MacKenzie Center MacKenzie Center Full Species List

[birdsandbats]

Date of Visit: December 4 2021

Species not seen in italics

1. American Bison
2. American Bison
3. White-tailed Deer
4. White-tailed Deer
5. Gray Wolf
6. Gray Wolf
7. Wood Turtle (off exhibit for the winter)
8. Red-tailed Hawk
9. Barred Owl
10. Great Horned Owl
11. Canada Lynx
12. Eastern Cottontail
13. Turkey Vulture
14. Bald Eagle
15. Red Fox
16. Common Raven

 

[DavidBrown]

What is the MacKensie Center and where is it? From the species list, it looks like it is a native species zoo?

 

[snowleopard]

What is the MacKensie Center and where is it? From the species list, it looks like it is a native species zoo?

It is yet another obscure little Wisconsin zoo. Here is an excerpt from my Snowleopard's 2018 Road Trip thread:

Leaving Illinois, I headed 1.5 hours north to an obscure zoo called MacKenzie Center (Poynette, WI), as its listed on most signs, and it is also known as 'MacKenzie Environmental Center' in a couple of other locations. I didn't really know what to expect, which seems to be the case with many of these unknown zoos, and first had to leave the main highway and pass through the town of Poynette (pop. 2,500). Then I drove out of town for a few miles, turned down a side road and found a large parking lot. Disembarking from my vehicle I immediately came upon a group of Harley Davidson aficionados, as they were using the area as a resting spot before hitting the road again. Lots of long hair, tattoos, bulging muscles, black outfits and at least 20 individuals. I proceeded down a rocky path into the forest and encountered a couple of large paddocks and then deep into the woods I came across a mini-zoo all laid out in a loop and with wood-and-wire cages. What an extraordinary setting!

Species list (11 species): Plains Bison, White-tailed Deer, Grey Wolf, Red Fox, Canada Lynx, American Badger, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl and Turkey Vulture.

 

[birdsandbats]

What is the MacKensie Center and where is it? From the species list, it looks like it is a native species zoo?

It's in Poynette, Wisconsin and it's run by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The property is mainly used a game farm but they also also have a small native species zoo.

 

[birdsandbats]

Update:

Date of Visit: July 26 2023

Species not seen in italics

1. American Bison
2. American Bison
3. White-tailed Deer
4. White-tailed Deer
5. Gray Wolf
6. Gray Wolf
7. Wood Turtle
8. Red-tailed Hawk
9. Barred Owl
10. Great Horned Owl
11. Eastern Cottontail
12. Turkey Vulture
13. Bald Eagle
14. Red Fox
15. Common Raven