Greeted by Mickey Pierce, Educational Director and General Manager, I was surprised to learn that my MetroFamily credentials were not the reason for our personal attention. In fact, part of what makes this “zoo” different is the personalized attention each visitor receives while touring the facility. As we walked the peaceful dirt trails in the wooded sanctuary, Pierce gave us the history of the zoo and told us the individual rescue stories of many of the animals.

Mickey opened the gate to the exhibit and handed me a slice of wheat bread. “We only feed them wheat bread because it’s healthier for them just like it is for humans,” he smiled. As we pass through the gate, Jackson, an eight-year old blind Red Kangaroo greeted us. “How’s my buddy?” Mickey beamed as if greeting one of his own kids. Mickey scratches Jackson’s neck while Jackson sniffs to gently nibble the bread from our hands; Mickey describes how Jackson is an example of the zoo’s outreach program. As one of the zoo’s rescued animal ambassadors that tours Oklahoma, Jackson recently visited a school for the physically challenged. A young blind girl hugged Jackson and said, “I know you’re blind and so am I. We’ll get through this.”

Located southeast of Norman and surrounded by hills and trees, the Little River Zoo was founded by animal lovers Bob and Janet Schmid 22 years ago as a therapy program working with troubled youth. The zoo has been open to the public for 16 years and has grown to house over 400 animals with over 100 species on 50+ acres with room for expansion.

The zoo’s primary mission is humane outreach programs designed to educate children (and adults) about the importance of coexisting. “We use the animals to open up communication to kids,” Pierce explains. The animals “help kids to care about things outside of themselves.” Animals at the zoo are all rescued (or born in the zoo from rescued animals). Jackson, the blind kangaroo, is an example—he was born blind at the zoo and kicked out of his mother’s pouch. Kids from Jackson Elementary School who were touring the facility found the nearly dead animal on the trail and notified zoo officials. Janet Schmid then carried the baby joey in a self-devised “pouch” made from bathing suits and other material and nurtured him back to health.

As we continue our tour, I can’t help but wonder how animals from all around the world made it here to Oklahoma. Animals include copper-topped tamarins, capuchin monkeys, wallabies, hybrid wolves and fennec foxes to name just a few. Pierce explains that people often purchase the animals from pet traders who bring the animals from other countries. Eventually, as these families realize the difficulty in raising an exotic animal, they begin calling organizations like the Little River Zoo to take them off their hands. Zoo animals may also come from medical research labs, abusive situations, other zoos or legal confiscations. The zoo also provides sanctuary for many native wildlife species like coyotes, cougars, skunks and black bears. “We never sell our animals, and [we] release them back into the wild after rehabilitation when possible,” explains Pierce.

The animals also give zoo officials the opportunity to explain the importance of protecting our environment. Teaching about the animals’ natural habitats and living styles helps to explain the importance of making good decisions about how we live our daily lives. For example, when kids learn that trees are important to monkeys’ survival or that trash contaminates the food supplies, they learn the importance of planting a tree or picking up trash. The zoo wants to teach about “making the best effort to each other, the animals and our planet,” says Pierce.

Little River Zoo is a unique and educational experience for all ages. Outreach programs include Junior Zookeeper day and overnight camps where kids participate in structured hands-on activities to learn the ins and outs of being a zookeeper. The zoo can also bring some of the animals to schools or community organizations in their “You Can Make a Difference” program.
• Located at 3405 SE 120th Ave, ¾ mile south of Highway 9.
• For more information about the zoo, the outreach programs, to make donations or find out other ways you can help, call 405-366-7229 or visit LittleRiverZoo.com.
• Open daily from 10am-5pm

Karen Mitchell, a lifelong resident of the Oklahoma City metro area, lives in Edmond with her husband, Mark, teenage son, Ryan, and one spoiled Welsh Corgi. Daughter, Megan, attends OSU in Stillwater.