STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 49
INSECT ADVENTURE – STILLWATER, OK
Oklahoma’ s only live insect petting zoo, operated by OSU Extension. You’ ll have the opportunity to get up close and handle more than 25 species of bugs, including beetles, cockroaches, walkingsticks, scorpions, spiders, millipedes and centipedes, with guidance from professional entomologists. Public open hours are 10 a. m. – 12 p. m. every 1st and 3rd Saturday in the Horticulture Education Center at the Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University.
INSECT ADVENTURE PHOTO COURTESY OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
PEACEFUL VALLEY DONKEY RESCUE – PERRY, OK donkeyrescue. org
This facility outside Perry is one of more than 20 satellite locations for the Texas-based Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue. They provide care and find adoptive homes for donkeys and Bureau of Land Management wild burros who have gone through gentling and training. Tours are available and can be arranged by sending a private message through the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue – Perry, OK Facebook page.
GREY SNOW EAGLE HOUSE – PERKINS, OK eagles. iowanation. org,
As part of its cultural programming, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma operates this rehabilitation, education, and research facility near Perkins, that serves as a sanctuary for eagles who have been injured too badly to be released into the wild. The education center hosts large group and school tours on Thursdays and weekend tours for smaller groups that must be scheduled by appointment.
OLIVER AND FRIENDS FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY – LUTHER, OK oliverandfriends. org
This sanctuary provides rescue, rehabilitation and often a permanent home for animals usually seen as an agricultural commodity. They received nationwide attention when they rescued Milo, a puppy who received treatment at OSU for rotated legs. Private tours are available by appointment.
PEACEFUL VALLEY DONKEY RESCUE
OLIVER & FRIENDS FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY
EXPRESS CLYDESDALES RANCH – YUKON, OK expressclydesdales. com Express Ranch welcomes the public to visit its resident draft horses, both Clydesdales in the rare black and white color pattern and Percherons, in a lovingly restored historic barn along the Chisholm Trail near Yukon. Teams of the“ Gentle Giants” travel the country as ambassadors for Express Employment Professionals. Visits and tours are available by appointment.
OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM – JENKS, OK – okaquarium. org
You’ ll see fish and other aquatic creatures both exotic and native to our area at the Oklahoma Aquarium. Exhibits include freshwater inhabitants of the Amazon River, the Extreme Fishes gallery, the Polynesian Reef and Marvels & Mysteries. You’ ll also learn about things found closer to home, like the wildlife found along the banks of an Ozark stream and aquatic residents of our state’ s waterways, including a snapping turtle said to be older than Oklahoma itself. And don’ t forget to walk through the 380,000 gallon Shark Adventure tank that puts you right next to the world’ s largest collection of bull sharks. At 2 p. m. on Mondays and Thursdays you can watch the sharks being fed and learn more about them from aquarium staff. SwOk
EXPRESS CLYDESDALES RANCH
OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 49