Press Releases
City Nature Challenge Returns April 26
April 16: How many species can you spot and record? The annual global City Nature Challenge returns April 26-April 29 and asks everyone to become a scientist for an hour, a day, however long they have.
Northwest Trek Will Be Closed Friday and Saturday Due to Expected Inclement Weather
Jan. 11: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville will be closed tomorrow, Jan. 12, and Saturday, Jan. 13, due to expected inclement weather.
Tacoma Students Engage with Wildlife on Field Trip to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
Dec. 4: Lister Elementary students take a field trip to Northwest Trek as part of the Wildlife Champions program.
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Wild-Born Hoary Marmot Arrives at Northwest Trek
Nov. 9: A hoary marmot living in Mount Rainier National Park recently arrived at his new Northwest Trek home.
Free Admission for Veterans to Point Defiance Zoo & Northwest Trek
Nov. 2: U.S. military veterans are invited to enjoy Northwest Trek and Point Defiance Zoo for free on Nov. 11.
Point Defiance Zoo, Northwest Trek Win Award For Anti-Wildlife Trafficking Display
Sept. 20: Point Defiance Zoo & Northwest Trek recently won the Certificate of Excellence in Public Service for their anti-wildlife trafficking display.
Northwest Trek, partners return endangered northern leopard frogs to wild
Sept. 5: Partners work together to raise and release endangered northern leopard frogs
Exciting Weekend of Animal Events at Pierce County Zoos
Aug. 28: Watch animals feast on their favorite foods at Northwest Trek & enjoy icy treats at Point Defiance Zoo Sept. 2-4
Endangered Northern Leopard Froglets Growing Fast
June 21: Hundreds of northern leopard frogs will leap back into the wild soon.
Hundreds of local community scientists participated in City Nature Challenge
May 31: More than 1,400 species identified in Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area.
Rescued Moose Calves Make Public Debut
Jan. 26: Three orphaned moose calves, named Atlas, Luna, and Callisto, will make their public debut at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park Friday (Jan. 27).
2022 Releases
Nov. 15: For the holidays, consider gifting those close to you something wildly fun to experience together at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium or Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.
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Sept. 28: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park earned kudos and another five years of accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).
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Sept. 8: Put on a costume and explore Northwest Trek Wildlife Park at twilight during Hoot ‘n’ Howl weekends in October.
Hoot ‘n’ Howl Event Page | Download pdf
Aug. 18: Antlers clashing and high-pitched whistling noises. Both are signs of the annual rut (elk breeding season) at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. Guests can get up close to the excitement in the 435-acre Free-Roaming Area this September and October during a Keeper Adventure Tour.
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Aug. 17: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is now home to three Alaskan moose calves after they were orphaned in the wild earlier this summer. Keepers have named the almost 3-month-old calves Atlas, Luna, and Callisto (Cuh-list-o) after the moons of several planets.
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Aug. 10: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) are partnering with scientists from Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCSC) to test the effectiveness of a promising new bat-saving treatment to help wild bats survive the effects of white-nose syndrome.
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Aug. 8: Watch animals feast on their favorite foods at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and enjoy icy treats at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Sept. 3-5.
Feeding Frenzy Event Page | Download pdf
Aug. 4: Hundreds of endangered northern leopard frogs will leap back into the wild at the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge in Grant County this month.
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July 1: Since its first festivities in 1983, guests to Northwest Trek have kept the annual Slug Fest event sluggin’ along, celebrating the greenish-yellow banana slug year after year. This year, the unusual tradition returns July 30 and July 31 from 10am-4pm.
June 17: It’s baby season at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. Guests can try and spot three Roosevelt elk calves and six black-tailed deer fawns in the 435-acre Free-Roaming Area during a Wild Drive or Keeper Adventure Tour.
Hundreds Of Local Community Scientists Participate In City Nature Challenge
June 15: More than 650 observers took part in this year’s City Nature Challenge and more than 1,000 species were identified in the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area.
June 7: Five of our original trams are now up for auction. The auction is running from June 6 – 27.
June 1: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium are celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with Pride weekend events June 25-26, in partnership with Rainbow Center and Oasis Youth Center.
May 25: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and partners unveil a first-of-its-kind interactive installation to help stop wildlife trafficking.
May 12: Northwest Trek Wildlife is taking extra precautions to protect their birds from highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu.
April 25: Annual global event April 29‐May 2 offers opportunity for Puget Sound folks to discover nearby wildlife, help science and get outside safely.
April 15: Dickman Mill Park and Wildlife Champions education program both win awards for outstanding achievement from Washington Parks & Recreation Association.
April 1: For the fourth consecutive year, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is certified as sensory-inclusive.
March 25: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park will be open daily (April 2-April 10) just in time for spring breaks and there will be plenty to see and do.
Northwest Trek Mourns Loss of Beloved Moose Birch
Feb. 23: Birch, a beloved moose at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, died yesterday after a sudden and severe decline in his health.
Wild Child Weekends
Jan. 10: Wild Child Weekends is the perfect time to get your kids close to nature at Northwest Trek, where two kids 12 or under get in free for every paid adult general admission this weekend.