Family Adventure - Maine Wildlife Park

Maine Wildlife Park is run by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Friends of the Wildlife Park.  The park has beautiful grounds and gardens and hosts over 30 species of Maine wildlife.

Little M's first animal love was bears.  He has been super interested in all the animal and animal noises and I wanted to take him to see the real deal.  Plus we want to drive home the fact that wild animals do not make good pets.  We want him to be aware that it is not safe to touch animals in wild and that there is a difference between a cat and a lynx.  I am not sure how much of an impact we actually made as Little M now insists that moose are cows.
 

Little M insisting that moose are cows.

 

 
Maine Wildlife Park - Gray, Maine
 
Entrance fee: 
Under age 3 free

Ages 4 -12 $5.50

Ages 13 - 59 $7.50

Ages 60+ $5.50

Food and Drink: 

Snack Shack has cold drinks, snacks and ice cream

 

Bathrooms: 
Centrally located large bathrooms with diaper changing station.  Clean and well kept with nice hand driers.  Lacking stools or low sinks to help little ones wash their hands.

Gift Shop: 

Nature Store has souvenirs, gifts and educational materials.  Proceeds directly benefit the park. 

Accessibility:

The parking lot is gravel and so are some of the paths.  There are paved pathways but a sturdy stroller is recommended.

Exhibits and Event:

There are fabulous events scheduled every weekend sponsored by the Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park.  Rick Charette is a childhood favorite and will be performing in September!!!

 

Highlights:

Great photo ops for the little ones.  Little M loves anything he can put his face through.

 

Little M's favorite - the bears.  I have mixed feelings about feeding stations at zoos/wildlife parks but it was a great opportunity to see the bears and talk about how it is not safe to interact with wild animals.

 

The peacocks, while not native to Maine, are definitely a highlight that Little M is still talking about.  There where great signs and info plaques for all the animals and you could really get up close to them.

 
Tips:

• Perfect area for picnic lunches.
• Bring quarters for animal feeding areas - bears, deer, ground birds, waterfowl and hatchery trout.
• M was nursing a sore knee so CB rented her a wheelchair, and while that was helpful the park is not wheelchair friendly.  The paved and dirt paths are fine for a sturdy stroller but it was rough going with the wheelchair.
• Summer and Winter Photography Packages - over 30 species of Maine wildlife to observe and photograph in natural habitats unimpeded by fences or other obstacles.

What are your favorite Wildlife areas?