Northwest Trek

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: Today we took a field trip to the western foothills of Mount Rainier. Our destination was a unique zoological park in Pierce County, about 100 minutes/miles from our place.

We pulled into Northwest Trek a couple of minutes before 10 a.m. The 725-acre park is home to more than 200 animals native to the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Canada. It is on land donated by the pioneering, visionary couple David "Doc" and Connie Hellyer.

At the admission gate, we were assigned a time of 10:50 for a one-hour-ish tram tour around 435-acres of  free-roaming animals.

There, we saw bison, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, deer, turtles, raccoons, trumpeter swans and more, moving freely through meadows and woods.

We spent a fair amount of the day wandering along forested walking paths that weaved among naturalistic exhibits populated by black and brown bears, big cats (lynx, cougars and bobcats), wolves, birds of prey, wolves, coyotes and other native animals.

For the most part, your average zoo offers you a lot closer look at the animals. But the upside to this place is that it offers a glimpse at the animals in a more natural habitat - further away and a less caged in feel.

We probably got closest to the wolves today. CJ was thrilled when this one came so close to him. (I don't think CeeJ noticed the wolf was taking a whiz. ...)  

On our tram tour, we saw several bison, including this beaut. ...

Annabelle noted it has a hump somewhat like a camel. The naturalist assured us it wasn't storing water - it's all muscle, required to hold their big ol' heads up. I suppose is here where I should admit that for lunch Christian and I split a yummy bison burger, which made me feel a tad guilty having just ogled and appreciated the living, breathing thing.  


We also saw some baby bison. Altogether now: "Cuuuuuuuuuuuute!"

Throughout the tour, CJ asked if the animals were mooning him. I found it hard to say that they weren't. case in point - this female elk. ...

We also saw elk with velvet-covered antlers.

Apparently we were lucky on our tour - we saw three moose (mooses? meece?). None of them could be bothered to stand up, however. 

We caught a glimpse of a river otter before he retreated to his (or her) den. 

We learned lots about porcupines thanks to a "trailside" animal encounter with a naturalist (and a porcupine). 

We were happy to visit the wolves at feeding time. They got quite an assortment of taste treats to enjoy.  

We also saw some beautiful birds, including a couple of bald eagles, like this one, who can't fly any more. 

The nature trails section of the park was closed due to the ongoing installation of what sounds like it's going to be a kick-a$$ zipline. Can't wait to see that!