2019 Press Releases
Winter Wildland returns
Nov. 25. 2019: Winter Wildland returns to Northwest Trek on Dec. 28 and 29, bringing with it wintry sparkle and holiday cheer – plus the chance to burn off some of that winter break energy in nature.
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10 mountain goat kids to find new homes at zoos
Sept. 30, 2019: Ten fluffy white mountain goat kids paused halfway up a log behind the scenes this week at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. They were the largest group of mountain goats the Eatonville wildlife park has ever cared for. But more importantly, the kids represented another successful collaboration relocate mountain goats out of the Olympic mountains.
Toss the Tusk and help protect wildlife
Sept. 25, 2019: Have any ivory carvings tucked away at home? A shark fin souvenir? Thanks to the Washington Animal Trafficking Act, those wildlife products are now illegal to sell in Washington state. Hand them over at Toss the Tusk from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Oct. 26 at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.
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Free admisison for veterans on Veterans’ Appreciation Days
Sept. 17, 2019: U.S. military veterans are invited to enjoy the splendor of Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and the wonder of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium at no charge on Nov. 9, 10 and 11. Veterans’ immediate family members will receive half-off general admission at each zoo.
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Scare up your tickets for Hoot ‘n’ Howl Oct. 11-19
Sept. 13, 2019: Getting wild this fall is just a click away – and twice as much fun as ever. The popular Hoot ‘n’ Howl event at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park has expanded from two to four nights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19, with online tickets on sale now until five days before each event.
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Rip, chew, devour at Feeding Frenzy this weekend
Aug. 28, 2019: Animals will forage for some of the same kinds of meals they would find in the wild during Feeding Frenzy at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park during Labor Day Weekend.
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Seniors get half-off during Senior Month in September
Aug. 13, 2019: Seniors aged 65 or older receive special half-price general admission at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park throughout the month of September. That means a ticket is just $11.50 per senior. There’s also a discount at the cafe and gift shop. Tickets must be bought in person at the front gate.
Eagle Passage opens Aug. 3 at Northwest Trek
July 31, 2019: The eagles have landed at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. And no, we don’t mean space travel. Four handsome bald eagles are set to take their place in Eagle Passage, a brand-new walk-through forested habitat that opens Saturday, August 3 with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.
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Welcome back, wolverines
July 12, 2019: They’re smart, strong and full of personality – and they’re back at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. Brother-and-sister wolverines Rainier and Ahma, both born at Northwest Trek, have returned home, and they will make their official public debut July 13-14 in a newly renovated, 10,800-square-foot habitat.
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Eagle Passage Grand Opening Aug. 3-4
June 13, 2019: Eagle Passage, an immersive, inspiring walk-through habitat, is set for its Grand Opening Weekend Aug. 3-4. It will showcase these iconic American birds, and tell their conservation story from near-extinction in the continental United States half a century ago to a population numbering in the thousands today.
Benton the black bear gets a root canal
June 7, 2019: When veterinarian Dr. Allison Case saw Benton the black bear had a fractured upper canine and exposed root, she decided it was time for a root canal to protect his teeth.
Make “Bear Tracks” this weekend at Northwest Trek
May 13, 2019: At “Bear Tracks,” a new spring event May 17-18 at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, visitors can not only meet grizzly and black bears up close, but learn all about them in a weekend full of bear-themed fun.
Baby animals are here, just in time for Mother’s Day
May 8, 2019: Bison calves, a bighorn lamb – baby animals have arrived in the Free-Roaming Area, just in time for the Mothers’ Day weekend. See them on a Discovery Tram Tour and stay tuned for more.
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Northwest Trek, Point Defiance Zoo designated “sensory-inclusive”
April 10, 2019: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium each recently earned prestigious designation as “sensory inclusive” sites from a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness, acceptance and inclusion for people with autism and other special needs.
Get wild to support wildlife at Trek to the Wild Side fundraiser
Mar. 3, 2019: Imagine spending an evening surrounded by the sights and scents of the forest, enjoying a gourmet dinner – and helping wildlife conservation at the same time. That’s the recipe for “Trek to the Wild Side,” a dinner and auction scheduled at 5 p.m. May 4 for the Northwest Trek Foundation.
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Daily openings and tours coming in March
Feb. 13, 2019: Daily openings at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park are coming this March. Plus, the popular premier Keeper Adventure Tours will soon resume at Northwest Trek, and an all-new Photo Tour program for youths is nearly ready for its debut.
Kids ‘n’ Critters rescheduled to March 9-10
Feb. 12, 2019: Kid’s ‘n’ Critters, one of the most popular events of the year at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, has been rescheduled to March 9 and 10 due to this week’s weather conditions. The annual family bargain days were originally set for President’s Day Weekend.
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Attendance records smashed in 2018 at Northwest Trek, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Jan. 8, 2019: In 2018, 820,776 guests walked through the turnstiles during 2018, the largest such total in Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s 113-year history. Coupled with the 222,294 guests who visited Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, that added up to over 1 million visitors for the sister zoos.
Northwest Trek, Five Mile Drive closed today due to wind
Jan. 6, 2019: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park near Eatonville will be closed all day today due to a wind-related power outage. The Outer Loop of Five Mile Drive in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park will be closed all day today due to trees that fell during last night’s fierce windstorm.