Dogwood Park Zoo: Carolina Trail 'Nature Discovery Center' Concept

The Nature Discovery Center is a large complex in the Dogwood Park Zoo's Carolina Trail exhibit region. It showcases smaller species native to North Carolina from the mountains to the coastal plain while themed displays interpret natural history and ongoing conservation efforts. Other features include a glass tunnel under the gamefish aquarium, propagation lab for freshwater mussels, a classroom for educational programs, and a large walkthrough beaver pond aviary displaying waterfowl and songbirds.

Gallery 1

1. Appalachian Brook Crayfish
2. Brook Trout
3. Eastern Hellbender; Bluehead Chub; Creek Chubsucker; Greenfin Shiner; Greenside Darter; Northern Hogsucker; Rosyside Dace; Spottail Shiner; Yellowfin Shiner
4. River Cooter; Black Crappie; Bluegill; Brown Bullhead; Golden Shiner; Longear Sunfish; Longnose Gar; Pumpkinseed; Redbreast Sunfish; Shortnose Sturgeon

Gallery 2

5. Spotted Turtle
6. Cottonmouth
7. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
8. Rough Green Snake
9. Broad-headed Skink; Eastern Box Turtle
10. Copperhead; Timber Rattlesnake
11. Corn Snake; Eastern Rat Snake

Freshwater Mussel Propagation Lab:

(Visible through large picture window)
-Eastern Creekshell
-Eastern Elliptio
-Eastern Lampmussel
-Roanoke Slabshell
-Wavy-rayed Lampmussel

Nature Classroom:

(Three aquariums built into wall)
-Cape Fear Shiner
-Neuse River Waterdog
-Carolina Madtom

Gallery 3:

12a. Cope's Gray Tree Frog; Ornate Chorus Frog
12b. Pine Barrens Tree Frog
12c. Eastern Newt
13a. Scarlet Kingsnake
13b. Red Salamander
13c. Marbled Salamander
14a. Southern Black Widow
14b. Southern Unstriped Scorpion
15. Carolina Gopher Frog; Southern Toad; Tiger Salamander
16. Eastern Glass Lizard; Pygmy Rattlesnake

Indoor Raptor Habitats:

-American Kestrel
-Eastern Screech-owl

Outdoor Habitat:

-North American River Otter

Walkthrough Beaver Pond Aviary:

-American Beaver; Painted Turtle
-Free-flight Birds: American Coot; American Redstart; Baltimore Oriole; Blue Jay; Blue-winged Teal; Carolina Wren; Common Yellowthroat; Hooded Merganser; Killdeer; Louisiana Waterthrush; Mourning Dove; Northern Bobwhite; Northern Cardinal; Northern Pintail; Red-bellied Woodpecker; Red-winged Blackbird; Ruddy Duck; Sora; Spotted Sandpiper; Wood Duck; Wood Thrush

Mammals: 2
Birds: 23
Reptiles: 15
Amphibians: 11
Fish: 20
Invertebrates: 8
Total: 79

Please let me know what you think and of any suggestions. I am thinking of adding a Bobcat habitat separate from the nature center along the boardwalk between the entrance and exit.

I've decided that the Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) in the Gamefish Aquarium (labeled 4) will be replaced by Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens).