St. Louis is Wild: Animal Encounters for Every Age

Arguably the best-kept secret in the St. Louis area, the Endangered Wolf Center introduces visitors to endangered species of canids such as Mexican wolves, American red wolves and African painted dogs. In addition to daytime tours, the center offers nighttime howls.

Families with kids flock to Grant’s Farm – and for good reason. The St. Louis treasure boasts more than 900 animals, from antelopes to yaks and camels to Clydesdales, along with storied architecture. People love to feed the goats, but be careful – those little guys can be aggressive!

It’s a deer. It’s a bison. It’s a wild turkey! Lone Elk Park, a 546-acre wildlife management area, offers frequent wildlife sightings whether you drive or walk. If your caravan can handle it, follow the White Bison Trail – a three-mile loop with twists and climbs – for more animal encounters.

Life is better with a pet, and Purina Farms teaches visitors how to connect with theirs on a deeper level. At the Purina Farms Visitor Center, you and your brood can while away the day with incredibly skilled dogs, adorable adoptable cats and domestic farm animals.

Witness bears splashing in plunge pools, monkeys swinging through the trees and penguins squawking for more fish – all at the free Saint Louis Zoo. The bucket list attraction also boasts the Emerson Zooline Railroad and the Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel, which keep the thrills coming.

Looking for an enchanting experience? Head to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, a delightful division of the Missouri Botanical Garden. On any given day, more than 60 species of tropical butterflies dance through the conservatory, which also houses more than 150 tropical plants.

Hey, there’s a shark on track 36! The St. Louis Aquarium was retrofitted in a 19th-century train station, and visitors of all ages love discovering which creatures now live along the tracks. Keep an eye out for green sea turtles, paddlefish, sea dragons, cownose rays and Lord Stanley, the blue lobster, at the interactive aquarium.

On a picturesque plot of land in St. Louis County, Suson Park boasts a wonderful playground, catch-and-release fishing and a working animal farm. Kids can get up close and personal with cows, horses, pigs, sheep, chickens and turkeys, or you and your family can take a leisurely stroll around the grounds.

The World Bird Sanctuary encompasses more than 305 acres and houses more than 200 birds, offering a one-of-a-kind wildlife experience where you can meet a proud eagle, talk to a parrot, encounter a fluffy emu and learn to appreciate vultures. This is one attraction that animal lovers shouldn’t miss.