Wildlife West Nature Park

Name: Wildlife West Nature Park
Address: 87 N Frontage Rd, Edgewood, NM 87015, USA, Albuquerque, NM, US
Telephone: (505) 281-7655
Rating: 4.7

4.7(859) Albuquerque, NM

Directions Website

About Wildlife West Nature Park

Wildlife West Nature Park stands out as a unique non-profit animal rescue sanctuary dedicated to caring for animals that can no longer survive in the wild. It offers a deeply educational and emotional experience, providing visitors with close encounters with diverse rescued species (including wolves, mountain lions, jaguars, elk, deer, foxes, owls, and eagles) and sharing the individual, touching stories of how each animal came to reside there. The park emphasizes animal welfare, with all entry fees directly supporting the creatures, making it more than just an attraction but a conservation effort.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Families seeking an educational and emotionally resonant experience with rescued wildlife.Animal lovers who appreciate and wish to support animal welfare and rescue efforts.Visitors needing an accessible outdoor activity, especially those with strollers or wheelchairs.Day trips for families looking for a substantive outing, particularly from areas like Albuquerque.Families interested in themed attractions (Wild West) and community events.

Why families love it

Operates as a rescue sanctuary for birds and animals unable to return to the wild.
Offers opportunities for close animal encounters, such as howling with wolves and getting very close to mountain lions in the Cat House.
Each exhibit includes interesting and touching stories about how the animals were rescued and came to live at the park.
Features a fully paved trail system, ensuring accessibility for all visitors, including those in wheelchairs.
Showcases a diverse array of animals, including elk, deer, jaguars, foxes, owls, eagles, wolves, and mountain lions.
Staff are highly dedicated, clearly cherishing and prioritizing the well-being of the animals.

Insider tips

Plan to spend several hours at the park to fully appreciate all the animals and their stories, as it is easy to spend an extended period there.
Consider visiting on a beautiful fall day, as one reviewer found it particularly wonderful.
It is highly recommended as a worthwhile day trip, especially if traveling from Albuquerque.
Be mindful of specific animal behaviors; one reviewer noted to 'beware of bobcat it will try to pee on you'.
Pay attention to specific park instructions, such as 'no puffin' (the meaning of which is not clarified in reviews but suggests specific rules).
If you enjoy nature walks, ensure you allocate time for the 'nature trail walk' as one reviewer regretted missing it.

Good to know before you go

No specific times or situations to avoid were mentioned in the provided reviews.
No specific negative concerns regarding the facility or operations were reported by parents in these reviews. One reviewer mentioned a specific animal behavior to 'beware of bobcat it will try to pee on you'.

Value: The park is described as 'worth every dollar,' with reviewers emphasizing that all proceeds go directly to the animals, highlighting its non-profit commitment and the impactful use of visitor funds. No specific entry fees were mentioned.
Accessibility: Features a 'fully paved trail system, ensuring accessibility for all visitors, including those in wheelchairs'.
Safety: A specific warning was given regarding a bobcat's behavior: 'beware of bobcat it will try to pee on you'. No other general safety features (e.g., staff monitoring, first aid stations) were explicitly detailed.

What parents say

Laura Scott

5.0

"What a wonderful rescue sanctuary for birds and animals who can no longer return to the wild. Very lovely facility, they have a Wild West theme and hold some community events throughout the year. So many interesting stories of how the animals came to live here. They all have names and are happy to see you. We thoroughly enjoyed the paved walkway, we didn't get a chance to do the nature trail walk but will come back another time. We had a great time, it's just off the highway and easy to get to."

5 months ago

Paul Kvederis

5.0

"Went to visit this wildlife park with my friend and had a very fun time here. Was able to howl with the wolfs and got to be pretty close to all the aninals. This is worth every dollar plus it all goes to the animals here and remember no puffin!!! Oh and beware of bobcat it will try to pee on you. 😅"

a month ago

Justin Syme

5.0