On our way back from Chicago we had a wildlife adventure and visited The Wilds in Ohio. The Wilds is comprised of almost 10,000 acres of reclaimed strip-mined land. It was donated by AEP and is located in southeastern Ohio, in the foothills of Appalachia. It was created by Jack Hanna and is managed by the Columbus Zoo.  The Wilds has been involved in the reintroduction of a species once extinct in the wild and is creating prairie habitat for wildlife species that have disappeared from their former ranges.

There are a number of adventures you can embark on including an amazing zip line over the preserve. We opted for a two hour tour in a customized open air bus that holds about 25 people. You can stay overnight in luxury yurts or in a deluxe lodge. It was a wonderful experience to be this close to the animals and see so many endangered species being cared for and learn about the successful breeding programs.

To buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.