Antlers and Feathers
For only 25 cents, Willow Park Zoo offers many fun and educational experiences for all ages.
The zoo, located at 419 W. 700 South in Logan, started as an aviary in 1971, specializing only in birds. As the years went by, mammals and other types of animals were added, said Jeff Berrett, Willow Park’s zookeeper. Now the zoo has more than 100 different species of animals and about 400 individual animals.
It is open year-round, even during the winter, to feature the animals during every season.
“Winter time is the best time to come for people who like birds and bird watching,” Berrett said. “All of the birds’ feathers are full. During the spring and summer, the birds go through a molt, so they aren’t quite as attractive as they are in the winter.”
Most of the animals stay outside for the winter season. The wallabies and tropical birds, such as parrots and macaws, are the only animals that are put indoors for the winter, Berrett said.
There are more than 100 different species of birds, including many types of raptors, swans, geese, ducks, pheasants, parrots and doves. Also, about 80 different species of birds visit the zoo, some of which nest there, according to the Willow Park Zoo Web site. There are about 12 species of mammals featured at Willow Park. Some include fallow deer, American elk, bobcats, coyotes, lemur, chipmunks, pronghorn, raccoons, red foxes and wallabies.
Willow Park Zoo is constantly adding new animals.
“We add birds quite often,” Berrett said. “We don’t get a lot of big marquis animals or mammals, but we get a lot of birds.”
One of the most interesting and rare animals at Willow Park Zoo, Berrett said, is the Andean Condor, a large vulture that is highly endangered.
The zoo has many tours, and activities for the public. The tours include the wood duck ducklings, pronghords, pheasants and turtles, in places such as the fish pond, coyote canyon, the marsh area and the golden eagle ghost town. There are lunch areas at the zoo as well as places for activities such as biking.
“It is such a good thing for the public to have a zoo so close by,” said Allison Tidwell, a senior majoring in film. “I always ride my bike on the path and have picnics in the summer time.”
Tidwell said her favorite part of Willow Park Zoo has always been the fish pond.
The zoo has many extensive educational programs ranging from pre-school age to high school. Last year alone, Willow Park had a few thousand students come through for the educational programs, Berrett said.
Willow Park is adding a new building that will be dedicated to educate school kids, Berrett said. It will be called the Willow Park Zoo Education Center.
According to the Willow Park Zoo Web site, most of the students who take part in the formal education programs at the zoo go in conjunction with their school curriculum. The new building will allow classroom space and other facilities to enhance these programs.
-kbanks@cc.usu.edu
A bull elk relaxes in the sun during freezing weather Tuesday morning at the Willow Park Zoo. The elk was born at the zoo. (Photo by Scott Davis)
A pair of bald eagles sit on display at the Willow Park Zoo. The eagles are injured and though the zoo cares for them, they are in custody of the Division of Wildlife Resources. (Photo by Scott Davis)