Wildlife Science Center

Perfect place for a little day trip from the twin cities! It’s only about an 40 minute drive and the price is only $ 6 for adults, $ 4 for children and you feel good knowing it’s going to help the animals. It was originally a government funded project to help endangered wolf species but when the government pulled the plug, a couple who worked there continued the project privately.
They now have more than just wolves, but don’t worry there are plenty of wolves too. They also have bears, hybrids, Lynx, foxes, skunk, porcupine, birds of prey, bears, raccoons and a new guinea highland dog.
We took the Saturday tour that is hosted every week from 11am and 1pm. We were greeted with a whole yard full of dogs, they don’t live there but apparently the couple who runs the place also has a dog rescue at their house and brings in the dogs to run around the cages to keep the wolves active. No the wolves don’t get to eat the dogs, they just get to get a workout wishing they could through the fences!
We got to touch a snake and a centipede during the introduction speech, which I declined of course. Then we went out to the yards where we saw tons of wolves in all colors and species. We got to hear a lot of history of the place and ask questions about the wolves. We toured the whole yard and got to see the other animals as well.
One note, there are a lot of dead deer bodies in the cages, and well, they’ve been gnawed on and are pretty bloody. You have to remember wolves are carnivores and this is what they eat. You’ll be happy to know that all of the deers were already dead road kill and were killed by humans who can’t drive and not killed by the wolves. If that makes you feel any better about it.
Overall a fun day, it was a bit chilly in Dec but I know they do a dog sled race event over the winter which sounds fun. Also I hear the spring is the best time to go to see wolf pups!
*Top tip: If you venture over here, your pretty close to Franconia sculpture garden so you could make a picnic and really make a full day trip out of it!