There are tigers in Mount Vernon, elephants in Hope, monkeys in Trenton.
They’re wildlife from away. But rescued, retired, rehabilitated or simply re-homed, they’re Maine animals now.
And you can meet them in a road trip that’s a lot shorter than an around-the-world vacation.
“(Visitors) can spend the day. They can pack a lunch,” said Julie Minder, co-founder of the DEW Animal Kingdom and Sanctuary in Mount Vernon, which offers lions, tigers and more.
Maine moose, owls and sea birds more your thing? Think Gray, Cape Neddick and Friendship.
No camping required.
“You can’t pet the animals, but you can get awfully darn close,” said Curt Johnson, superintendent for the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, where visitors can feed deer, bear and ground birds.
Across the state, nonprofit and government-created wildlife centers are opening their doors to visitors for the season. Some feature exotic animals, others native wildlife. All take in animals that need help or a new home. All teach visitors about the animals, their lives in the wild and, in many cases, conservation.
Maine currently has a handful of such centers regularly open to the public. Want something closer to home? There’s also Windham-based Sparks’ Ark, which brings wildlife educational programs — and animals — directly to families, schools and community groups. Want to go someplace geared more toward entertainment? There’s also York’s Wild Kingdom, a zoo and amusement park in York Beach.
But to really learn about Siberian tigers and African lions without a trip to Siberia or Africa, DEW might be the place for you.
“It’s important to us they’re not just coming in here and viewing. I think that everyone should be doing education about the animals,” said Minder, who, along with her husband, cares for DEW’s 200-plus exotic and native animals. “The point is to teach (visitors) so, hopefully, we can conserve the animals and their habitats.”
The Kisma Preserve in Trenton has about 40 exotic and native animals, including primates, alligators, bears and bobcats. Visitors can’t wander like they can at DEW — tours only — but they can book an animal encounter for a closer look at the wildlife and a more in-depth educational opportunity.
Hope Elephants in Hope offers a similar emphasis on education, though with just two animals: Asian elephants Rosie and Opal. Opened six months ago, the facility — part elephant rehab center and retirement home, part education program — has already given tours to more than 3,000 schoolchildren.
The Maine Wildlife Park in Gray offers programs, education and a look at about 30 species of animals that are typically found in Maine. Well, except for the park’s peacock.
He’s not from around here.
“It’s only kept because there was this long tradition of the park having peacocks. They’re very, very popular with the public, so we didn’t want to break our visitors’ hearts,” Johnson said.
Farther south there’s the Center for Wildlife, a Cape Neddick facility that takes in injured and orphaned native animals.
And for feathered creatures there’s On the Rush of Wings in Friendship, which rehabilitates sea birds and some perching birds that have been injured or orphaned. Although open by appointment only, the center offers visitors a unique chance to see the wild birds through one-way mirrors that look into the facility’s clinic and two saltwater pools.
Beth Settlemyer, vice president and rehabilitator, echoed the sentiment of many who run Maine wildlife centers.
“This rehab center is for the public,” she said. “If I think that one person can get educated on seabirds, then that’s a success.”
Interested in checking out the wildlife centers across Maine? Here’s what you should know:
DEW Animal Kingdom
Number of animals: More than 200
Known for: Lions, tigers and bears (oh, my!). DEW is home to both exotic animals and wildlife native to Maine.
Location: 918 Pond Road, Mount Vernon, ME
Hours: May 1-Sept. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. Public tours 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekends when school is in session, every day in the summer.
Need an appointment? No. Visitors are welcome every day (except Mondays). Although tours are available, visitors are free to bring a picnic lunch and spend the day wandering. Large tour groups must be prearranged.
Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for kids 3-12 and seniors 65 and older, free for children under 3. Discounts are available for large tour groups.
Website: http://dewanimalkingdom.com/index.html
Additional information: Started in 1980 by Bob Miner and later expanded with help from his wife, Julie, the 42-acre facility takes in animals that need to be rescued, rehabilitated, re-homed or moved from overcrowded zoos. DEW places an emphasis on public education and features tours for both large groups and families. Visitors can purchase food at DEW to feed some of the animals. This summer DEW will welcome a patas monkey, as well as a number of baby animals that are expected to be born there soon.
On the Rush of Wings
Number of animals: Up to 14 at a time
Known for: Rehabilitation of sick, injured or baby marine birds, as well as some perching birds.
Location: 13 Rawstron Drive, Friendship
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day
Need an appointment? Yes. Visitors must make an appointment or call ahead.
Cost: Free. Donations are gratefully accepted
Website: http://www.ontherushofwings.org/
Additional information: Started three years ago, On the Rush of Wings rehabilitates marine birds and some perching birds that are injured, poisoned, sick or orphaned. Visitors may see the birds through one-way mirrors that look into the facility’s clinic and two saltwater pools.
Maine Wildlife Park
Number of animals: About 80
Known for: Taking in injured, orphaned or confiscated Maine-native animals that can’t be released into the wild. The park’s moose pair and peacock (the only non-native species) are particularly popular.
Location: 56 Game Farm Road, Gray
Hours: Open mid-April to Nov. 11. Now open daily 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., though visitors can stay until 6 p.m.
Need an appointment? Not for general admission. Reservations are required for guided tours.
Cost: $7 for adults, $5 for kids 4-12 and seniors 61 and older, free for children 3 and under. Guided tours add $1.50 per person. Group discounts, season passes and photographer passes are also available.
Website: http://www.maine.gov/ifw/education/wildlifepark/index.htm
Additional information: The Maine Wildlife Park sits on 200 acres in Gray, with 40 acres open to the public. Visitors can take a free audio tour using their cell phone and can buy food to feed to the park’s deer, bear and ground birds. Special events are scheduled every Saturday, including a Mad Science Fire and Ice Show June 15, night hours and planetarium show July 27 and “North Woods Law” Day Sept. 28.
June 1 will feature the dedication of the park’s new brook trout hatchery. Park admission will be free that day.
Center for Wildlife
Number of animals: 350 at peak, 25 of whom are permanent residents (including Brownie the brown bat) who serve as ambassadors to the public.
Known for: Caring for New England-native birds, small mammals and reptiles, such as owls, bats and turtles.
Location: 385 Mountain Road, Cape Neddick
Hours: Open June through September. Available for tours only. Public tours run Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Private tours are by appointment, Monday through Saturday. Seasonal programs and events vary.
Need an appointment? Yes. Private tours require a reservation. Registration is encouraged for public tours and seasonal programs.
Cost: $5 suggested donation for public tours and seasonal programs. Private tours are $50 per group. Special themed programs available for $125 per group.
Website: http://www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org/
Additional information: The Center for Wildlife runs a variety of interactive education programs and includes a children’s area with hands-on activities. New this year: private programs customizable for any age or audience, with a focus on specific wildlife, ecology, conservation or other theme. Your 6-year-old and her friends want to learn about owls, for example? The Center for Wildlife can do it. (Email [email protected] for more information.)
Kisma Preserve
Number of animals: about 40
Known for: Exotic animals, including lions, tigers, primates and alligators. The preserve also features some Maine-native animals, including owls, bears and bobcats.
Location: 446 Bar Harbor Road, Trenton
Hours: Open daily 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. from mid-May through mid-October. Open other times of the year depending on weather or by appointment.
Need an appointment? Only for animal encounters or off-season tours.
Cost: $14 for adults, $12 for children 2-12, free for children under 2. Discounts are available for prepaid groups of 15 or more. Animal encounters range from $20 per person to $175 per person, depending on the program booked.
Website: http://www.kismapreserve.org/
Additional information: Educational tours leave regularly throughout the day for visitors to view and learn about the animals. Visitors are not allowed to wander through Kisma unescorted by a tour. Animal encounters provide a closer look at the animals, some contact and a chance to learn about their care behind the scenes.
Hope Elephants
Number of animals: 2
Known for: Caring for injured and aging elephants
Location: 43 Hatchet Mountain Road (Route 235), Hope
Hours: By appointment.
Need an appointment? Yes.
Cost: Donations are accepted. Suggested donation is $15 per adult, $10 for children under 12
Website: http://hopeelephants.org/
Additional information: Hope Elephants does not allow visitors to pet, ride or feed its two elephants, Rosie and Opal. However, visitors will get to see the elephants and learn about them. Hope too far to travel? Virtual visits are also available by appointment.
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