Wildlife sights in North America
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Last Spruce
At Mile 235 you kiss the woods goodbye: the famed Last Spruce, though recently girdled by a vandal's ax, stands stately even in death near a turnout on the highway's east side.
reviewed
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A
Manatee Park
Between November and March, this is one of the best spots in the nation to see wild manatees – and all you pay for is parking (per hour $1). There’s a large butterfly garden on-site as well.
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Albright Visitor Center
One of eight visitor centers scattered around the park, the Albright in Mammoth is the only one to remain open year-round. It's attached to the park's campus-like administrative heart; elk regularly graze the manicured lawns, bringing traffic to a standstill, and their high-pitched bugling echo around the region in fall. As well as the requisite brochures and maps, the center offers videos and displays on park history.
reviewed
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B
Hawk Hill
Every fall, migratory birds and raptors – including hawks, falcons and eagles – soar overhead at Hawk Hill. Because open water doesn’t support the thermals that birds need to stay aloft, they use the headlands to gain altitude for the 2-mile crossing of the Golden Gate. Bring binoculars. Go 1.8 miles up Conzelman Rd, park along the road and walk up the west side of the hill; for a map and details on which birds are there now, see www.ggro.org.
reviewed
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C
Marine Mammal Center
Marine Mammal Center, on the hill above Rodeo Lagoon, is the largest marine mammal hospital in the world. In 2009 the center opened its all-green, solar-powered hospital, with observation decks for visitors to get close to the recovering patients (mostly seals and sea lions) before they’re released back into the wild. Spring brings oh-so-cute new pups – and the most visitors. Kids love the hands-on exhibits and see-through glass walls to the science labs and animal rooms.
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Out of Africa Wildlife Park
Take a walk on the wild side at this animal park, an odd if entertaining mix of zoo, circus and theme park. Close encounters with slithering anacondas and boas are as much part of your visit as Tiger Splash, the most popular show in which the magnificent creatures leap into a pool in pursuit of plastic toys and balloon bags. On a jeep safari you get to train your camera on grazing giraffes, lazing lions and romping rhinos. All in all, more than 400 formerly wild animals make their home here. Take I-17 exit 187 and head towards Cottonwood on Hwy 260 for about 3 miles, then hook a left on Verde Valley Justice Center Rd.
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D
Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery & Eagle Center
A bridge across Ketchikan Creek links the Totem Heritage Center with the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery & Eagle Center. The hatchery raises 350,000 king salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout annually and releases them into the nearby stream. In July or later, you'll see not only the salmon fry but returning adult fish swimming upstream to spawn.
The center also maintains an eagle pavilion, home to a pair of eagles who were injured and can no longer fly. Thus the 25-minute tours are dubbed 'Live Eagles & Salmon', providing an interesting lesson in the salmon's life cycle and an opportunity to get close and personal to our national symbol.
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St Herman Harbor
A great place to look for sea lions, which often use the Dog Bay Breakwall as a haulout, while eagles are usually perched in the trees onshore.
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