A Must-See Zoo in Northern Wisconsin! Spend your day at the Wildwood Wildlife Zoo and Safari

Updated: May 20

Have you every fed a giraffe carrots? Pet a deer? Watched otters surf on their bellies down a water slide? Listened to howler monkeys howl? Ride a safari ride watching exotic animals roam? Here's a place to make lasting memories for you, your family and friends!

Some places you must visit over and over again. Wildwood WildLife Zoo and Safari is definitely one of those places! It has gone through many stages of development since it first started by Jim Peck back in 1957. Jim loved helping animals and sharing his passion with others. His zoo gained popularity and was well known for visitors to have the ability to pet and feed deer. He sold his zoo to the Domaszek family in 1997 who still own it to this day and, wow, have they made changes through the years. Being in an area of open land in the Northwoods of Wisconsin has given the Domaszek family opportunities for space to expand. While still maintaining the popular petting and feeding deer for guests they’ve added a safari ride, education center, paddle boat creek, walking nature path, and more. When the zoo first opened by Jim Peck it only housed local wildlife in need of help and farm animals that we all know. With the expansion from the Domaszek family this zoo now has over 1,700 animals that include exotic animals that are not local to the area such as endangered and threatened species. It is the second largest zoo in Wisconsin with Milwaukee being the first. If you are ever in the Northwoods of Wisconsin visiting the beautiful town of Minocqua be sure to make a visit at the Wildwood Wildlife Zoo & Safari! You’ll love it! I know I do!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Many Opportunities to Interact with Animals

Just like Humans, many animals are social creators and love to eat. At the Wildwood Wildlife Zoo and Safari you get opportunities to feed deer, giraffes, birds in the aviary, and many other animals including bears. Yes, you read that right! You get to feed the bears. The zoo provide special drink bottles that you place in the fencing of the enclosure. The bears love it and drink it up. However, asking for a bear hug is not recommended.

Bring Cash!

After paying for admission to enter, the zoo provides a lot of other activities that you can do that is great for the whole family. Bringing cash will make your time a whole lot easier and prevent any missed opportunities. It’s never fun to see an activity that looks super fun to do but you waste time searching for an ATM. Cash is a good way to avoid interest fees too.

The Zoo Is NOT Open All Year

When it comes to winter, northern Wisconsin knows how to bring on the snow. When winter season arrives, the zoo moves a large portion of their animals to their indoor facilities to stay cozy warm. Unfortunately, in the winter season the zoo is closed to the public. Typically, they reopen memorial weekend. For the end of season closing, it can vary due to weather. It’s always a good idea to check to make sure they are open before you go.

Great Photo Opportunities

Whether you take pictures as a professional or as a hobby, you'll find plenty of unique opportunities to capture those artistic photos. There are of course fencing and bars that will get in the way of capturing that winning shot. However, there are many spots where the animals are free to roam in open areas or have a large open space. It's very easy to capture that in the wild look.

If you have ever spent time photographing animals, you know how unpredictable those pictures will turn out especially when it's wild. You can't tell the animal to turn their head slightly or when not to blink. However, I found it very easy and enjoyable to be able to find the right angles and positions with spacious atmosphere where I could relax with patience to capture those winning shots. The layout of the park keeps a nice flow for people to walk around and view without disturbing the free roaming animals. Very rarely I had any issues of someone walking in front of my camera or had any sort of feeling of being cramped by people. The animals that are free to roam have areas that are blocked off by people if they wish to not be disturbed or petted. This gives the animals not only their own space but keeps them relaxed and a joy to photograph.

My Experience

The animals are truly happy, and it shows! One thing that really sticks out to me is that the animals truly enjoy living there. How do I know this? Last time I made a visit, there were so many adorable babies! I have never been to a zoo that had so many. Usually, you will hear a report on the news about welcoming a new baby in one of the exhibits. Well, at the Wildwood Wildlife Zoo & Safari they were everywhere! Not only were there so many babies but most of the animals were very active and playing. It’s always a hit or miss when trying to see animals when it might be their nap time. The last time I went I don’t know if it was because it was a gorgeous day or pure luck, but the animals were super playful and active. It was so fun watching them play around. This zoo is one of my many favorite places to go to and enjoy the day. With a location that is filled with so many animals, every visit is a different experience. So, if you visited once you must come back again!

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Location

10094 WI-70

Minocqua, WI. 54548