Where to see captive animals in the USA

I got the abbreviation backwards it's NALZ. The organization trying to raise money/put together funding for a zoo in the Huntsville area. It mostly seems like a joke from their publicly available financials and the way they are going about setting everything up.
 
tschandler71 said:
I got the abbreviation backwards it's NALZ. The organization trying to raise money/put together funding for a zoo in the Huntsville area. It mostly seems like a joke from their publicly available financials and the way they are going about setting everything up.
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How does it seem like a joke?
 
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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Btw everyone, BOP is birds of prey, not birds of paradise
 
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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For a state often cited as being amongst the most biodiverse in the US, I hoped there would be better offerings for native and endemic wildlife, although I suppose it is expected, it is Alabama after all.

I look forward to reading the lists for the rest of the states, especially to read about the little-known places.
 
ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
For a state often cited as being amongst the most biodiverse in the US, I hoped there would be better offerings for native and endemic wildlife, although I suppose it is expected, it is Alabama after all.

I look forward to reading the lists for the rest of the states, especially to read about the little-known places.
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When zoo nerds arrive in the United States from overseas, they quite often head exclusively to one of the 'big three' American states for zoos: California, Texas and Florida. If not one of those locations, then the next tier would likely be Ohio, New York and Tennessee. Alabama is low down on the list. :p
 
ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
For a state often cited as being amongst the most biodiverse in the US, I hoped there would be better offerings for native and endemic wildlife, although I suppose it is expected, it is Alabama after all.

I look forward to reading the lists for the rest of the states, especially to read about the little-known places.
Click to expand...

Because those things correlate in a way. Alabama is very rural. Zoos are almost always functional in large cities/municipal areas.

The only major city during the era of zoo building (Birmingham) has more in common with the Rust Belt than the Sun Belt.

Huntsville and Montgomery are closer to generic Sun Belt cities but are starting from lower baselines. Hence Montgomery having a relatively new Zoo and some people trying to get one off the ground in Huntsville.
 
The website has links to various zoos across the world. Hopefully, various Zoochatters will be interested in it.
 
The link I sent referred to zoo institutes in North America. You have every right to choose how you want to post information, but other Zoochatters may want to look at the website, especially for animals in zoos they may not have visited.
 
Dassie rat said:
The link I sent referred to zoo institutes in North America. You have every right to choose how you want to post information, but other Zoochatters may want to look at the website, especially for animals in zoos they may not have visited.
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I am not looking for general lists of zoos. ZAA alone has 65 members, AZA has over 200 in the USA. This thread is for me to post listings of animal facilities in each state. If anyone knows of a facility I have overlooked for that state, wonderful. Adding irrelevant information only creates clutter and confusion in a thread that is going to be long. Alex's website is great for what it is, which is an index of places he has visited and the species held at that time. There are dozens of threads for species listings in different facilities, this isn't one of them.
 
snowleopard said:
When zoo nerds arrive in the United States from overseas, they quite often head exclusively to one of the 'big three' American states for zoos: California, Texas and Florida. If not one of those locations, then the next tier would likely be Ohio, New York and Tennessee. Alabama is low down on the list. :p
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tschandler71 said:
Because those things correlate in a way. Alabama is very rural. Zoos are almost always functional in large cities/municipal areas.

The only major city during the era of zoo building (Birmingham) has more in common with the Rust Belt than the Sun Belt.

Huntsville and Montgomery are closer to generic Sun Belt cities but are starting from lower baselines. Hence Montgomery having a relatively new Zoo and some people trying to get one off the ground in Huntsville.
Click to expand...

Yes, of course, I understand that there is not much demand for major zoos in Alabama and the state is not a major tourist destination. However, the waterways of the state are home to endemic or near endemic species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians, so combined with its geographic location Alabama has a higher species diversity than one would expect. I was remarking on how, from what is listed, there are only a few nature centers reflecting that in the state.
 
ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
Yes, of course, I understand that there is not much demand for major zoos in Alabama and the state is not a major tourist destination. However, the waterways of the state are home to endemic or near endemic species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians, so combined with its geographic location Alabama has a higher species diversity than one would expect. I was remarking on how, from what is listed, there are only a few nature centers reflecting that in the state.
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I read about this while doing my research, and also ended up disappointed in how few nature centers and fish hatcheries there are :(
 
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ALASKA

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Alaska Raptor Center, Sitka – Birds - Flight training center, weathering yard, huge natural netted areas.
  • Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward – Aquarium – AZA – Have rescued native pinnipeds, among others.
  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Girdwood – Zoo - Injured/rescued natives, wood bison reintroduction. Have most of Alaska's native mammal species.
  • Alaska Zoo, Anchorage – Zoo.
  • Juneau Raptor Center, Juneau – Birds.
  • Kodiak Fisheries Research Center Aquarium, Kodiak – Aquarium – Local aquarium with touch tank.
  • Kroschel Wildlife Center, Haines – Zoo, Lodge – Kroschel Films. Now do private tours plus regular hours. Lodging.
  • Pratt Museum, Homer – Museum, Aquarium.
  • Sitka Sound Science Center, Sitka – Aquarium – Science center that’s mainly an aquarium.

Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, Ketchikan – Birds – Seasonal - Seasonal BOP from Alaska Raptor Center. 40 acre forest. See wild bears.
  • American Bald Eagle Foundation, Haines – Birds – BOP, museum.
  • DIPAC Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, Juneau – Hatchery – Hatchery with visitor center.
  • Fortress of the Bear, Sitka – Carnivore – Seasonal – Brown bears only.
  • Large Animal Research Station, Fairbanks – Ungulate – Seasonal – Muskox, reindeer.
  • Musk Ox Farm, Palmer – Ungulate – Muskox.

Better places to see domestics:
  • Archipelago Farms, Fairbanks – Ungulate – Reindeer farm.
  • Reindeer Farm, Palmer – Ungulate – Seasonal – Reindeer farm.
  • Running Reindeer Ranch, Fairbanks – Ungulate – Reindeer Farm.
  • Santa Claus House, North Pole – Ungulate – Seasonal – Reindeer farm.
Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, Homer – NC - No live animals indoors. Large, new interpretive center with a Bering Sea rookery, lots of displays on native species. Many wild birds outside, easy to spot whales, pinnipeds, etc.
  • Alaska Museum of Science & Nature, Anchorage – NH Museum – No live animals.
  • Anchorage APLIC, Anchorage – NC – No live animals. Alaska Public Lands Information Center.
  • Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, Juneau – NC - No live animals, but mountain goats, bears, etc. are frequently outside.
  • Museum of the North, Fairbanks – NH Museum – No live animals.
  • Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, Ketchikan – NH Museum – Run by USDA Forestry Service.
  • Wedgewood Wildlife Sanctuary, Fairbanks – Wild – No captives? But has photography blinds, signage, etc. to aid in wildlife viewing.
 
TinoPup said:
ALASKA

Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris, large Nature Centers, etc:
  • Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward – Aquarium – AZA – Have rescued native pinnipeds, among others.
  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Girdwood – Zoo - Injured/rescued natives, wood bison reintroduction. Have most of Alaska's native mammal species.
  • Alaska Zoo, Anchorage – Zoo.
  • Pratt Museum, Homer – Museum, Aquarium.

Smaller Nature Centers and places with a limited amount of species:
  • Large Animal Research Station, Fairbanks – Ungulate – Seasonal – Muskox, reindeer.
  • Musk Ox Farm, Palmer – Ungulate – Muskox.

Better places to see domestics:
  • Archipelago Farms, Fairbanks – Ungulate – Reindeer farm.
  • Reindeer Farm, Palmer – Ungulate – Seasonal – Reindeer farm.
  • Santa Claus House, North Pole – Ungulate – Seasonal – Reindeer farm.
Natural History Museums and other notable facilities without animals:
  • Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, Homer – NC - No live animals indoors. Large, new interpretive center with a Bering Sea rookery, lots of displays on native species. Many wild birds outside, easy to spot whales, pinnipeds, etc.
  • Alaska Museum of Science & Nature, Anchorage – NH Museum – No live animals.
  • Anchorage APLIC, Anchorage – NC – No live animals. Alaska Public Lands Information Center.
  • Museum of the North, Fairbanks – NH Museum – No live animals.
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Great Job! I have visited many of the facilities you mention. Your inclusion of the Alaska Islands & Oceans Visitor Center might be matched with the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center in Portage and the Denali Visitor Center in Denali Park. Each have model displays similar the the AI&OVC. Denali’s a particularly impressive. The Alaska Museum at Rasmussen Center, in Anchorage has pretty much dispensed of its few natural history exhibits…however they do have a few herps and a touch tank in the Imaginarium room inside the museum. You can also find small museums with natural history displays (taxidermy) in Glenallen, Valdez, Wasilla, and Kenai (Kenai is especially interesting in that most local birds are stuffed and labeled). I’ve only been to the one in Kenai. Lastly the Anchorage Airport has quite a collection itself…the Cook Inlet Beluga display and the Bull Moose are inside the secured area…but a couple of impressive Kodiak Brown Bear dioramas and a pair of mounted Polar Bears can be found in the main terminal, along with other Alaskan Birds, Mammals, and Fishes.

Very nice list…even without including the sporting stores and hotel collections (you can rarely check in without encountering a stuffed Brown Bear standing in the lobby and in one Anchorage Hotel…a Lion) throughout the state.

Well Done.
 
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Pleistohorse said:
Great Job! I have visited many of the facilities you mention. Your inclusion of the Alaska Islands & Oceans Visitor Center might be matched with the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center in Portage and the Denali Visitor Center in Denali Park. Each have model displays similar the the AI&OVC. Denali’s a particularly impressive. The Alaska Museum at Rasmussen Center, in Anchorage has pretty much dispensed of its few natural history exhibits…however they do have a few herps and a touch tank in the Imaginarium room inside the museum. You can also find small museums with natural history displays (taxidermy) in Glenallen, Valdez, Wasilla, and Kenai (Kenai is especially interesting in that most local birds are stuffed and labeled). I’ve only been to the one in Kenai. Lastly the Anchorage Airport has quite a collection itself…the Cook Inlet Beluga display and the Bull Moose are inside the secured area…but a couple of impressive Kodiak Brown Bear dioramas and a pair of mounted Polar Bears can be found in the main terminal, along with other Alaskan Birds, Mammals, and Fishes.

Very nice list…even without including the sporting stores and hotel collections (you can rarely check in without encountering a stuffed Brown Bear standing in the lobby and in one Anchorage Hotel…a Lion) throughout the state.

Well Done.
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Thank you so much! I was hoping you would comment on this one :) I couldn't find much on some of the visitor centers, especially ones like Denali where all of the info is about the park itself (justifiably!) Sounds like a nice airport, too.
 
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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