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By Bobbie Green

What is an alpine zoo? All the wildlife in it are creatures that normally live in the high mountains.

The only true alpine zoo in the country has a home in Big Bear California. Visitors are pleasantly surprised to find such a well kept zoo with such a diversity of unexpected animals. It is well worth it for the visitor to take some time out from other activities when in Big Bear to enjoy and enlighten themselves at the Moonridge Animal Park.

The curator Don Richardson has 23 years of zoo keeping experience and is a licensed California veterinarian. Since taking charge of the Moonridge Animal Park in 1993, he has promoted emergency medical care for animals as well has instituting many events such as music in the zoo, evenings with strolling musicians and the flashlight tours to see the nocturnal animals.

The 2.5 acre park is small compared to most zoos, the friendly park like setting is lush and green in the summer time. The zoo stays open in the winter, but the visitor numbers drop because of the cold weather, but the staff will be happy to see you.  The park like zoo is diminutive and personal; all of the animals are named.  One gets to see most of the wildlife up close, your tour guide will tell you each animal’s personal history, why they are there. The 3:00p tours except for Wednesdays are the feeding tours. Visitor can be pretty sure the animals will not be hiding, as they all come out to eat.  Most kids and dads enjoy the feeding tour the most. Mom may get grossed out.

The animal park has150 inhabitance and 85 different species counting 3 grizzlies bears, including one 3 legged bear named Huckleberry. There are no grizzlies in the wild in Big Bear now. Years ago they brought in 14 black bear and the 14 beget the 400 in Big Bear today.  The newest addition to the park is a female snow fox named Ice, brought in to be companion to the male resident fox named Polar. Snow leopards and bob cats seen close up is an exciting and distinct experience. Many of us have not had this direct and intimate encounter with this type of wildlife animals before. Even the owls and eagles cages are arranged to put the birds in good proximity for viewing. An amazing 85,000 visitors a year have experienced this wonderful enriching day of fun.

The Moonridge Animal Park has been a wildlife rehabilitation center for injured, endangered and orphaned alpine species since 1959. A devastating fire in the San Bernardino Mountains left several injured animals. They were brought up the mountain for safety and rehabilitation by caring humans. For some of the animals returning to the wild was not an option and the park was born. One of the first inhabitants was an orphaned 30-pound black bear cub found stranded in a tree after the fire.  The park works together with the Big Bear Discovery Center. It gets its funding simply by admission price and donations. Harley Davidson donated $150,000 to build the habitat for the grizzlies. Their 50 year lease on the 2.5 acres is up in 2009.  They plan to move their location to the 16 acre hillside behind the planned new addition to the Discovery Center. They offer many enriching programs during the summer. Zoo camp for ages 6-12

You may even plan a birthday party in the zoo.

Two nights per summer they have a family sleepover camp, with zoo tours and animal presentations. You need to call or check website for dates. www.moonridgezoo.org 909-589-1299

Today in 2007 notably, Moonridge Animal Park is distinguished as the only zoological facility in the United States located in an alpine / sub-alpine environment, dedicated to the preservation of primarily alpine and sub-alpine species.

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