Trailside Encounters are a great opportunity to talk to a real animal keeper about how the species lives in the wild, what it eats, how it fits in the ecosystem and more. Discovery carts will be stationed nearby with more activities and information. Different animals will be stars at each presentation so visitors will be surprised every time.

Though only the keeper touches the animals, this is an opportunity for visitors to see the individual animals outside their exhibits. They have been conditioned to being around people, but they are still wild so visitors will be asked to stay at a designated distance from the keeper and animal.

The presentations last about 15 to 20 minutes. The keeper will be attuned to the behaviors of the animal and, if it becomes stressed, the presentation will end.

Sponsored by Chiropractic Healthcare Center of Sumner.