Hallson Gardens

Went to the Wild life park today
For those not from here, this is a park that only has animals that are or were native to IL. It's a really nice place.
The animals were having a very lazy day LOL.

A few pics I got there today.

Nice pictures Annie! Looks like mine too. Wonder why???? HaHa!

Lol!

How did you get such clear photos? Did they not have bars or chain link? My zoo photos were very difficult to get because of the bars. I got one shot of the Clouded leopard, but only because he was sleeping and it took about 10 minutes of focusing on bars! Forget about the cougars.

Excellent shots! Everyone does look sleepy (except the birds of course!).

Looks like a very cool place!!! Where is this located???

Muffy, I think our pictures look a lot alike because we were standing beside each other

Yep, they are in chain link fences, the birds are like in a big aviary surrounded by wire. For some reason my camera will focus out the fences! If I focus on what ever is inside the fence, the surrounding fence just disappears LOL. I love it when I can do that

The park is in Kickapoo or Edwards (2 very small towns), IL. It also rehabilitates hurt wild animals and releases them when they are well. If they can't be released they keep them. It's REALLY nice out there.
For a while they were going to shut it down with a bunch of other parks in IL. But then we got a new governor, thank god! Now they are staying open

Those are spectacular photos, Annie!

I bet there's a contest somewhere you could win with those!

I love that place, it's been probably 3 years since I've been there. For those of you not familiar with it, it's not a zoo in the classic sense. These animals are in large outdoor enclosures, you walk the paths through the woods and prairies to see the animals in their natural habitat, sometimes it seems like they are hardly caged. There is a big meadow with bison or buffalo of some sort. If you are within an hour or so drive, it's worth a visit.

My nephews are 4 and 6 now, I'll probably take them this summer since they are old enough to handle all the walking without wanting to be carried or pushed in a stroller.

Here's a link to Wildlife Prairie Park. Interesting story because it was started private and stayed private for many years. When the founder got older it was turned over to the State of Illinois. Naturally, it's been in financial trouble and under threat of closing ever since the government got involved!! I noticed in the newest issue of the Illinois Park Handbook they list it as "Rutherford Park" or something with Rutherford in the name, which is the name of the founder.

http://www.wildlifeprairiestatepark.org ... /Itemid,1/

I think the fox photo should be entered in the photo contest! He is cute as a button!

Great pictures! I agree about entered several of them in a contest somewhere. The fox is great as is the bald eagle.. good job!!

Annie,
Great pictures. My daughters school mascot is the cougar and she loves your picture.

I am looking at getting a new camera and want to know what kind you have. That feature that will focus out the fence is really cool.

Thanks for sharing the pictures and thanks for the info.

Tracy

Excellent!!