There's More Wilderness to Discover!

Are there mountain lions in Maine? Where’s the one place in the state that you are guaranteed to see a moose and a bear?

Mountain lions, moose, and bears are only some of the dozens of Maine critters at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray. The park is right off the Gray exit of the Maine Turnpike.

The Wildlife Park opens on April 15 (weather permitting) and offers the best opportunity to see dozens of different members of the state’s animal kingdom in one place. All the information you need to plan your visit can be found here.

The park is managed by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife where Lisa Kane is blessed with many volunteers who staff key positions at the park. Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park provide both volunteers and funds for this very special place that excites young and old.

You can see many of the animals in the “winter views” section of the park website that offers lots of videos and other information including admission fees, a map, a list of and interesting information about the animals, and a schedule of special events. You ought to put Saturday, May 4 on your schedule for the park’s “Bear Bonanza,” scheduled from 11 am to 2 pm.

This amazing place offers close-up looks at all of Maine’s top predators including coyotes and fishers, bobcats and their bigger cousins Canadian lynx, eagles, owls (including my favorite the tiny Saw-Whet), and hawks, and more from turtles to trout. You’ll even see a new Maine critter, the opposum, and be able to visit a great museum of the Maine Warden Service.

I can’t wait to take my two grandsons on their first park visit this summer. This is a “must see in Maine” for tourists and Mainers alike. And there’s a lot to like here!

For more travel and outdoor news, go to www.georgesmithmaine.com.

-George Smith
Moderator for Wildfire*

*Maine’s Credit Unions partners with Wildfire, a program for outdoor enthusiasts.