There have been tales about the beasts that roam the Upper Peninsula, from bears & cougars to wolves and Bigfoot.

Do you know what others you can find in the U.P.?

ALLIGATORS
ANACONDAS
CAMELS
CHIMPANZEES
HIPPOPOTAMUS
HYENAS
JACKALS
KANGAROOS
LEOPARDS
LIONS
PYTHONS
TIGERS
WALLABIES

And that’s just a tip of the iceberg!

The DeYoung Family Zoo has been open to the public since 1990, open every year from May to October. It’s located in the town of Wallace and owned by Bud DeYoung and Carrie Cramer.

The zoo isn’t meant to be a well-kept secret, but many Michiganders have no idea this even exists in our state. Those who do know have made the journey to the other end of the U.P. to visit.

What else to they have?

Along with the already-listed ones above, according to their website they have a liger, Russian grizzly bears, mountain lions, wolves, marbled polecats, kinkajous, coyotes, ring-tailed lemurs, a wild mustang, coatis, yak, white-fronted capuchin, binturong, boa constrictors, lizards, mouflon sheep, lanner falcon, crested porcupines, spider monkeys, bobcats, badgers, emus, New Guinea singing dogs, olive baboons, lynx, Arctic foxes, ducks, geese, chickens, rabbits, palm civets, tortoises, pine martens, fennec fox, albino raccoon, and red fox! Not to mention spiders, bugs, frogs, and all kinds of reptiles!

The owners are also involved in rehabilitating local species like white-tailed deer, raccoons, and any other animals in distress or need of help.

Plus, you may be able to hold some of these wild creatures…ever hold a large snake? There is a petting zoo full of domestic animals you can pet and feed.

The TV program “My Life is a Zoo” is about the DeYoung Family Zoo and can be seen on National Geographic Wild’s cable station.

The DeYoung Family Zoo is a must-visit when you travel the U.P. Not just for the entertainment and enjoyment that the animals provide, but to learn more about protecting any or all animals, whether they’re local, wild, tame, domestic, or international.

Bring the kids, and be prepared to take some video/pictures...take a look below!

MORE THINGS TO DISCOVER IN MICHIGAN!

The Bra Trees of Michigan

Maybury Sanitorium

Sunken Objects at the Soo Locks

Haunted Oak Parks: Charlotte & Lansing

Abandoned Grand Haven Mine

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