• Thursday-What'sUP July 23 - 08:50 pm

We all know about the usual animal inhabitants here in the U.P., but I bet you didn't know there are also a number of exotic animals hanging out UP here, too. Brenda Leigh recently gave her teenage niece and her friends, the choice of going to the beach or going to visit the DeYoung Family Zoo, located in Wallace, MI. You can see by today's pictures which one the girls chose, with the first shot showing them having fun with a Boa Constrictor. Now those are some adventurous young ladies, letting a big snake like that, drape itself around their necks. From the rest of Brenda's photos, you can see some of the wide array of critters that are housed at this northwoods Zoo. There are over 400 exotic and domestic animals living there, in large natural habitats, with rocks to sun themselves on, trees to climb, grass to roll around in and ponds to swim in, unlike many of the bigger city zoos.

So for something fun to do with the kids that's not too far from home, head on out to Wallace, MI, near Menominee and the Wisconsin border. You won't be disappointed and your kids will thank you for such a fun excursion, best part of which is that you won't even have to leave the U.P. to enjoy it.

I wonder what they do with the animals in the winter? Some of them couldn't survive the bitter colds and couldn't move in deep snows.

Lions, and tigers, and no bears! oh my!

I can handle the lions, tigers and bears. It's the darn snakes that I can't stand. Nice pictures for sure.

I recognized the pictures of the DeYoung Zoo immediately! I was recently there. The big cats are so majestic. When the lion roars, you can hear it throughout the place. I must admit I skipped the snake house. Well worth the 3 hour drive from Houghton. Can't wait until the hippo gets there.

I just happen to run into the owner of the Zoo last night. He is going to be in route soon to pick up the new addition, a baby hippo. He is driving to Chicago to transport it back to the U.P.

The hippo is coming from Indonesia into Florida then to Chicago. It will be another YOOPER TRANSPLANT. I hope Mr. Hippo likes it here as much as all the rest of us. He certainly will have a nice backyard to live in.

I noticed that Brenda is not in the first picture holding the Boa :)

PS....there are bears and the reptiles are in a bldg.....not to worry

Great pictures of the animals. No way on the snakes.

THE LIONS! i used to work as a zookeeper at the zoo in oshkosh, wi, and last year we got a lion that we took care of during the summer. we transferred her to buddy's zoo (buddy is a GREAT guy, by the way, very knowledable). that might be her! that might be my sunshine!!! i hope so!! :)

I have in my Profile here a picture of me with a Kingsnake. You best be on your toe's ready for any reaction around snake's.

Pretty peacock. NBC, eat your heart out (lol).

WOW....this is so cool...and Little M...it's like the CHRISTIAN the LION you tube! OMG! Take a video when you go!

I have not been here yet, but my dear friend Mandy and I are planning a run there soon!!!

WONDERFUL pictures!! The peacock is now my screensaver!