7 fun ways you can interact with animals in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Have you ever wanted to feed a giraffe or snuggle a snake? In Utah, you can. Below are some places where you can get one-on-one time with animals you might not encounter every day, including foxes, penguins, capybaras, and more.

Hold a snake and feed reptiles

Clint’s Reptile Room in Springville offers a unique experience with reptiles. Fridays, Mondays, and Saturdays (starting May 24), you can visit between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to meet, hold, and even feed reptiles. Private events can also be scheduled Tuesday through Thursday.

The founder, Clint, started out with a YouTube channel called “Clint’s Reptiles.” He has a PhD in biology education and a Master’s in evolutionary ecology. Visitors can arrive any time between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., but an hour is recommended to get the full experience. More information on booking and tickets can be found here.

Cuddle and brush cows

Fold of Liberty Farms allows visitors to sit down with Highland cows — known for being fluffy. According to their website, you can book a 30-minute session to pet, brush, and feed the cows and calves. Groups are limited to 20 people, so everyone will have time to interact and meet the cows.

The opportunity is running until August, according to their website. Most of the upcoming sessions are sold out, but keep an eye out for future dates. You can “book a cuddle” here.

Meet penguins and stingrays

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper offers encounters with their penguins and stingrays. You can book an encounter here.

Visitors can book an encounter with Gentoo penguins Thursday through Tuesday at 1 p.m. It begins with an educational activity; afterward, guests put on parkas, gloves, and boots and meet the penguins. You can hand-feed the penguins, and groups are limited to ten people, ensuring everyone gets an opportunity to meet them during the 50-minute experience.

To feed and pet the stingrays, visitors can book an encounter at 11:30 a.m. Thursday through Tuesday. The encounter lasts 20 minutes, and guests will learn about the different stingrays in the touch pool while they pet and feed them.

Meet capybaras and kangaroos

Ivie Acres Farm and Petting Zoo offers tours alongside the opportunity to feed capybaras and kangaroos. To visit the petting zoo, a reservation is required. Visitors can book a tour and see camels, kangaroos, donkeys, goats, and many more animals.

Camel and pony rides are also offered for an additional cost. For capybara and kangaroo encounters, food is included. You can find out more about booking a tour or animal encounter here.

Milk a cow and ride a pony

Curiosity Farms at Thanksgiving Point offers families an opportunity to meet farm animals up close. Visitors can feed goats and pigs, pet rabbits, milk cows, and even get a pony ride. Cow milking happens Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The “animals up close” experience is held on the same days at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. daily.

Pony rides are available for children 10 and under. There is also a train ride and playground at Curiosity Farms. Find out more about visiting here.

Feed giraffes or tour habitats

Utah’s Hogle Zoo offers visitors the opportunity to feed their giraffes. There are also options to tour some of the facilities behind the scenes at the largest zoo in Utah. You can learn more about these experiences here.

During the giraffe feed experience, you can hand-feed giraffes from a terrace that’s head-height for the animals. Hogle Zoo says that proceeds support conservation goals, including contributions to the Giraffe Conservation Fund. These feedings are held Fridays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

A tour of the giraffe barn is also available, separate from the feeding experience. Up to five people can go behind the scenes and learn how Hogle Zoo’s giraffes are cared for and what their homes look like at the zoo. The event starts at 1:30 p.m. and lasts 30-45 minutes. It must be booked in advance.

Visitors can also book a tour of the African Savanna section of the zoo. The tour will teach guests about how they care for lions, warthogs, and meerkats. The tour is limited to five people and lasts roughly 30-45 minutes. It starts at noon and must be booked ahead of time.

A tour of the L.S. Skaggs Animal Health Center is also available. The health center is not usually open to guests, but up to five participants can book a special tour to view what happens in the facility. The zoo says that guests will “have the opportunity to look at x-rays, blood samples, and meet an ambassador animal” while learning about veterinary care at the zoo. The event starts at 2:30 p.m. and lasts 30-45 minutes.

Meet a fox or feed a raccoon

At Otters and Others Zoo and Conservation, visitors can book two up-close experiences with unique animals that aren’t seen at every zoo. General admission will also allow visitors to see the animals that have been rescued or taken in by Otters and Others. More information on visiting can be found here.

The fox encounter offers a “unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these enchanting creatures,” according to their website. Guests can observe and interact with foxes while being educated on their behavior and conservation efforts.

Visitors also have a unique opportunity to book an encounter with a raccoon. During the experience, you can hand-feed a “pup cup” or treat to the raccoons and watch them play. “It’s an educational and entertaining opportunity for animal enthusiasts of all ages to get up close and personal with raccoons in a safe and controlled environment,” the website says.