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Maine Wildlife Park in Gray Offers One-Stop Animal Viewing

April 29, 2009 - GRAY -- People travel from all over the state to see the mountain lions, lynx, eagles and other majestic animals living at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray.

But some of the animals come from even farther away.

Consider one of the newest residents this spring: two raccoons from Oklahoma.

"They were raised as pets in Oklahoma, where that's legal, but then the people moved here, where it's not because of rabies issues," said Lisa Kane, the park's supervisor. "The most common reason animals come here is permanent injuries, but the second most common is that they were kept illegally as pets."

The park – started as a place for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to care for abandoned, injured or confiscated animals – has grown into one of the state's most popular attractions over the past 15 years or so.

Where else can you see moose, bear, deer, coyotes, fishers, peacocks and some 20 other species all in one spot? In one afternoon?

The park opened for the season April 15, just in time for school vacation week. Besides the animals, there are trails through the woods, a picnic area, a nature store and a snack shack. Several of the trails are themed, including the "Tree Trail" where people can read descriptions of, and view, various Maine trees.

People can feed many of the animals with food sold at the park. But they are prohibited from feeding animals any food they bring to the park.

The 200-acre park has some animals in zoo-like pens, but there has been an effort made over the past few years to keep more of them in natural surroundings. The deer and moose yards, for instance, blend into the surrounding woods.

This year, there is a new porcupine area off the "Deer Trail," with porcupines roaming inside a large area fenced off by a new kind of wire mesh that Kane says is "almost invisible," so it's easier to see the animals.

Last year, the park used the same mesh material to build a giant octagonal enclosure for its bald eagle.

Each animal at the park has its own story as to why and how it got there, like the new raccoons. Park workers are happy to share if you ask, Kane said.


By RAY ROUTHIER, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, April 25, 2009


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago


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