Wilds Winter Tour 2009

The Wilds is a wild animal conservation and research facility in southeastern Ohio near Cumberland.

The staff offers bus tours of the animals in pasture. The park also has a cafeteria and a gift shop. The staff also offers educational programs during the summer aimed at young people. Next year if all goes well they will be offering a new service—Nomad Ridge at the Wilds. This is a luxury tented camping experience located on a ridge that overlooks the animal areas. We were told the package will include breakfast and dinner. There is also a Working Wild Camp for kids--an educational experience which offers hands on experience to older teens who are interested in careers in conservation.

During the winter, the Wilds offers a select number of programs such as Raptor Day and the Wild Winter Tour. These programs are limited to about 40 people and typically give the visitor close up experience with some of the animals. Most of the winter tours cost about $15 per person.

Last year we went to the Raptor Day. In the morning, we were inside getting information about the various raptors that can be seen at the Wilds such as owls, hawks, vultures and eagles. The Columbus Zoo brings live raptors to the class so attendees can get a close look at the various raptors. In the afternoon, we took the bus out into the Wilds and looked for raptors. We even saw a golden eagle which winters as the Wilds.

This year we went to the Winter Wild Tour. We spend the morning visiting the animals that stay out in the pastures. These included the carnivores—the cheetahs, African wild dogs, and the Wilds newest carnivore, the dohle. We also saw Bactrian camels, bison wild horses, onagers , zebras, several different kinds of deer and swans as well as lots of our native white tail deer that invite themselves to the Wilds.

Best of all we got to visit the rhino and giraffe quarters and get close to these big animals. I got to pet a baby white rhino. The rhinos were more friendly than I thought they would be. They seemed to like all the attention.

The giraffes were too shy to let us touch them. We got to go up to the second floor so we could meet them eye to eye.

If you decide to participate in one of the winter programs, you will need to pack a lunch and dress warmly. The staff provides hot water for coffee and cocoa. On chilly days people like the hot drinks and the water disappears fast so I also take thermoses of coffee and cocoa. Also be sure to take a camera and binoculars if you have them. The binoculars are very useful if the animals decide to keep their distance. We didn’t have that problem. One of the wild horses came right up to the bus door and looked in the window.

Go the the Wilds web site for dates and times of their programs.

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