a little outing

Last weekend, we went to Kirshner Wildlife Refuge. It's a little attraction near us that I have always talked about visiting, but have never made the time. We were bored at home, and when your three year old says, "I want to see wild animals," then that's what you do:  You go see wild animals

Most of these animals are unable to live in the wild on their own. Some are blind, some have had injuries, some have imprinted on humans. Some have been bred in captivity and are used for research.  It was interesting to see such big cats up close, and a little depressing to see them caged up.  I had to remind myself that they aren't capable of living in their natural habitat and are being cared for in the best ways possible.

I had a little chuckle at the sleeping Liger. I can't help but think of Napoleon Dynamite every time I hear the word liger..."It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic."

The most entertaining animals of the bunch were the two European brown bears who splashed in the water and wrestled for a good twenty minutes before settling down for afternoon naps. They are in a cyclone fence cage that was driving me crazy to shoot through, and long after the fact, I realized I probably could have changed my camera settings a little to make it easier. So, let's just pretend I was being "artistic" here instead of making rookie mistakes.

The girls were mesmerized, and that was the whole point. And since it didn't take all day, nobody got tired or complained about our makeshift double stroller.  And we still had time for a proper afternoon nap on the way home.