the zoo’s
Each year the Big Bear Alpine Zoo receives
well over a hundred animals that have been
impacted in such a way that they cannot
survive in the wild without intervention. Each
spring, the zoo is inundated with baby animals.
Well meaning people bring in baby raccoons, birds,
skunks and squirrels who appear to be orphans. Once
the babies are taken away from their mother, their lives
end up in our hands. We almost always end up bottle
feeding and with great luck; we are able to teach them
to fend for themselves and can send them back into the
wild. If that is not possible, the animal will end up in our
care. If we are called about the babies first, we urge the
caller to leave the babies alone and wait for mom to come
back. Most of the time, the parent is off looking for food
for their family. Imagine the mother’s horror when she
comes back to the nest or den and her precious babies
are gone.
We are proud to be one of the go-to facilities for the Department of Fish and Game and the US Forest Fish and
Wildlife Service for the San Bernardino National Forest.
When there is an animal in trouble, hit by a car, injured or
confiscated for illegal possession, we are here to help.
We believe that each life is worth trying to save! Every
animal that comes to our facility has been orphaned or
injured in some way. They need our help to reach a state
of health where they are capable of surviving in the wild.
Our staff does whatever it takes to assure the animals’
needs are met, that they are healthy, receive the proper
diet and are well cared for; under the leadership of our
Curator Bob Cisneros, our amazing animal keepers tend
amazing
rehabilitation program
sive – topping over $50,000 per year and is funded by the
admission paid to the zoo and generous donations from
people like you. We believe you can’t put a price on the life
of an animal and do our very best to give them a second
chance.
There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you
see a healthy bird soaring away or an animal running into
the wild, back where they belong. The amazing staff of the
Big Bear Alpine Zoo does everything possible they can to
make sure this happens as often as possible!
If you want to know
more about the facility
and the animals in
to the daily needs of the animals. We also have veterinarian technicians on our staff to see to the day-to-day
medical needs of the animals. They are able to dispense
medications and tend to the animals’ small needs. We
have a quiet rehabilitation area in our medical room where
the animals are able to rest and get better. When we are
in need of a veterinarian, we utilize the services of the local
Veterinary Hospital and their staff or call in specialists.
The medical care for all of these animals is quite expen-
3:00 Feeding Tours May to September
daily except Wednesdays
October – April, Saturdays and Sundays
This is another amazing opportunity for our visitors. Walk
with one of our keepers as they feed 5-6 animals. The
keeper will be sure to tell the animals’ history with us at
the zoo, what the animal eats and the importance of the
regimented diet to the health of the animal. Little boys will
especially love this tour as rats, mice and chicks are a part
of some of the diets.
Behavioral Enrichment Sundays
Keeper Leslie with an Opossum
Noon Presentations
(each day in the amphitheater)
Every day at noon, our visitors will have a chance to get
up close and personal with one of the animals in our care.
Our keepers will bring out the animal of the day and share
the animal’s history with you, tell you interesting facts
about the animal, where they come from, what they like to
eat and how they live in the wild. This is a great opportunity to learn about the animals in our care.
Come be part of the animal’s fascination with the enrichment activity of the day. Our keepers work diligently to keep
the animals in their care engaged and entertained. Enrichment improves the animals’ lives, keeps them interested and
excited. The enrichment activity differs from species to species but could be boxed gifts, bags of special treats, special
scents throughout the enclosure, fur of another animal, a
new toy or something new to the enclosure. No matter what
the species, enrichment day is fun for the animal, the keeper
and the guests at the zoo.
EXPLORE
9 09.584.129 9
www.bigbearzoo.org
SouthCoast Magazine / 949.498.0705
their care, check out
our website:
www.bigbearzoo.org
and be sure to “Like”
us on Facebook.
Enrichment Coordinator
Diane
Come Visit Us!
We are located at:
42385 Goldmine Drive, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Hours: 10 am-5 pm (June – September)
10 am-4 pm (October – May)
Closed Christmas Day and in extreme inclement
weather
Parking: Free
Information: 909-584-1299 or 909-866-9700
www.bigbearalpinezoo.org
General Admission
Adults 10-61
$12
Children 3-9
$9 (Under 2 FREE)
Seniors 62+
$9
Military Discount $9
Active & retired service person with ID
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