By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
There is no bad time to visit the zoo, especially a free one like Brit Spaugh Zoo in Great Bend. But some times are better than others to maximize animal viewing. Brit Spaugh Zoo Director Ashley Burdick said those times change as the seasons do.
“Especially this time of year, as it starts getting warmer, the best time, if you want to see more animals, is to come in the morning,” Burdick said. “Usually, a lot more animals are active first thing in the morning. A lot of them get fed in the morning. I would recommend, when you first get to the zoo, I’d just start outside.”
Some of the larger animals, like the grizzly bears and bison, are fed closer to opening time at 9 a.m. The grizzlies will sometimes play in their pool when temperatures get exceptionally warm, but the general rule is they are active earlier in the day. Animals do have access to temperature-controlled buildings, but most choose to be outdoors on temperate days even if they are difficult to find in their enclosures. As the summer months approach, there is also relief for humans.
“On your way out, especially if you need to cool off, our main Raptor Center building is air conditioned, and we have our smaller reptiles, amphibians, fish, and our chinchillas, rabbits, and then we’ve got some information things about the raptors and rehab we do there,” said Burdick. “Obviously, if you need a souvenir on the way home, purchases in the gift shop help offset our budget and help us take care of the animals.”
The Brit Spaugh Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, and admission is free. Burdick does warn about the nesting Canada geese this time of year: they can be aggressive. Running away from the geese only leads to a foot chase.