GRAY — The Maine Wildlife Park on Route 26 will open for the 2017 season at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 15 — just in time for school vacation week.

Park staff have been working diligently to remove enough snow for paths to be cleared. Most wildlife exhibits will be open, and the parking lot and access road are passable. The turtle ponds may still be frozen over, and the nature trails may have too much snow on them, but visitors will be excited to see a new beaver in her pond in the furbearer exhibit.

A variety of new and returning weekend events are planned for the season, beginning Saturday, May 6, with a Creatures of the Night display, associated with the park’s newest exhibit featuring nocturnal animals.

Later in the season, visitors can practice archery and laser rifle target shooting, meet game wardens and warden authors on Warden Service Day; experience Mr. Drew and His Animals, Too; learn about Portland’s famous International Cryptozoology Museum or enjoy a “night visit” with Northern Stars Planetarium.

Returning featured Saturday programs include The Bug Man, New England Mineral Association, Wildlife Encounters, Enchanted Forests and Honeybees. Favorites like the annual open house, powwow, chainsaw artists and Rick Charette will all be back as well. And Harvest Fest will be expanded to two full weekend days in October. 

FMI: 207-657-4977, facebook.com/mainewildlifepark, www.mainewildlifepark.com, www.mefishwildlife.com.

This year’s Maine Wildlife Park season opening may show Byron the moose and other animals in snow-covered habitats on April 15.

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