Bearizona!!! Awesome place to check out!!

Today we gathered up the troops and headed for Bearizona ... a drive through wild animal park here in Williams.  Sometimes you wonder whether it would be worth the trip, or the money .. $20 each.  We figured after reading that 6,000 people went through their facility on labor day, that it would be worth visiting.   And it truly was!!!

The entrance gate gives you an idea of the types of animals they have.  Bear, wolves, mountain sheep ... and did I mention bears??  They asked that you keep your windows closed ... but who can take good pictures through a window??  First up was Rocky Mountain Goats and Donkeys.

Next up American Bison, Alaskan Tundra Wolves and Arctic Wolves.

Eating dinner .....

Dall Sheep ... when the Raven got a little too close, the sheep ducked his head ... look out below!!

Next up a herd of White Bison ... one bull, three cows, three calves and one teenager in a gorgeous meadow!!

And finally to the bears.  First we saw one ... then another ... then were REALLY surprised to see many many more!!!  Fat and sassy, most were snoozing in the noonday sun!  This guy hugging the tree!

Back at the main building, just in time for the High Country Raptor show.  We were kind of rushed and I didn't get the camera set up perfectly ... but you get the picture!  Owls and hawks flew inches over our heads!!

Except this guy didn't fly!!!  He just bothers other birds until they get sick and throw up ... that's his dinner!!

After the bird show we walked around to see what other critters they had, including 12 new bear cubs born this last year!!

Beaver ...

A beautiful Canadian Lynx ...

This little cutie pie raccoon posing on their rocks ... which by the way are wire and mesh covered recycled city buses.  Pretty inventive ...

And the best part ... after the bird show, they asked for donations.  Just give your dollar to the caged Raven and they would put it in the donation box for you.  Amazingly, they did!!!  

We soon discovered just how smart these guys are.  When they put a dollar in the can, they get a treat ... dog food.  For every dollar, they got a small piece.

Didn't take this one long at all to figure out how to take the dollars back OUT of the bucket ... then put them back IN ... and they would get ANOTHER treat.  The raven did this trick time after time until the trainer finally came and got all the money so she couldn't reach it!!  She did succeed in getting lots of extra treats.

A great place to take the kids ... but I would probably suggest keeping the windows closed ... especially around the wolves and bears!!!!!