Wildlife Learning Center
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
A unique, smaller-scale venue focused on rehabilitating animals, offering intimate and educational experiences rather than a large traditional zoo. Provides a special, personal feel with opportunities for close animal encounters and supports important animal welfare work.
Key Highlights
- ✓Features rehabilitated animals that are now permanent residents, appearing healthy and happy.
- ✓Knowledgeable staff, specifically guides like 'Laurie', provide in-depth educational insights on various animals (e.g., snakes, bobcats) during tours.
- ✓Opportunities for close-up interactions with animals such as porcupines and hedgehogs, and potentially holding other animals during special experiences.
- ✓Educational signage detailing individual animal stories and species information is posted.
- ✓Offers a generally calming and peaceful experience.
- ✓Lemurs are a particular favorite for some visitors.
Standout Features
- ⭐An exclusive giraffe feeding option for up to 5 people at an additional $100, which includes a 15-20 minute private educational tour and feeding.
- ⭐Offers birthday parties.
- ⭐'Animal experience' programs provide education, display animals, and possibly allow participants to hold them.
- ⭐A small shop sells stuffed animals and drinks at the entrance.
- ⭐Knowledgeable and passionate staff who take pride in their work.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Consider purchasing tickets via Groupon to save money.
- →Be aware it is a smaller facility designed for an 'hour plus visit,' not a full-day zoo experience.
- →For a more interactive visit, consider booking the additional giraffe feeding ($100 for 5 people) or the 'animal experience.'
- →If visiting on a budget, be aware that some visits have featured empty enclosures; it might be beneficial to inquire about animal availability if possible, although this is not explicitly stated as an option.
- →Prepare for a potential 'armpit' smell upon entry.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Some visitors have experienced a significant number of empty cages on multiple visits, leading to a feeling of paying full price for 'half a zoo'.
- ⚠Empty enclosures can result in a very short visit (as little as 20 minutes) with not much to see or do.
- ⚠One reviewer noted an 'armpit' smell upon entry.
- ⚠It is a small spot; those expecting a large, traditional zoo will be disappointed.
Price & Value
General admission costs are implied to be around $15-$20 per person (e.g., $60 for an implied 3-4 people). Savings are possible by purchasing tickets through Groupon. There is a significant additional cost for unique experiences: the giraffe feeding is $100 for a party of up to 5 people, including a private educational tour and feeding. Value for money can be highly variable; some reviewers felt they paid full price for a 'vacant lot' experience due to empty cages, making it feel expensive.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Drinks are available for purchase at the entrance.
- •No explicit mention of outside food being allowed or prohibited.
🚗Parking Info
- •A small parking spot is available, but it offered 'plenty of parking' for at least one visitor's experience.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Described as 'small enough to feel special' and offering a 'calming and peaceful experience,' suggesting manageable crowd levels.
- •No specific peak times or days are noted for crowding.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Animals are reported to be well-kept, clean, and healthy, implying good animal welfare standards.
- •No explicit safety features for visitors (e.g., security personnel, first aid station) are mentioned in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you expect a large-scale, traditional zoo with many different species readily visible in every enclosure.
- • If you are on a very tight budget and cannot risk a visit where many enclosures might be empty, leading to a short experience.
- • If you are sensitive to strong animal-related smells.
- • During times when you want a full-day outing, as it's typically an 'hour plus' visit.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Sloth Social
$200Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Enter our sloth enclosure to meet one of nature’s most unusual animals. Learn about the sloth’s rainforest adaptations and even take a picture next to one! General admission fee still applies.
Includes:
- •Sloth encounter
- •Photo opportunity
Porcupine Dining Time
$80Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Enter our North American porcupine habitat and feed them their favorite snacks while learning about their protective quills! General admission fee still applies.
Includes:
- •Porcupine feeding
- •Learning about porcupines
Giraffic Park
$100Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Meet and feed the tallest land animal in the world! Learn about their fascinating lives and plight in the wild! General admission fee still applies.
Includes:
- •Giraffe encounter
- •Giraffe feeding
Snake Soiree
$60Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Help a biologist hold an 8-foot Red-tailed Boa! Feel its smooth, scaly skin, and learn about how its beautiful color pattern helps to keep it safe! General admission fee still applies.
Includes:
- •Hold an 8-foot Red-tailed Boa
- •Learning about snakes
Armfulla-dillo
$50Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Meet this unique mammal to learn about and even touch its protective armor covering! General admission fee still applies.
Includes:
- •Armadillo encounter
- •Touch an armadillo
Tortoise Time
$50Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Step into the tortoise pen and take the time to learn more about these fascinating creatures while offering them their favorite snacks! General admission fee still applies.
Includes:
- •Tortoise encounter
- •Tortoise feeding
Adventure Tour
$350 for up to 5 participants, $52 for each additional participantDuration: 90 minutes
The most interactive tour offered. General Admission is included in the tour price. Maximum capacity of 7 guests total.
Includes:
- •Meet a Sloth
- •Touch a Reptile
- •Feed a Porcupine
- •Meet a Tortoise
- •Choose one: Meet a giraffe, feed a lemur (from outside of enclosure), or meet an armadillo
Zoofari Tour
$165 for up to 5 participants, $20 for each additional participantDuration: 45 minutes
A guided tour with an opportunity to meet an animal up-close and personal. General Admission is included in the tour price. Maximum capacity of 7 guests total. Additional animal experiences can be added for an additional cost.
Includes:
- •Choose one: Touch an Armadillo, Meet a Giraffe, Feed a Porcupine, or Touch a Snake
BIODIVERSITY BUNDLE (Outreach Program)
$600 + Travel Fee (Additional Presentation - $450)Duration: 1 hour
Enthusiastic Biologists combine wildlife and the State of California Academic Standards for Science.
Includes:
- •North American Porcupine
- •Lizard
- •Bird
- •Tortoise
- •Two Small Mammals
- •Bug or Amphibian
- •Snake
REPTILES & FRIENDS (Outreach Program)
$425 + Travel Fee (Additional Presentation - $300)Duration: 1 hour
Enthusiastic Biologists combine wildlife and the State of California Academic Standards for Science.
Includes:
- •Tortoise
- •Two Lizards
- •Walking Stick
- •Two Snakes
- •Amphibian
- •Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Celebrate at the Center (Birthday Party)
$625 (Weekend - Sat. & Sun.), $550 (Weekday - Mon.-Fri.)Duration: 2 1/2 hours
Birthday celebration at Wildlife Learning Center. Up to 30 guests (children and adults). A $5 charge will be added for each additional guest.
Includes:
- •45 minute animal presentation with 8 animals
- •Reserved pavilion with tables and chairs
- •Access to explore WLC
Picnic Safari (Birthday Party)
$425Duration: 2 1/2 hours
Birthday celebration at Wildlife Learning Center. Up to 20 guests (children and adults). A $5 charge will be added for each additional guest.
Includes:
- •20 minute animal presentation with 4 animals
- •Reserved picnic area with tables and chairs
- •Access to explore WLC
Species Spotlight (Online Program)
$20Duration: Lifetime Access
Educational program designed to inspire children and enrich their imagination, understand biology, and improve critical thinking skills. 100% of proceeds go to caring for wildlife.
Includes:
- •Seven Wildlife Videos (featuring Sid the 2-Toed Sloth, Tippy the 3-Banded Armadillo, Lucy the Eurasian Eagle Owl, Kina the Gray Fox, Twister the African Pygmy Hedgehog, Tag the African Serval, Betty the North American Porcupine)
- •Animal Coloring Book
- •Animal Worksheets
- •Wildlife World Map
Events & Schedule
📅Booking Policy
- • Advanced reservations recommended for general admission
- • Advanced reservations required for Private Interactive Tours
- • Individual Animal Experiences cannot be reserved in advance
- • Birthday Parties require a $150 deposit at the time of booking
🚗Parking Information
- • On-site parking lot available
- • Overflow parking available on both sides of the street
What People Say
What's Great
- Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Carlos Garcia
7 months agoA great little spot to see some really cute animals. I bought my tickets on Groupon and saved a bit by doing so. The parking spot is small, but it offered plenty of parking for my visit. It is a small spot, so don't expect a zoo, but plenty of really cute animals which received rehabilitation and are now permanent residents. It's big enough to enjoy an hour plus visit and small enough to feel special. The animals seem healthy and happy, very nice to see. There is an option (at time of review) to feed the giraffe for an additional $100 for a party of 5 max. From what they told me it offers 15-20 minutes of a private educational tour of the giraffe and even a feeding. Great option, in my opinion. My favorite of the day were the Lemurs.
David Kagel
3 weeks agoWe had a fantastic time touring the animals with our six year old grandson. The work they do here is truly exemplary and the variety of the animals is interesting and great. Our guide Laurie was so knowledgeable whether we were asking questions about the snakes or the bobcats she really knew everything. Our grandson loved spending close up time with the porqupine and hedgehogs. The staff takes such pride in their work it is a real joy to watch and the work they do is so important. We noticed they give parties there as well so we plan to go back for our next party. The time flew by and we can't wait.
Christopher Carbone
a month agoI have been here a few times since 2017 and I always get a really good feeling being here. It’s always a calming and peaceful experience. That said- today’s trip, like one of my other trips- left me feeling like I’d just paid full price to see half a zoo. Every other cage was empty. We were in and out in 20 minutes because there was not much at all to see or do. Now I know what this place is, how it’s funded and kept open. It’s obviously a wonderful place doing wonderful things. That said- for someone like myself who makes minimum wage, who wanted to take my visiting parents somewhere we could enjoy ourselves and spend some time. We could have been told prior to entry, prior to handing over $60, that we were about to walk into a vacant lot. Oh, and I can see crows and squirrels while I’m walking my dog in Hollywood. I know you cannot afford any more empty cages but sheesh.
J Ashmore
2 months agoVery good afternoon outing. The animals were well kept, clean, and there was posted the stories for each one of them including information on the animal species themselves
Cawey Ras
7 months agoFair warning: It does reak of armpits when you walk in, though I did have a pretty good experience the people there were very nice and they have stuffed animals and drinks as you walk in. They also have something called the animal experience there where you get educated about certain animals that they will display, educate, and possibly even let you hold them there.