Northwest Trek Wildlife Park Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Northwest Trek has not had its famous tram tours running for a while now, but the good news is that this summer will mark the debut of Wildlife Discovery Tours. A new Tour Station is being built, and the old propane trams are gone and they will be replaced by much quieter electric trams made in Portugal. The link below claims that "we'll be the first place in the U.S. to feature them".

Electric Trams - Northwest Trek

Also, the small yet charming Cheney Discovery Center was recently remodeled and it reopened to the public this week:

CHENEY DISCOVERY CENTER REOPENS MAY 3 - Northwest Trek
 
Other 2022 News:

On February 23rd, the park announced that a (1.0) moose named Birch passed away at 8 months old due to a sudden decline in health.*

Log into Facebook
Loss of Beloved Moose Birch - Northwest Trek

On April 29th, the park announced that a (0.1) wolverine named Ahma recently had surgery to remove both her eyes after being diagnosed with lens luxation. She is doing well and the facility has taken extra renovations to her exhibit.

Log into Facebook

On June 13th, the park announced that (0.0.2) Roosevelt elk were born.

Log into Facebook

On July 11th, the park announced they have acquired a (1.0) American marten named Forest. It has been 20+ years since the facility held the species, and he is now on exhibit.

Log into Facebook
Meet Our American Marten - Northwest Trek

On August 17th, the park announced they have acquired (1.2) Alaskan moose named Atlus, Luna, and Callisto, from the Alaska Zoo and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in mid-August and will join the Free-Roaming area soon.

Baby Moose Alert! | We are so excited to announce that we are now home to three Alaskan moose calves! The three calves were found orphaned in the wild earlier this summer... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook
THREE ORPHANED MOOSE CALVES ARRIVE - Northwest Trek

On August 18th, the park announced that they have released (0.0.100+) northern leopard frogs into the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge.

Northwest Trek Releases Endangered Northern Leopard Frogs | Hundreds of endangered northern leopard frogs were released at the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge this week! The releases were made possible by a... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook

*The park acquired Birch from the Alaska Zoo in November 2021.
**Births at the park I might have missed include black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, and trumpeter swan.
 
I have not seen it mentioned here, but to my knowledge this is the only zoo in the United States to have barren-ground caribou (they also have woodland caribou).

Does anybody have more information on the zoo’s history with this subspecies?
 
Smaggledagle said:
On August 17th, the park announced they have acquired (1.2) Alaskan moose named Atlus, Luna, and Callisto, from the Alaska Zoo and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in mid-August and will join the Free-Roaming area soon.

Baby Moose Alert! | We are so excited to announce that we are now home to three Alaskan moose calves! The three calves were found orphaned in the wild earlier this summer... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook
THREE ORPHANED MOOSE CALVES ARRIVE - Northwest Trek
Click to expand...

On January 26th, 2023, the zoo announced that the moose made their public debut, though they were moved off exhibit in early March. They returned on exhibit on May 26th.

Exciting news! Our three... - Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
Calli, our smallest... - Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
Moose calves splash around | The moose calves Atlas, Calli and Luna are back in the Free-Roaming Area! Book a tour that explores our 435-acre area to view the moose, mountain... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook

On May 9th, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) striped skunk named Sundew/Dewey from the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C. which is now on exhibit.

https://www.nwtrek.org/sundew-exam/
Meet baby skunk Dewey! | Meet one of our newest, and cutest, family members, Sundew, or Dewey! Dewey received his first wellness exam and is a healthy, one-year-old male skunk.... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook

On May 23rd, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) garter snake (species not specified) named Macha which is now on exhibit in the Cheney Discovery Center.

Meet Matcha the Garter Snake | Introducing Matcha! This little garter snake is cautiously curious, sleek and agile. Matcha immediately explored the new pool in the habitat and keepers... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook

On June 6th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) common raccoon named McKenna passed away at age 12 due to bladder cancer.

It is with heavy hearts... - Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

On June 8th, the zoo announced that (0.0.2+?) black-tailed deer and (0.0.2+?) trumpeter swans were born/hatched.

Get ready for cuteness... - Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

On June 26th, the zoo announced that (0.0.6) Roosevelt elk were born and are now on exhibit in the Free-Roaming Area.

Baby Elk Calves | Adorable Alert! We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest residents. Six tiny elk calves can be seen frolicking with the elk herd in the... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook[/QUOTE]
 
Northwest Trek has a new species that has never been on display at the park before...a Hoary Marmot. In fact, it's rare to see marmots in zoos anywhere. The animal will be located in the 'Forest & Wetlands' area, next to species such as River Otters, Raccoons, Beavers, Porcupines, Badgers and Striped Skunks.

Here's an interesting blog all about the new arrival:

Marmot from Mount Rainier National Parks Joins Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
 
3 Pieces of Late 2023 News Not Mentioned:
On September 5th, the zoo announced that they bred and released (0.0.~300) northern leopard frogs into the wild.

Endangered northern leopard frogs released into the wild | Nearly 300 endangered northern leopard frogs, hand-raised at Northwest Trek from tiny tadpoles to healthy frogs, were released into the wild last week to... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife ParkFacebook
Endangered Northern Leopard Frogs Return to the Wild | Northwest Trek

On October 13th, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) Pacific tree frog named Ghost after being found with an injured hind leg in the Eagle Passage area which is now on display in the Cheney Discovery Center.

"Ghost" the Tree Frog Makes Debut | Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

On November 6th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.2) American bison named Cloudy and Frosty the week prior which are on exhibit.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
New Bison Yearlings Receive Health Exam | Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On February 7th, 2024, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) American beaver named Hudson from an unspecified facility in New York which is now on exhibit.

Meet our new beaver, Hudson! | Just in time for our Wild Valentine’s Weekend event, Hudson, an adorable 7-year-old beaver from New York, joins Chip, our 17-year-old female beaver, in... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife ParkFacebook
Meet Our New Beaver, Hudson! Chip's New Buddy | Northwest Trek
 
On June 13th, the zoo announced they bred and released 200 northern leopard frogs into the wild.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
snowleopard said:
Northwest Trek has a new species that has never been on display at the park before...a Hoary Marmot. In fact, it's rare to see marmots in zoos anywhere. The animal will be located in the 'Forest & Wetlands' area, next to species such as River Otters, Raccoons, Beavers, Porcupines, Badgers and Striped Skunks.

Here's an interesting blog all about the new arrival:

Marmot from Mount Rainier National Parks Joins Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
Click to expand...

On May 15th, the zoo announced that the hoary marmot, named Chestnut, passed away on May 14th due to a sudden illness.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

On May 28th, the zoo announced that an elk was born which is on exhibit. On July 5th, the zoo announced that 4 more elks were born which are on exhibit.

The first elk calf of the season was born over the weekend! The adorable calf is staying close to mom and doing well. : Keeper Deanna | By Northwest Trek Wildlife ParkFacebook
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
 
2 Pieces of May 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On May 9th, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) trumpeter swan named Trillium which is on exhibit. The zoo also announced that a (1.0) trumpeter swan named Reed passed away.

10K views · 661 reactions | Meet Trillium! This graceful new trumpeter swan has joined longtime resident Lily on Horseshoe Lake. After Lily’s companion Reed passed away, we hoped... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook
New Feathered Friends - Northwest Trek

On May 26th, the zoo announced they renovated the frog/newt exhibit inside the Cheney Center.

11K views · 351 reactions | Our newly renovated frog and newt habitat is glorious! ✨ : Keeper Kameron | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haliaeetus said:
Birth of 1 American Bison
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park on Instagram: "An American bison calf made a memorable entrance over Memorial Day weekend! ❤️ The adorable bison baby was born just six days ago in the Free-Roaming Area, a delightful addition we are so thrilled to welcome. The young calf is already showing off its spirited little personality, trotting around and exploring its surroundings with curiosity while staying close to its mom, Sunny. "
Click to expand...

On June 12th, the zoo announced that the bison was sexed as (1.0) and named Samson.

29K views · 1.5K reactions | Baby bison zoomies alert! Meet Samson, the newest (and speediest) member of our Free-Roaming Area herd. Born over Memorial Day Weekend, this fluffy... | By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park | Facebook

On June 13th, the zoo announced that 2+ Roosevelt elk and 2+ black-tailed deer were born which are now on exhibit.

Spot baby animals in the Free-Roaming Area - Northwest Trek

* Worth noting, the zoo acquired 2 common raccoons named Bluebell and Hickory from Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, and a (0.1) striped skunk named Marigold in September. The zoo also announced that a (0.1) American bison was born in early November, a (0.1) cougar named Carly passed away at age 15 due to advanced kidney failure in late December, and the zoo released ~400 northern leopard frogs into the wild in August.
 
I visited Northwest Trek Wildlife Park yesterday and it was my 6th visit all-time (2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2023, 2025). I was last there a couple of years ago and I posted a full review on my Snowleopard's 2023 Road Trip thread:

Snowleopard's 2023 Road Trip: California, Arizona & Oregon - ZooChat

I always think it's a bit surreal that way back in 1994 the park had 210,000 visitors, and in 2020 the park had 210,000 visitors. There haven't been many changes over the years (an impressive playground and Bald Eagle aviary notwithstanding), but it's still a very nice zoo with excellent animal exhibits.

I only have one substantial update, as the Tram Tour was closed during my 2023 visit and therefore, I hadn't taken the ride in 13 years.

For decades, the zoo offered up a Tram Tour that was almost an hour long in length, literally 55 minutes when I was there in 2012. The vehicles always reminded me of buses, and they could be quite noisy going through a portion of the 435-acre hoofstock area. The new electric trams made their debut in 2024, they are much quieter and smaller, and the tour is approximately 40 minutes long. One neat change is that the new ones have skylights.

Even though my family and I really enjoyed the 'new' Tram Tour, there was definitely a lack of animals all these years later. We saw the zoo's only Trumpeter Swan, 3 Rocky Mountain Goats, at least a dozen Roosevelt Elk, 3 Woodland Caribou and maybe 10 Black-tailed Deer. We didn't see any Moose, but the park has only two and in 435 acres that makes things challenging. ;) However, seeing only a single American Bison was down a lot from the minimum of 15 I saw before, and the driver did mention that the herd had decreased in recent times. Lastly, I saw 25 Bighorn Sheep in 2012 and none this time around.
 
Last edited:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top