A visit to the north metro and the Wildlife Science Center

You don't have to cross the ocean to have a new experience. I love finding things a little closer to home as well. I came across the Wildlife Science Center in a rather oblique way (read a Star Tribune article where it was mentioned and then tracked down what the organization did) and have been wanting to visit for a while. It's not your standard tourist stop; it really is a science and research center, and that's the primary goal, but they also want to educate people about the role of predators in the wild and concerns about the potential extinction of some of the wolf species. They just moved into this new space in Stacy, MN, in April 2017, and a lot of the work was done by volunteers from donated funds and supplies, so there are not a lot of amenities (there's no snack bar, souvenir stand or indoor toilets) yet. They do tours on Saturdays, 11:00 and 1:00. We saw around four species of wolf: gray, red, Mexican gray (and one more, I think); fox, bear, bobcat, lynx, and coyotes. Some of the animals are born at the center, others are rescued from fur farms, private owners who think owning a wild animal is a good idea, or relocated from other parts of the country where they may be causing havoc among the sheep and human population. The volunteer who took us around provided us with great information on how each animal was acquired/rescued, the possible issues/threats in their native habitat, the research studies that are being done: how/why cross-breeding happens, and what the results, like the wolf/coyote mix, which occurred in nature and researchers are looking into more information about this breed; the hibernation of bears and what occurs during those periods of deep sleep and what can be applied to human medicine or technology. Something set one of the packs off, and this incredible howling went on for about three minutes; it was AMAZING. Sadly, my recording skills were not honed, and I totally missed it, but it was the coolest thing.

The walk around was about an hour, and was on pretty flat, if not smooth, paths (so no massive hills to climb or descend). If it's hot, bring water, sunscreen and bug spray (NONE of these things occurred to us, but we were okay); we plan to go back in the winter to check out the full fur coats of the wolves. One of the families on the tour brought their dog, which while occasionally annoying (maybe it was the owner), it was good because it got the wolves excited and more active than they would have been with the heat. It's a good family activity, and little kids are free (under 6 - I think). The center also has a variety of programs throughout the year, some designed for photographers, some for kids, there are occasional evening programs and there are volunteer opportunities. I guess what I'm saying is, if you're looking for something a little different to do on a Saturday (or other day), head on up to Stacy. If you get there early, check out the Village Inn for a breakfast or lunch.

A porcupine