Wildlife Vacations: Exploring the United States

You don't have to travel 10,000 miles to go on a wildlife safari, viewing majestic beasts in their natural habitats. The United States is home to hundreds of wildlife parks and refuges for mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, big and small. In fact, 757 wildernesses make up the National Wilderness Preservation System accounting for a total of 109,511,966 acres of protected land. However, only about 5% of the United States is protected as wilderness.

These parks and refuges are some of the best in the United States. Where visitors can see these spectacular critters in their environment, some as they have been for thousands of years.

Olympic National Park - Washington

Olympic is situated in coastal Washington State where visitors can see raccoons, beaver, mink, elk, deer, cougars, and bears on land and dolphins, whales, sea lions, seals, and sea otters just offshore in the Pacific Ocean.


Moose Alley - New Hampshire

Be careful driving this section of Rte 3 as it's a dependable place for moose spotting, particularly at dawn or dusk. The last eleven miles of route three is Moose Alley.


Everglades National Park - Florida

The Everglades National Park is a World Heritage site which protects unparalleled landscape as habitat for numerous rare and endangered critters such as the American crocodile, manatee and Florida panther.


Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming, Montana, Idaho

Mount Washburn hike in Wyoming is particularly recommended by park workers for its elk, grizzly and black bears, bison, wolves, and moose.


Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

From mighty elk to rare boreal toads, bighorn sheep to mountain lions, bobcats to black bears, there are 67 mammals, 5 amphibians and reptiles, and 282 species of birds in the park.


Land Between the Lakes - Kentucky

Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area is home to white-tail deer, turkey, foxes, snakes, coyotes, and a drive-through elk and bison prairie.


Assateauge Island National Seashore - Maryland

Explore sandy beaches and beautiful wild ponies running free. The are most likely descendants of horses shipwrecked hundreds of years ago so enjoy from afar! The best time to visit is mid-May to October.


National Bison Range Wildlife Refuge - Montana

Drive and hike through the range as the bison roam free along with elk, white tail and mule deer.


Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - New Jersey

Close to being turned into an airport, this swamp is home to 39 species of mammals including the red fox, white-tail deer, coyotes, raccoons, river otter, as well as 42 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 10 species of bats.

The Wilds - Ohio

Considered one of the largest conservation centers in the US, The Wilds sits on over 10,000 acres of natural, open range habitat. The Wilds is available for mountain biking, zip lining, horseback riding and more and is home to mammals such as bison, antelope, giraffe, zebra, cheetah... see you really don't have to go all the way to Africa!


Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge - Oklahoma

Bison, longhorn cattle, deer, prairie dogs, eagles and elusive elk call these prairie and grasslands home in the Wichita Mountains.


Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge - Texas

Watch out for bobcats and alligators in the 34,000 acres of prairies and wetland refuge.


Nulhegan Basin in Silvio O Conte National Wildlife Refuge - Vermont

One of the state's best kept secrets as it possesses high diversity and rare species where visitors can see moose, black bears, and white-tailed deer.


Great Smoky Mountains National Park- North Carolina and Tennessee

Biological diversity is the hallmark of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors of the park can see 65 species of mammals including elk as they were reintroduced in 2001, as well as 13 frogs and toads. It is also the "salamander capital of the world" hosting 5 families of salamanders and 30 species.


Some of the biggest threats to wilderness are overuse, pollution, and lack of public awareness. The latter is just one thing that LittleCritterz is devoted to. By spreading awareness of the wilderness systems, we hope to save the land, the animals, the plants and the ecosystem for future generations. We believe that if something is not known, it cannot be understood. If something is not understood, it is not valued. If something isn't valued, it isn't loved. If it isn't loved, it isn't protected. If it isn't protected, it is lost. We don't want to lose it.


Sources:
http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/aboutWild
http://www.nps.gov/
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/21/travel/earth-day-best-wildlife-sites
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/great-american-outdoors/51-great-places-for-wildlife/49702682/1

12 Coolest Caves

Reed Flute Cave - Guilin, China 

Located in the Guangxi region of southern China, the Reed Flute Cave is a natural limestone cave over 180 million years old and known for its multicolored lighting. It has over 70 inscriptions in the cave, some dating back to 792AD.


Luray Caverns - Virginia

Discovered in 1878, the Luray Caverns is the largest cave in the eastern US where visitors can see bizzare formations like the "Throne Room", "Giant's Hall" and "Fried Eggs".


Green Grotto Caves - Jamaica

A large labyrinth limestone cave located near Discovery Bay, is named for the green algae covering its walls. The caves are historical rich from the first Jamaicans, to the takeover of the English, to the two world wars.


Carlsbad Caverns - New Mexico

Below the rugged ground of rocky slopes, shrubbery and cactus lies 118 caves in the Carlsbad Caverns. The caverns host the Big Room which is the third largest chamber in North America and the seventh in the world.


The Baths - Virgin Islands

Giant boulders brought to surface by volcanic eruption are scattered about forming tranquil pools, tunnels, arches and beautiful grottos.


Ruby Falls - Tennessee

Ruby Falls located within Lookout Mountain, is Americas highest underground waterfall at over 1120 feet below the surface.


Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves - Austria

Eisriesenwelt is the German word for World of the Ice Giants. The cave is inside Hochkogel Mountain of the Alps and is the largest ice cave in the world.


Blue Grotto - Capri, Italy

The Blue Grotto is a sea cave located in southern Italy where the sunlight passes through underwater cavities and causes a rich blue reflection upon the water, illuminating the cavern. A tiny entrance allows passenger to come through in small groups by tiny boats. This blue grotto is one of several, another is located just off the coast of Split, Croatia.


Lascaux Caves - France

We've all heard about the Lascaux Caves in southwestern France as the setting of Paleolithic cave paintings. Discovered by a couple of young boys, the cave paintings are estimated to be 17,300 years old. Fungus and black mold have begun to cover the art due to human introduced moisture since the 1990s, they may not be around much longer.


Cave of Crystals - Chihuahua Mexico

Connected to the Naica Mine, the main chamber contains giant selenite crystals, some of the largest found in the world. The cave is extremely hot, reaching temperatures of 138F, so proper protection is recommended.


Waitomo Glowworm Caves - New Zealand

The glowworm species, Arachnocampa, is found exclusively on New Zealand and is responsible for the illumination of the cave.


Cave of the Swallows - Mexico

The Cave of the Swallows is an open air pit cave with a 1214 free fall drop, making it the largest shaft cave in the world. A skyscrapper can easily fit inside of it.

Did You Know?: Elephant Edition

I'm sure you've noticed how some elephants look different. Sometimes they are very large, with wide flowing ears and a dominating back, whereas others are slender with small features. No, this can't be chalked up to diet, millions of years of environmental conditions shaping these species into their modern form, yes.

But you're right. Elephants can look very different because African and Asian elephants are very different. In fact, their genetic differences are so great they cannot interbreed. A successful birth has only happened once, and unfortunately Motty died just two weeks after it's birth despite intensive care.

African elephants weight 4,000-7,000 kg (8,800-15,400 lbs) where Asian elephants weight 3,000-6,000 kg (6,600-13,200 lbs). African elephants are generally taller 3-4 meters (10-13 feet), have more wrinkled skin, bigger ears that reach up over the neck, have a concave back and have two fingers on their trunks. Asian elephants are 2-3.5 meters tall (6.5-11 feet), smoother skin, smaller ears and convex back, and females have rudimentary tusks or no tusks at all!

Real life Jurassic Park?

Ever since the books and movies graced popular media, the world has had a fascination with being up close and personal to dinosaurs. Yes they have been extinct for millions of years and many species could kill humans without even trying, but how cool would that be to look history in the face!

Ok, so not exactly Jurassic Park because dinosaurs haven't exactly been resurrected from their DNA - too many ethical questions come into play. However, Australian mining mogul is planning a dinosaur park to include over 150 dinosaurs that can breathe, blink, move their arms and tails and roar!  These animatronic dinosaurs will stand over 7 meters (about 23 feet tall!) and reside on the Palmer Coolum Resort in Queensland, Australia. Two can already be found on the property, a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Jeff and an Omeisaurus named Bones.

40 dinosaurs arrived last week, including a Deinosuchus, a giant early relative of the crocodile.

All dinosaurs are expected to arrive by the end of April, with the Dinosaur Park fully function shortly thereafter. As Australia nears winter, you have the time to plan a once in a lifetime, memorable vacation to share with your children or grandchildren, as well as for the kid in all of us!