Teaching Zoo White-tailed Deer Habitat

Conceived and created to provide educational encounters with native Michigan wildlife, the Wild Wonders Wildlife Park is Livingston Conty's only teaching zoo. Home to over thirty species of birds and mammals, sixty plus wildlife ambassadors (animals rehabilitated for permanent injuries such as broken wings or an imprint/lack of fear for people) call the park home and reside in large natural enclosures replicating their specific wild habitat.

While most enclosures were completed in the last several year, a few still remain which were constructed in the 1990's. These enclosures include the Coyote, Sandhill Crane and White-tailed Deer, and has become obsolete and are quickly falling into a state of disrepair. Funding for te Coyote habitat has been raised but construction cannot begin until the deer are moved to their new home.

The White-tailed Deer Habitat will encompass aproximately one half acre divided into two enclosures opposite the teaching zoo's walking trail to highlight this fascinating forest edge mammal in both of their natural habitats, forest and meadow. A two-sided exhibit will allow the deer to browse on natural vegatation throughout the year by excluding the deer to one side at a time allowing the grasses to grow on one side while the other is eaten down. The most exciting feature of this exhibit will be the large L-shaped boardwalk with an observation platform at the apex. Our visitors will have a bird's eye view as they observe these graceful mammals from above. A shelter from the elements and a woodland pond will complete the natural forest edge environment. We estimate the cost of the exhibit to be $25,000.