Animal Ark

Animal Ark As a wildlife sanctuary, our mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through wildlife education for the Reno community and beyond - Visit Us Today!
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www.animalark.org Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center since 1986, is located 28 miles north of Reno and is a safe haven for injured, abandoned and otherwise non-releasable wild animals who act as ambassadors for their species. Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center offers a recreational educational experience for people of all ages. It conducts outreach programs in the local s

chools and wildlife/environmental tours for children and adults alike at its 38 acre facility. Interpretive signs and Docents give visitors the opportunity to learn about the world around them. Our staff and volunteers consist of educators, biologists, and college students in addition to retired individuals. All share a love of wildlife and sharing what they know!

🍂 September is here, and we’ve got plenty happening at Animal Ark! 🐾Mark your calendars for these upcoming special event...
09/01/2026

🍂 September is here, and we’ve got plenty happening at Animal Ark! 🐾

Mark your calendars for these upcoming special events:

🎨 Sept. 5 | Painting at the Ark — 1 PM
Join Painting by April for a guided painting session and create your own jaguar or tiger masterpiece! All ages welcome.

🌙 Sept. 5 | Ark at Dark — 8 PM
Explore Animal Ark after dark with our expert keepers and learn about the nocturnal habits of some of your favorite animals. Limited tickets remain!

🔭 Sept. 12 | Stargazing — 9 PM
Explore the night sky with special telescopes and programming presented by the Fleischmann Planetarium, all from our dark-sky location at Animal Ark.

🦎 Sept. 19 | Education Expo Community Day — 10 AM–4:30 PM
Enjoy a day at the Ark while getting hands-on with activities presented by local nonprofits and educational organizations. Kids enter FREE!

There’s lots more to come this fall, so keep an eye on our calendar for upcoming events in October and beyond! 🍁

🎟️ Tickets and event details: animalark.org -> Buy Tickets button at the top right of the home page -> Events

08/31/2026

Even bears get itchy noses sometimes.

Come visit Gibbs the black bear tomorrow, September 1st, for our first day open after the Bug Fire!

08/28/2026

Happy 10th birthday to Lily the tiger!

Education Expo Community Day is BACK!We’re excited to welcome our community back to Animal Ark for our second Education ...
08/27/2026

Education Expo Community Day is BACK!

We’re excited to welcome our community back to Animal Ark for our second Education Expo Community Day on Saturday, September 19, from 10 AM–3 PM!

And there’s something extra special about this event…

🎉 KIDS ENTER FREE! 🎉

Spend the day exploring the Ark and connecting with organizations from across Northern Nevada that are inspiring curiosity, learning, conservation, and a love for the world around us.

This year’s participating organizations include:

🦖 Nevada Historical Society
🔭 Fleischmann Planetarium
🦌 Nevada Wildlife Federation
🐦 Northern Nevada Bird Alliance
🦅 Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW)
🌲 Great Basin Outdoor School
🐍 Cold-Blooded Critters 4-H
🏛️ Wilbur D. May Museum
🌳 Washoe County Parks
🌾 Nevada Department of Agriculture
📚 Washoe County Library
💧 Walker Basin Conservancy

And, of course, food trucks will be on site, so you can make a whole day of it!

Bring the kids, explore, learn something new, meet some amazing community organizations, visit the animals, and enjoy a day at the Ark. 🐾

📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 10 AM–3 PM
🎟️ Kids enter FREE! Tickets for all other guests are available on our website at animalark.org -> Buy Tickets -> Events -> Education Expo

We can’t wait to see you there! ❤️

08/27/2026

Some of our animal residents may have a few more nicknames than others…

As the school year is gearing up for our local students, so is the education season for our animal ambassadors!
08/25/2026

As the school year is gearing up for our local students, so is the education season for our animal ambassadors!

Join us for Ark at Dark on September 5 from 8–10 PM for an evening tour of Animal Ark with our keepers! You’ll get a cha...
08/24/2026

Join us for Ark at Dark on September 5 from 8–10 PM for an evening tour of Animal Ark with our keepers! You’ll get a chance to see what some of our animals are up to after the sun goes down and learn more about the behaviors that make nighttime at the Ark so special.

Today's featured night owl—well, night wolf—is Timon! 🐺 Wolves are naturally well-adapted to nighttime activity, with excellent night vision and hearing that helps them navigate and hunt in low-light conditions. They’re also capable of traveling long distances after dark, using their keen senses to stay connected with their pack.

So while you’re winding down for the night, Timon and the rest of our animals may just be getting started.

🎟️ Ark at Dark
📅 September 5
⏰ 8–10 PM

Come see the Ark from a whole new perspective!

Tickets are available now—space is limited, so don’t wait to reserve your spot!

Did you know the North American porcupine is the second largest rodent in the United States? Can you guess the first?
08/23/2026

Did you know the North American porcupine is the second largest rodent in the United States? Can you guess the first?

✨ A big thank-you to our interns! 🐾We’ve officially wrapped up our very first internship cycle, and we couldn’t be more ...
08/22/2026

✨ A big thank-you to our interns! 🐾

We’ve officially wrapped up our very first internship cycle, and we couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who joined us at Animal Ark!

Our interns spent time learning about the day-to-day operations of a wildlife sanctuary, getting hands-on experience, working alongside our team, and discovering all the different pieces that go into caring for the animals and welcoming our guests.

Thank you for bringing your curiosity, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn to the Ark! We hope you’re leaving with new skills, great memories, and an even greater appreciation for the work that goes into wildlife care and conservation. 💚

We’re so glad you were part of the Animal Ark team!

After a difficult couple of weeks, we are excited to share that Animal Ark will reopen to the public on September 1!The ...
08/21/2026

After a difficult couple of weeks, we are excited to share that Animal Ark will reopen to the public on September 1!

The past few weeks have reminded us just how special this place is — not only because of the animals who call the Ark home, but because of the incredible community that has stood beside us. We are so grateful for the firefighters, first responders, wildlife professionals, volunteers, staff, supporters, and neighbors who helped us through an incredibly challenging time.

As we reopen, our animals will continue to return to their normal routines at their own pace. Some animals may be spending more time in their bedrooms or adjusting to changes around the property, so we appreciate your patience and understanding as they settle back in.

And we have some exciting news to share as we reopen…

Meet Boots!

Boots is our newest resident — a beautiful peregrine falcon who joined Animal Ark in July. Boots is a retired falconry bird who is 16 years old, and she is now beginning an entirely new chapter with us.

For the first time in her life, Boots is getting accustomed to being around the public and becoming part of our educational animal family. We can't wait for you to meet her and learn more about this incredible species!

And there's even more to look forward to:

🌙 Ark at Dark — September 5
Join our keepers after hours for a special nighttime experience at the Ark.
🎨 Painting at the Ark — September 5
Enjoy an afternoon of creativity surrounded by the animals and scenery of Animal Ark.

September 1 can't come soon enough. We can't wait to see you back at the Ark. ❤️

Address

1265 Deerlodge Road
Reno, NV
89508

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10am - 4:30pm
Friday 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 4:30pm
Sunday 10am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+17754759626

Website

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