small carnivores, marsupials, etc. in a barn.

Better places to see domestics:
  • Green Meadows Petting Farm, Ijamsville – Farm Park – Seasonal – Domestics.
Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • Natural History Society of Maryland, Baltimore – NH Museum – Small museum with limited public hours.
  • Patuxent Research Refuge Visitor Center / National Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel – NH Museum - NC-type place with no live captive animals. VC has store, library, big exhibit about native wildlife on the brink. Raise monarchs May-Oct.


State Fish Hatcheries: https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/pages/hatcheries/index.aspx
 
I've always felt that there was so much potential for public wildlife displays at Patuxent - they have some captive wildlife, but nothing for the public to see. Considering the role that the facility had in saving the whooping crane, for example, I think it would be cool if they had a big, beautiful crane habitat for the public to see. Alas...
 
Aardwolf said:
I've always felt that there was so much potential for public wildlife displays at Patuxent - they have some captive wildlife, but nothing for the public to see. Considering the role that the facility had in saving the whooping crane, for example, I think it would be cool if they had a big, beautiful crane habitat for the public to see. Alas...
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I really wish they would! It's such a nice facility, their displays are fantastic, and everyone there I spoke to was very friendly and knowledgeable.
 
TinoPup said:
I really wish they would! It's such a nice facility, their displays are fantastic, and everyone there I spoke to was very friendly and knowledgeable.
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It is, with such excellent history. I had originally ben under the assumption that they didn't have animals after the crane program ended (that was around the time when whooping cranes went from almost non-existent to very prevalent within AZA as they hurried to place them all), but I do occasionally see job postings looking for keepers for their sea duck colony.
 
Aardwolf said:
It is, with such excellent history. I had originally ben under the assumption that they didn't have animals after the crane program ended (that was around the time when whooping cranes went from almost non-existent to very prevalent within AZA as they hurried to place them all), but I do occasionally see job postings looking for keepers for their sea duck colony.
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SEA DUCK COLONY?!
 
TinoPup said:
INDIANA

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, Albion – Rescue – Seasonal – GFAS, BCSA – Felids, bears, primates, birds.
  • Columbian Park Zoo, Lafayette – Zoo – Seasonal – Small zoo.
  • Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park – Shipshewana – Safari – Seasonal – Drive through or ride on group wagon.
  • Exotic Feline Rescue Center, Center Point – Carnivore – All felids.
  • Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Fort Wayne – Zoo – Seasonal – AZA, WAZA – Train, skyfari, boat ride around Australia area. KultureCity.
  • Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis – Zoo, Aquarium – AZA, WAZA – Train, skyfari, roller coaster, dolphin show.
  • Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Evansville – Zoo – AZA – Tram, paddle boats. KultureCity.
  • Potawatomi Zoo, South Bend – Zoo – Seasonal – AZA – Train. KultureCity.
  • Red Wolf Sanctuary, Rising Sun – Carnivore – Tours – No red wolves! Gray wolf, coyote, bobcat, foxes, black bear, BOP.
  • Washington Park Zoo, Michigan City – Zoo – Seasonal – ZAA – Small Zoo.
  • Wildlife in Need, Charlestown – CLOSED (Tim Stark).
  • Wilstem Wildlife Park, Paoli – Safari, Lodge – Have free contact with elephants. Horseback riding. Cabins. USDA violations.
  • Zoo’Opolis Exotic Petting World, Zoo’Opolis Bird Park, Nashville – CLOSED?

Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Atlantis Aquatic Gardens, Terre Haute – Store, Zoo – Aquatic store that has a small zoo with serval, herps, other small mammals, birds.
  • Buffalo Trace Park, Palmyra – Petting Zoo – Domestics, deer.
  • Cool Creek Park Nature Center, Carmel – NC – Mostly herps.
  • Eagle Creek Park Earth Discovery Center, Indianapolis – NC – Herps, fish.
  • Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center, Indianapolis – Birds – BOP.
  • Gas City Park, Gas City – Petting Zoo – Domestics, deer.
  • Hobson Adventure Farm, Rockville – Farm Park – Seasonal – Porcupine, fox, herps, domestics.
  • Joseph Moore Museum, Richmond – NH Museum, live animals – AAM – Herps. Earlham College.
  • Kirkendall Nature Center, Kokomo – NC – Herps, fish.
  • Luhr County Park Nature Center, La Porte – NC – Live animals.
  • Ouabache State Park, Bluffton – Ungulate – Bison.
  • Paynetown State Recreation Area Activity Center, Bloomington – NC – Herps.
  • Pokagon Interpretive Center, Angola – NC – Herps.
  • Potato Creek State Park Nature Center, North Liberty – NC – Herps.
  • Salamonie Interpretive and Nature Center, Andrews – NC – BOP.
  • Wild Winds Buffalo Preserves, Fremont – Ungulate, Lodge – Bison farm tours year round. Lodge.
  • Wolf Creek Habitat & Rescue, Brookville – Carnivore – Observation deck is free, cost to go in with packs.
  • Wolf Park, Battle Ground – Carnivore – Tours – Wolves, bison.
  • Zao Island, Valparaiso – Theme Park, Herps – Alligators. Mini golf, go karts, laser tag, arcade.
Better places to see domestics:
  • Fair Oaks Farms, Fair Oaks – Museum, Petting Zoo – Ag museums, domestics.
  • Squire Boone Caverns, Mauckport – Petting Zoo, Cave – Domestics in petting zoo. Cave tours.
  • Sunset Hill Farm County Park, Valparaiso – Petting Zoo – Domestics.
  • TPA Park, Frankfort – Petting Zoo, Birds – Domestics petting zoo, aviary with pheasants, etc.
Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • Sheets Wildlife Museum, Huntington – NH Museum – Small taxidermy museum with trophies.

State Fish Hatcheries: Cikana State Fish Hatchery from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife
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There is also a discovery center in Brown County State Park, “Brown County State Park Nature Center,” it holds 8 reptile species (I have a species list if wanted) and koi
 
MASSACHUSETTS

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Animal Adventures Family Zoo, Bolton – Zoo – “Rescue” zoo converted from a house. A few rare species. Pet most of them.
  • Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield – Aquarium, NH Museum – 35+ aquarium tanks. Beautiful gallery of native species. Museums For All.
  • Blue Hills Trailside Museum, Lincoln – NC – BOP, otters, foxes, deer, herps. Part of Mass Audubon.
  • Buttonwood Park Zoo, New Bedford – Zoo – AZA – Train. KultureCity.
  • Capron Park Zoo, Attleboro – Zoo – AZA.
  • EcoTarium, Worcester – Museum, live animals – Puma, otters, a few BOP and smaller species. Science museum with some NH sections. Trails. Museums For All.
  • Franklin Park Zoo, Boston – Zoo – AZA – KultureCity.
  • Lupa Zoo, Ludlow – Zoo – Seasonal – “Train”. KultureCity.
  • Museum of Science, Boston – Museum, live animals – AZA, AAM – Tamarins, insects, native species, birds, herps. Dioramas, trophy room, dog sculptures, science stuff. Museums For All.
  • New England Aquarium, Boston – Aquarium – AZA, AAM – Large aquarium with multiple pinnipeds. Whale watching tours. KultureCity.
  • Southwick’s Zoo, Mendon – Zoo – Seasonal – ZAA – Train goes around elk pasture. Skyfari makes a triangle over part of zoo.
  • Stone Zoo, Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo, Stoneham – Zoo – AZA – KultureCity.
  • Woods Hole Science Aquarium, Woods Hole – Aquarium – Possibly the USA’s oldest aquarium. Sea turtle, native fishes, harbor seal.
  • Zoo in Forest Park, Springfield – Zoo – ZAA – Mostly natives, leopard, wallaby, lemurs.

Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, New Marlborough – Hatchery – USFWS – Brook trout, lake trout.
  • Butterfly Place, Westford – Insects – Seasonal.
  • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster – NH Museum, Aquarium.
  • Cronin Aquatic Resource Center / Richard Cronin National Salmon Station, Sunderland – Hatchery – USFWS – Brook floater, blue herring, freshwater mussels.
  • Curious Creatures, Groveland – Traveling – Seasonal – Offer barn tours in summer.
  • Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, Lincoln – NC – Domestics, BOP, fox.
  • Look Memorial Park, Christenson Wildlife Center/Zoo, Florence – NC – Domestics, fallow deer, rescue BOP.
  • Maria Mitchell Complex, Nantucket – Aquarium, NC – Home to the Maria Mitchell Aquarium (tiny), Maria Mitchell Natural Science Museum (herps, possibly birds), and Maria Mitchell Research Center. Several other buildings.
  • North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery, North Attleboro – Hatchery – USFWS – Brook trout, American shad, freshwater mussels.
  • Springfield Science Museum, Springfield – Museum – A few fish tanks, herps? Small complex of tiny museums.
  • Wolf Hollow, North American Wolf Foundation, Ipswich – Carnivore – Tours – Gray wolves.

Better places to see domestics:
  • Davis Farmland Discovery Farm, Sterling – Farm Park – Mostly domestics, a few deer and semi-domestics (yak, water buffalo, etc).
  • Green Hill Farm, Worcester – Park – Park with domestics. No petting allowed.
  • North Attleboro WWI Memorial Park, North Attleboro – Park – Domestics, deer. No petting.
  • Red Apple Farm, Phillipston – Farm Park, Store – You-Pick farm with domestics, store, wagon rides, etc.
  • Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary, Norton – Rescue – Domestics.
Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge – NH Museum.
  • Shark Center Chatham, Chatham – Museum – Small museum run by Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
  • Shark Center Provincetown, Provincetown – Museum – Seasonal – Small museum run by Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

State Fish Hatcheries: https://www.mass.gov/masswildlife-trout-stocking-program
 
TinoPup said:
  • Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary, Norton – Rescue – Domestics.
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TinoPup said:
  • North Attleboro WWI Memorial Park, North Attleboro – Park – Domestics, deer. No petting.
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Just a quick note: Both of these places have a handful of non-domestic species. Both have (or at least in recent years did have) emu, and the WWI Park in North Attleborough (yes, I know it's confusing, but despite it being "North" of Attleboro, North Attleborough did not drop the "ugh") has peafowl and some pheasants as well (plus the aforementioned deer). Winslow Farm also has spurred tortoises.
TinoPup said:
  • Woods Hole Science Aquarium, Woods Hole – Aquarium – Possibly the USA’s oldest aquarium. Sea turtle, native fishes, harbor seal.
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Since when did Woods Hole have a sea turtle? I don't remember them ever having one.

As far as smaller nature centers go, Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary in Attleboro has a *very* small nature center with a few turtle species.
 
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