Animal Ark

The Animal Ark, just north of Reno, NV, is a wildlife sanctuary and education center located on 38 acres in the high desert. The Ark is home to dozens of injured, abandoned or non-releasable wild animals including mountain lions, bears, foxes and Khan, a white tiger.

Best and worst time to go to the Animal Ark
One of the best times to go to the Animal Ark is when they are having a special event such as the cheetah run or wolf howl. The sanctuary will let one of their cheetahs run in a large open area; participants can view from a safe, but intimate distance. Since the Ark is located in the desert, July and August can be very hot mid-day and the walking paths are exposed to the sun.

Must see/do at the Animal Ark
The must see animals at the Ark are the big cats. Because of the space they have to roam and the accessibility, this might be one of the best places to see them up close. Other wonderful animals are the birds of prey like owls and hawks - catch them in early morning before their naps. Another nice thing to do is have a picnic at the sanctuary's covered and playground area.

Admission to the Animal Ark
Admission to the Ark is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors. $6.50 for children under 3 years and free for children 2 and under.

Parking and public transportation at the Animal Ark
The sanctuary is outside of Reno, so there is plenty of parking. However, there is a dirt road to get out to the sanctuary that might be muddy in the winter. Unfortunately, the public bus system does not go out to the Ark. The Ark does supply golf carts for a donation to visitors who have difficulty walking on dirt trails.

Food at the Animal Ark
There are no restaurants at the Animal Ark, but the store does sell snacks, drinks and ice cream. Bring a picnic or visit one of the restaurants in nearby Lemmon Valley.

Insider tip for visitors to the Animal Ark
The Animal Ark is actually run by solar and wind power and they also have a water recycling system. Ask any of the Ark guides for more information on these environmental features of the Animal Ark.

Author's bio: Christina Nellemann is a Reno-based writer who loves not only the beautiful big cats at the Animal Ark, but also the beautiful location.