Zoos, Nature Centers, and other places that are multi-focused or mammal or bird focused:
Amazing Animals, St. Cloud – Petting Zoo – Tours – Sloths, lemurs, foxes, small felids, herps, parrots.
Area 51 Sanctuary, Okeechobee – Rescue – Appointment – Domestics, wallaby, primates, zebra, etc. NOT in Illinois.
Arnold’s Wildlife Rehab Center, Okeechobee – CLOSED.
Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge, Orlando – Rescue – Native species and rescues, including lemurs.
Bearadise Ranch Bear Reserve, Myakka Citty – Carnivore – Tours – Bears. Also do performances at fairs.
Bear Creek Feline Center, Panama City – Carnivore – Tours – Initially say they only deal with FL felids (puma, bobcat, jaguarundi), but also have lynx, serval, asian leopard cat, others.
Big Cat Habitat Gulf Coast Sanctuary, Sarasota – Zoo – Felids, hybrids, apes, primates, other carnivores, etc. "Wolf pack yoga", fox yoga, lemur yoga.
Big Cat Rescue, Tampa – Carnivore – Private – GFAS, BCSA – Currently closed to visitors.
Boyett’s Grove & Citrus Attraction, Brooksville – Store, Petting Zoo – Birds, herps, domestics, some exotic mammals. Mini golf, citrus groves.
Brevard Zoo, Melbourne – Zoo – AZA - Train goes through bongo, grevy's zebra, marabou stork yards, plus camels, ankole. Guided kayak tours through Africa for $10. KultureCity. **Currently building separate aquarium facility.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa – Theme Park, Zoo – AZA, WAZA – Full theme park and zoo. Serengeti is only viewable by train or skyfari. Animals are spread throughout.
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, Jupiter – NC – Large native species center with cougar, black bear, alligator, etc.
Captain Jack’s Airboat Tours, Everglades City – Zoo – Alligators, tigers, lions, etc. Airboat tours.
Conservancy of Southwest Florida Dalton Discovery Center, Naples – NC – Many natives including florida panther, invasive species.
CROW Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Sanibel Island – Rehab – Native species. Visitor education center, live presentations.
Dade City’s Wild Things, Dade City – CLOSED July 2021.
Daggerwing Nature Center, Boca Raton – NC – Herps, BOP, opossum. In Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Bay Lake – Theme Park, Zoo – AZA, WAZA – Full theme park with animals spread throughout most areas. Most of Africa is only accessible by train ride, wagon ride.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Lake Buena Vista – Lodge, Zoo – Have 30+ species, including some not at zoo. Partially viewable without staying.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House, Lake Buena Vista – Lodge, Zoo – View lodge species from windows, dining, etc.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, Lake Buena Vista – Lodge, Zoo – View lodge species from windows, dining, etc.
Emerald Coast Science Center, Fort Walton Beach – Science Museum, live animals – Small domestic species of mammal, herps, parrots, spiders. A few fish tanks.
Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, Navarre – Rehab – Education center has native ambassadors including herps, smaller mammals, BOP.
Emerald Coast Zoo, Crestview – Zoo – Feed bears honey, other interactions. Owned by "Rick the Reptile Guy" from A&E's "Wild Transport". Religious.
Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS), Citra – Rescue – Tours – Mostly felids, some bears, primates, etc.
Everglades Outpost Wildlife Rescue, Homestead – Rescue – Rescue and rehab for native species, with alligator and snake (non-hot) shows.
Exotic Animal Experience, Orlando – Petting Zoo – Tours – Kangaroos, sloths, lemurs, small primates, muntjac, etc.
Flamingo Gardens, Davie – Zoo – Botanic gardens with black bear, flamingos, NARO, puma, lots of birds, herps. Native species.
Florida Exotic Species Preserve, Wesley Chapel – Private – ZAA – Beverly L O’Connor.
Florida International Teaching Zoo, Bushnell – Zoo – Tours.
Forest Animal Rescue, Silver Springs – Rescue – Tours – “By Peace River Refuge”. Big cats, others.
Giraffe Ranch, Dade City – Safari – Tours – Expensive.
Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands, Boynton Beach – NC, Aquarium – Wetlands exhibits.
Gulf Breeze Zoo, Gulf Breeze – Zoo – ZAA – Train to see many animals. Owned by Zoofari Parks/Eric Mogensen, which own/founded VA Safari, AL Safari, bought Gulf Breeze, and are building TX Safari.
Hobe Sound Nature Center, Hobe Sound – NC – Definitely have aquariums. Not sure if spotted skunk, other rehab animals are viewable.
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa – NC – Native species like key deer, red wolf, black bear, manatee, plus underwater observatory to view wild manatees and fish.
HorsePower for Kids & Animal Sanctuary, Tampa – Petting Zoo – Regular hours. Domestics, sloth, foxes, prairie dogs, etc.
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, Jacksonville – Zoo – AZA – Train goes around most of the perimeter and has multiple stops where you can get on/off. KultureCity.
Jungle Adventures, Christmas – Zoo – Alligator park with black bear, puma, tons of other herps and birds, boat tours.
Jungle Friends Primate Center, Gainesville – Primates – Private – Currently closed to visitors. Has ASA, GFAS links on home page but isn't listed by either.
Jungle Island, Miami – Zoo – Tours – ZAA – Closed and re-opened as an encounter place, with kangaroos, lemurs, capybara, sloths, flamingos, and giant tortoises. Emphasis is on their Joia Beach restaurant and beach club.
Kulaqua Retreat & Conference Center, High Springs – Lodge, Zoo – Groups – Religious lodge / retreat with their own zoo. Have lions and tigers, etc.
Lemur Conservation Foundation, Myakka City – Primates – Private – AZAc – Not open to the public.
Lion Country Safari, Loxahatchee – Safari – AZA, ZAA – Toddler train, kiddie rides, water park, paddle boats, pontoon boat, mini golf.
Lions Tigers & Bears, Arcadia – CLOSED? – Carnivore – Tours – Website no longer works, fb last updated July 2021.
Lubee Bat Conservancy, Gainesville – Bats – Tours – AZAc – 12+ species. Focus on conservation vs rescue.
McCarthys Wildlife Sanctuary, West Palm Beach – Carnivore – Tours – Big cats, herps, BOP. A LOT of cubs.
Monkey Jungle, Miami – Primates – Tours – Currently tours only. Have a gorilla, but mostly smaller primates, macaws.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm, Key West – Petting Zoo – Only open 2nd and 4th Sunday from 1-3pm, otherwise by appointment. Domestics, smaller exotics, lemurs, herps.
Moore Exotic Animal Ranch, Riverview – Petting Zoo – Tours – Breeder that does tours. Foxes, primates, herps, genet, mara, kangaroo, etc.
MOSH Museum of Science & History, Jacksonville – Museum, Aquarium - Also may have ambassadors of other species (photo is an owl). Museums For All.
Museum of Discovery & Science, Fort Lauderdale – Science Museum, live animals – Otters, bats, alligators, herps, aquariums. Museums For All.
Mystic Jungle Educational Facility, Live Oak – Carnivore – Tours – Mostly large felids. Claim to be a rescue.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Naples – Zoo – AZA – Have a boat cruise around their primate islands.
NGALA Wildlife Preserve, Naples – Event Center – Tours – ZAA – Event center for weddings, etc with zoo. Giraffe, lion, rhino, etc. Expensive.
North Florida Wildlife Center, Lamont – Petting Zoo – Tours – Macropods, birds, lemurs, etc.
Romelia Farms Wildlife Preserve, Merritt Island – Petting Zoo – Tours – Sloth, tamandua, domestics, etc. Formerly Obloy Family Ranch.
Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary, Punta Gorda – Rescue – Currently closed to visitors. Carnivores, primates, macaws.
Okeeheelee Nature Center, West Palm Beach – NC – Herps, BOP, whitetail deer.
Orlando Science Center, Orlando – Science Museum, live animals – AZAptm – NatureWorks exhibit has native species. Closing 2022 to change into Life exhibit, opening summer 2023. Museums For All.
Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park, West Palm Beach – Zoo – AZA.
Panther Ridge Conservation Center, Loxahatchee – Carnivore – Tours – ZAA. Felids. Variety of tours.
Peace River Wildlife Center, Punta Gorda – Rescue – ASA – Now have regular hours. Mostly all sorts of birds but also some native mammals, herps.
Shell Factory & Nature Park, North Fort Myers – Store, Zoo – Large store, fun park, and zoo.
Shy Wolf Sanctuary Experience Center, Naples – Carnivore – Tours – Gray wolves.
Single Vision, Melrose – Zoo – Tours – Act like they're a rescue but aren't. Felids, primates, reptiles, etc. Lots of USDA citations including knowingly providing false info, cub petting.
Smooth Waters Wildlife Park, De Leon Springs – CLOSED?
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine – Herps – AZA – Also have aviary, lemurs, primates. KultureCity.
St. Augustine Wild Reserve, St. Augustine – Carnivore – Tours – Mostly big cats, hybrids, white lions, wolves, also other carnivores, deer. Have cubs.
Tallahassee Museum, Tallahassee – Zoo, Museum – Native species including bears, wolf, puma, herps, etc. Domestics. Tallahassee Museum of History & Natural Science.
Tree Hill Nature Center, Jacksonville – NC – Small mammals, herps.
Tree Top Exotics, Palm City – Zoo – Tours –Primate breeder that does encounters. Also have genets, foxes, other popular exotics pets.
Two Tails Ranch / All About Elephants, Williston – Petting Zoo – ZAA – Elephants.
Uncle Donald’s Farm, Lady Lake – Petting Zoo – Deer, alligator, BOP, some exotics, domestics.
Anne Kolb Nature Center, Hollywood – NC, Aquarium – A few fish tanks.
Aquatica, Orlando – Theme Park, Aquarium – Large water park with Commerson’s dolphins, fish.
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Sanibel – Aquarium, Museum – AZA, AAM – GPO and other octopods, cuttlefish, sea hare, lots of mollusks, Scaphella junonia. Lots of shells.
Bishop Museum of Science & Nature, Bradenton – Museum, Aquarium – AAM – Manatees. Smithsonian Affiliate. Museums For All. Formerly South Florida Museum, Parker Manatee Aquarium.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater – Aquarium – Rough-toothed dolphins, bottlenose. A lot of rescues. Was home to Winter the dolphin. Dolphin boat tour.
Cox Science Center & Aquarium, West Palm Beach – Science Museum, Aquarium – AZAptm – 10,000 gallon Aquariums of the Atlantic, exhibit on the everglades. Also have mini golf, trail. Previously known as South Florida Science Center & Aquarium. Museums For All.
Discovery Cove, Orlando – Theme Park, Aquarium - AZA, AMMPA, IMATA, IBCCES CAC – Theme park centered around animal interactions. Bottlenose, sharks, otters, etc.
Dolphin Connection, Duck Key – Aquarium – AMMPA, IMATA – Only bottlenose.
Dolphin Research Center, Grass Key – Aquarium – AMMPA, IMATA – Bottlenose, sea lions, a few others.
Dolphins Plus Bayside, Key Largo – Aquarium – AMMPA, IMATA – Bottlenose, touch tank.
Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder, Key Largo – Aquarium – Bottlenose.
Environmental Learning Center, Vero Beach – NC, Aquarium – Small touch tanks.
Florida Aquarium, Tampa – Aquarium – AZA – No marine mammals. Otters, Madagascar section. Boat cruise to see dolphins.
Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters, Marathon – Aquarium – No mammals. Touch a giant isopod.
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, Key West – Aquarium – Part of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, Stuart – Aquarium – Sharks, rays, sea turtles. Florida Oceanographic Society.
Frost Museum of Science / Miami Aquarium, Miami – Science Museum, Aquarium – 40+ aquarium tanks, massive multi-story hammerhead tank. Smithsonian Affiliate. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science.
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Kissimmee – Lodge, Aquarium – Large resort, water park, etc. with massive courtyard that has fish, flamingos.
Gulf Specimen Aquarium, Panacea – Aquarium – Small aquarium that is part of a breeding facility, mostly for non-fish aquatic stuff, weird fish.
Gulf World Marine Park, Panama City Beach – Aquarium - AZAptm, AMMPA, IMATA – Rough-toothed dolphins, bottlenose, pinnipeds, etc. Lots of experiences.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, Fort Walton Beach – Aquarium – AMMPA, IMATA – Lots of encounters. Building giant new bottlenose exhibit 2022. Dolphins, pinnipeds, etc.
IMAG History & Science Center, Fort Myers – Museum, Aquarium – Aquariums, 30+ herps. Imaginarium Science Center. Museums For All.
Island Dolphin Care, Key Largo – Aquarium – Tours – Focused more on human therapy than general interactions.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo – NC, Aquarium – 30,000 gallon main tank, plus smaller tanks.
Key West Aquarium, Key West – Aquarium – Sea turtles, sharks, touch tanks.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach – Aquarium – Currently expanding. Don’t always have turtles in, but they’re always open.
MacArthur Beach State Park Nature Center, North Palm Beach – NC, Aquarium – Mostly aquatic species, including sea turtles.
Manatee Lagoon, West Palm Beach – Aquarium – Manatee information/education center with a few fish tanks, gift shop. Florida Power & Light Company.
Manatee Observation and Education Center, Fort Pierce – Aquarium – Manatee information and kayak, boat tours. Various fish tanks (largest is 800 gallons), a few herps.
Manatee Viewing Center, Tampa Electric, Apollo Beach – Aquarium – Open Nov-April. Wild manatees, next to power station (warm water). Visitor center, gift shop, ray touch tank.
Marine Science Center, Ponce Inlet – Aquarium, Birds – Rescue and rehab facility with native tanks and herps, gulls, BOP.
Marineland Dolphin Adventure, St. Augustine – Aquarium – AZA, AMMPA, IMATA – Dolphins. In town of Marineland, named after park. Been around 80+ years.
Miami Seaquarium, Miami – Aquarium – AZAptm, AMMPA, IMATA – Many mammals, including one orca (bts), bottlenose, pinnipeds, manatee rescue, etc.
Ocean Discovery Visitors Center, Fort Pierce – Aquarium – Part of Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Exhibits focus on current research, approx. 1,000 gallons in tanks.
Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center, Fort Myers Beach – Aquarium – Very small aquarium.
River Center, Loxahatchee River Center, Jupiter – Aquarium – 6,000 gallons total. Website says takes 30-60 minutes.
Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples – Aquarium, NC – Part of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Rumfish Grill, RumFish Beach Resort, St. Pete Beach – Restaurant, Lodge, Aquarium – 33,000 gallon fish tank in restaurant, resort has touch tanks.
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Nature Center, Sanibel – NC, Aquarium – Touch tank with rays, crabs, etc. Turtles.
Science Center of Pinellas County / Science and Technology Education Innovation Center, St. Petersburg – CLOSED – Currently closed for several years, re-opening under second name? Had aquariums.
SeaQuest Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale – CLOSED.
Seas with Nemo & Friends, Lake Buena Vista – Theme Park, Aquarium – AZA, AMMPA – Part of EPCOT. Small aquarium that has dolphins, manatees.
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando – Theme Park, Aquarium – AZA, WAZA, AMMPA, IMATA – Full theme park and aquarium, with many marine mammals.
Silver Springs State Park, Silver Springs – NC – Glass bottom boats to see manatees, fish.
St. Augustine Aquarium, St. Augustine – Aquarium – Tours – All outdoors? Confusing website.
St. Lucie County Aquarium, Fort Pierce – Aquarium – Home to Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit.
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, St. Petersburg – Aquarium – Located on the pier. Seahorses, terrapins, mangrove species. Previously called Pier Aquarium (website is now a p*rn site).
Theater of the Sea, Islamorada – Aquarium – AMMPA, IMATA – Bottlenose, pinnipeds, go in a lagoon with nurse sharks.
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg – Stadium, Aquarium – Seasonal – The Tampa Bay Rays MLB team has a 35 ft, 10,000 gallon ray touch tank in the outfield. Open during home games.
Turtle Hospital, Marathon – Herps – Tours – Rescue and rehab facility with daily presentations, tours.
Bird, Herp, or Invert focused facilities:
Alligator Attraction & Wildlife Learning Center, Madeira Beach – Rescue – Mostly herps, but also small mammals, fish.
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, Maitland – Birds – Rescued BOP.
Butterfly World, Coconut Creek – Insects – Butterflies and other insects, some birds. $32.
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, Fort Myers – NC – Raptor aviary, herps including alligators. Museums For All.
Croc Encounters Reptile Park & Alligator Farm, Tampa – Herps – Tours – Only have lots of herps.
Everglades Alligator Farm, Homestead – Herps – Alligators, a few other herps. Airboat rides.
Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Tours, Fort Lauderdale – Herps – Alligators, airboat tours, a few other species for interactions (photos show a skunk, ball python).
Everglades Safari Park, Miami – Herps – Alligators, a few other herps. Airboat rides.
Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville – NH Museum, live animals – AAM – Butterfly garden, also has birds. University of Florida.
Gator Golf Adventure Park, Orlando – Herps – Mini golf course with gator wrestling, other herps.
Gatorama, Palmdale – Zoo – Other species of croc, cougar, bobcat, domestics, etc.
Gatorland, Orlando – Zoo – “Alligator capital of the world”. Also have other croc species, cougar, a few others.
Gatorworld Parks of Florida, Wildwood – CLOSED. May reopen if someone buys it.
Golf N Gator, Cape Canaveral – Herps – Mini golf course with 30 alligators, some other herps, birds.
Iguanaland, Punta Gorda – Herps – Huge new place that recently opened.
Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, Key West – Insects – Also have some birds, flamingos.
Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary, Key Largo – Birds – 90+ birds, 40+ species. Open dawn to dusk every day.
Marathon Wild Bird Center, Marathon – Birds – Private – Rescue and rehab. No visits, but allow volunteers and do outreach stuff with ambassadors. Sometimes birds can be seen in the outdoor flight cage. Part of Crane Point Museum, Nature Center, and Historic Site.
McGough Nature Park, Largo – NC – 20+ BOP, lots of wild turtles. George C. McGough Nature Park, Narrows Environmental Education Center.
Miami Dade College Environmental Center, Kendall Campus, Kendall – NC – Herps.
Moccasin Lake Raptor Sanctuary, Clearwater – Birds – Rescue and rehab. In Moccasin Lake Nature Park.
Natural Encounters, Winter Haven – Birds – Private – AZAc – Breed and raise many bird species for zoos, shows.
The Great Lakes Aquarium is fantastic facility but is still relatively young. Direct control of it has shifted between the city itself, the for-profit Ripley Aquariums, and an independent non-profit. Financial uncertainty has persisted through these changes. This is a common problem for smaller facilities especially newer ones. Financials and accounting are a big part of the AZA accreditation process.
This place has unfortunately burned down entirely due to the massive Southern California Wildfires. It is the second time it burned down in it's history, previously it burned in the late 90s.
(image from a Facebook group)
It has updates from as recent as January 9th, 2025 which is not "2023" Members only add to the thread is if there is a new (not mentioned yet) animal facility in the United States so the most likely thing is that hasn't happened
It has updates from as recent as January 9th, 2025 which is not "2023" Members only add to the thread is if there is a new (not mentioned yet) animal facility in the United States so the most likely thing is that hasn't happened
The last proper post was for Minnesota facilities in November 2023 - Where to see captive animals in the USA - posts after that are just individual comments.
It is the second time it burned down in it's history, previously it burned in the late 90s.
