One of the activities provided for the citizens of Logan is the Willow Park Zoo.
The zoo holds approximately 100 different species of animals, including golden and bald eagles.
“The numbers vary a lot,” said Rod Wilhelm, Willow Park Zoo superintendent. “During the spring and summer season, numbers are up as we raise a number of young birds, and sometimes some mammals.”
Willow Park Zoo receives many of its animals from other zoos and reputable private breeders. The zoo also has its own breeding program that helps sustain its animals. Some of the animals have been injured and will never return to the wild, but the zoo tries to return as many endangered species as it can, according to Wilhelm.
“It’s amazing the amount of species that are here,” said Rachel Downer, a frequent visitor to the zoo. “Did you know there are over 40 different species of duck alone?”
Even though there is a large amount of animals at the zoo, there are only 12 workers that maintain it: three full-time employees who overlook the events, the staff and handle the public relations. The other nine are part-time workers who care for the animals, as well as the buildings and grounds.
“It’s great having the chance to work here,” said Ryan Little, a part-time worker of Will Park Zoo. “I get to spend time with animals that a lot of people never get the chance to see.”
The zoo does not have a formal gate admission and is open to public for a donation of $2 for adults and 50 cents for children. A lot of the funding for the zoo is from a grant from the Cache County RAPZ tax fund, a small operation and maintenance grant from the State of Utah and any earned revenue from fund-raising events, according to Wilhelm.
The zoo would like to add more exhibits but lacks the funds needed.
“We completed an exciting master plan a few years ago,” Wilhelm said. “But funding has been reduced drastically, and until other funding is found, nothing new can happen.”
Willow Park Zoo will be closing Dec. 1 for the winter season. It will reopen in late March.
According to Wilhelm, there are two reasons for the closing of the zoo. The cold weather stops people from visiting the zoo, preventing any income. Snow and ice removal is very costly and the zoo does not have the funds to keep it operating.
c. moffitt
