Williams, Ariz. Bearizona recently invited me to join them in their VIP experience. I had only been to the wildlife park once a few years ago and was eager to see what the new visit would offer.
Bearizona was first opened in Williams in 2010 by founder, Sean Casey. The 160-acre park allows visitors to see wildlife via a boardwalk or drive-thru. As a member of the Zoological Association of America and the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Bearizona is dedicated to responsible wildlife management, conservation, and education. Bearizona started offering the new VIP experience in June this year.
Arriving a few minutes early at the experience, I met my guide, Norm Westerdale, and some of the other members of our VIP group. The tour takes place in Central Park, where the coffee trailer and patio bar are located.
Each guest received a coupon for a drink of their choice at either of the outlets before or after the tour. Many guests chose to have hot coffee while waiting for our official tour to begin. In the meantime, guests could ask Westerdale questions or enjoy the ambiance of the surroundings, like the white peacock that crossed our path on its morning roll.
The animal house
At 10:00 a.m. the tour started quickly. We were taken off the usual path onto what is usually an employee only walkway. We arrived at the “animal house” where the guards greeted us with joy. Here, VIP guests have behind-the-scenes access to the program’s animal department.
“All the animals that come out for the public and fly in the shows, you can see them all and how they’re cared for in the mornings,” said Dave O’Connell, director of animal personnel. they live.”
We spent about 25 minutes walking through the animal house at our own pace. Guests could ask the caretaker questions and take photos. Inside were creatures such as a crested seriema, a raccoon, a mountain coati, a fennec fox, a North American porcupine, an African crested porcupine, a striped skunk and many others, many of whom were having breakfast. As we observed the animals, the keepers told us about their personalities, behaviors and fun facts.
The keepers brought us together to watch the animals perform some special tasks. In exchange for a treat, Cleo, the fennec fox, jumped on her scale, revealing her weight of 1,178 grams, or 2.6 pounds. The Guardian explained that this all-volunteer task makes Cleo feel comfortable and safe, instead of being picked up by force and put on a scale.
“We do so much work to make sure the animals are healthy, well trained, and able to work with us in this facility that people don’t even know about,” O’Connell said. “The animals are so well trained that we can show it in the form of a presentation to the public. It’s quite exciting for me.
To earn another treat, Cleo jumped onto a platform in her enclosure and offered some punches to the guests. It was his new turn. Working with keepers to learn tasks like jumping on the scales and throwing punches keeps animals happy, healthy and their lives enriched, trainers say.
After Cleo, another star appeared, Peter the porcupine. Peter climbed onto a log where a treat awaited him at the top. While he sat atop the log, guests took turns giving him a treat in the palm of their hands.
“You won’t always necessarily get the chance to punch Cleo or feed Peter the porcupine, but usually there will be something like this on every tour, and if you’re lucky , you may be able to do these things.” said O’Connell.
We took our last photos as the VIP bus arrived. In remembrance of the animals, Westerdale gave each of us their own porcupine quill to take home.
The bus tour
We hopped on the bus and started heading towards the drive-in park part. We passed old metal shipping containers and vehicles. Westerdale pointed them out and said the park recycled more than 200,000 tons of scrap metal and steel into the walls of the park’s enclosures. Metal recycling is just one of the park’s conservation initiatives.
Before I knew it, we were in the park driven by deer and mountain goats. Westerdale pointed out all the animals, including the ones I might have missed. Some of my favorites were Tom Brady, Serena Williams and Michael B Jordan Mountain Goats. Westerdale put our animal knowledge to the test as we walked through the enclosures, giving guests a chance to win Bearizona goodies.
Wolf training center
The bus stopped at the wolf exhibit where we got off and sat in front of the wolf training center. Wolves were running around their enclosure, playing with each other and hoping for treats. The keepers gave us information about the wolves, including new puppies. We even saw how the keepers trained a wolf to back into a syringe and receive vaccines in exchange for treats. Similar to Cleo’s weigh-in, the task was completely voluntary.
“Wolves are always a hit. Everybody loves wolves,” O’Connell said. “To be able to get up close and see how smart they are and see the formation unfolding, it’s hard to beat that.”
We had about 15 minutes to walk around and watch the wolves. With a barrier between us, we could stand a few feet away from them.
Feed the bison
We got back on the bus and saw the remaining animals in the drive-thru: bear, elk, bison and more. When we stopped at the bison, Westerdale parked the bus and handed us some apples. The 1000-2000 pound bison surrounded the bus and waited for us to throw each apple. At one point, Westerdale opened the bus door and a huge bison stuck its whole head inside! Once the fruit ran out, we continued on the road to see more animals.
When the drive-thru ended, Westerdale dropped us off at the park entrance. Guests were then free to wander around the park, grab a bite to eat at Canyonlands Restaurant, or even get in their vehicle and do the drive-thru again. Guests could also visit the gift shop where they received a 10% discount as part of the VIP package.
I cashed in my drink coupon and thought about what my favorite part of the experience was. Between a bison sticking its head in the bus, a close look at the wolves or a porcupine eating out of my hand, it’s hard to choose one. Although at the top of my list was the amount of freedom and enrichment I saw the animals receive in their training. It wasn’t something I necessarily expected to see on a wildlife tour, but I’m so glad I did.
“To be able to work with animals and give them so many choices in their lives, their lives in general are so much better because of it,” O’Connell said. for a while who may have known Bearizona when he started and hasn’t been back to see where he got to. There are lots of new things to see and that’s all you can learn on the tour.
The VIP experience starts at $50 per person. A regular park ticket must also be purchased. Entry and the VIP visit are free for children up to three years old. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and is only offered on certain dates.
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