When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. It’s not my favourite adage; I’m not much of a lemonade drinker. But on a recent road trip to Kamloops, we were forced to whip up a batch of this beloved summer beverage. And though our lemons were exceptionally sour, our visit to BC Wildlife Park made rather satisfactory lemonade.
What initially brought us to Kamloops was also yellow. Gold. The Tranquille River, one of the best public gold panning reserves in British Columbia, lies just west of the city. It’s the place where my son and I have had the most success finding this precious metal and we thought it might be fun to show Mom what we get up to on our summer adventures.
Unfortunately, unbeknownst to us, the Tranquille is closed to all activity during the winter and early spring months to protect spawning salmon. This was a kick in the nuggets, to say the least.
Once the initial shock abated, and all necessary swearing voiced, we focused our attention to salvaging our road trip. As much as I have a soft spot for Kamloops, it didn’t take long to realize there isn’t much to do there on a late March weekday.
The Kamloops Blazers had played their final home game the day before we arrived. The local science centre and city parks aren’t anything we couldn’t do at home. And, with a fifteen-year-old in our entourage, winery tours weren’t an option. That left us with BC Wildlife Park, the top-rated Kamloops attraction on Tripadvisor.
A Little Bit About the Park
BC Wildlife Park is a non-profit educational and tourist attraction. Their stated mission is “to encourage the appreciation of and respect for BC’s wildlife and to assist in preserving biodiversity through education, research, captive breeding, and rehabilitation services.
I have mixed feelings about zoos. I understand their purpose, even their regrettable necessity, but being in one and seeing the captive animals always gives me pause. That BC Wildlife Park is home to orphaned and injured animals unable to return to the wild soothes that discomfort some. And with the Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre, a specialized hospital and rehabilitation facility, it’s easy to appreciate that this is not a “stare at caged animals” zoo.
Located approximately 18 km east of Kamloops’ core, BC Wildlife Park spans 106 acres on the south side of the TransCanada Highway immediately next to Kamloops RV Park. A large, partially paved parking lot fronts the Discovery Centre, the primary entrance to the park.
The Discovery Centre at BC Wildlife Park
The Discovery Centre is where your visit to BC Wildlife Park begins. In addition to the welcome desk and the friendly staff greeting you, there is the Blue Heron Café, Wild Treasures Gift Shop, Eco Gallery, Reptile Exhibit, and Wildlife Education Centre. It almost qualifies as a destination all on its own.
We arrived after a filling lunch in our Airbnb apartment, so we didn’t make use of the Blue Heron Café. I took a quick peek as we passed by, and it certainly seemed capable of satisfying any hunger pangs overwhelming your crew. There are treats (ice cream, popcorn), beverages, full grill service (burgers, fries), and specialty options (vegetarian, vegan) available.
There is plenty of seating inside if you need a reprieve from the hot sun but also outdoor picnic tables. If you prefer more of a picnic experience (perhaps you’ve brought your own lunch) there are plenty of gazebos and shelters scattered about the grounds. These are a nice touch, offering a shady place to enjoy your munchies in the fresh air.
The Wild Treasures Gift Shop is surprisingly substantial. Bigger than some found at high profile attractions, you’re sure to find a fitting keepsake from your visit. Animal themed clothing, nicknacks, stuffies, and local artisan creations fill the shelves and displays. You may find it hard to choose just one.
The reptile exhibit in the hallway between the welcome area and the gift shop reminded me of a small pet store. It’s also the area at BC Wildlife Park most likely to give you the heebie-jeebies, depending on your comfort level with our non-mammalian, non-avian cousins. The toads are cute. The snakes … not so much.
Heading towards the Eco Gallery from the welcome desk, you’ll pass the Wildlife Education Centre on your right. This compact area houses interactive displays, artifacts, and some spiders and insects in terrariums. Okay, maybe this is the prime heebie-jeebies area.
The Eco Gallery is kind of like a blown-up education centre. As in balloons, not bombs. More spacious and with larger displays, the highlight of this area is the burrowing owl exhibit. These guys are just some of the cutest killers on our planet, especially when they tilt their heads like that.
But carnivores they are, something you’re quickly reminded of when you first catch glimpse of the dead chicks draped over the branches in this exhibit. These reality checks were seen in most of the birds of prey exhibits around the park. It caught us a bit off guard. Be prepared to answer some questions from your young ones.
The Outdoor Exhibits at BC Wildlife Park
With the Discovery Centre thoroughly checked out, you step outside through large glass doors into the meat of BC Wildlife Park. Most of the over 200 animals from 65 different species will be found in the thirty plus outdoor exhibits and specialty structures dotting the paved walking trail through the park.
Unlike the global variety found in most zoos, this facility focuses specifically on native BC species, many of which are relatively familiar to Canadians. Some we have seen literally in the wild on our various camping adventures throughout Alberta and BC.
This can feel a little banal at times. Deer are commonplace in fields. Elk are regular residents in Banff. Coyotes, bighorn sheep, and certainly ducks are hardly elusive creatures.
That said, there is always a risk encountering a wild animal in the, umm, wild. This is especially true of large predators like bears and cougars. Even those bighorn sheep, though often encountered in the Rocky Mountains, are more safely viewed from the other side of a fence. And critters like badgers, porcupines, and foxes don’t regularly present themselves to city dwellers, so it’s fun to see them despite their lack of novelty.
Likewise, birds of prey are nearly impossible to see up close in the wild, not to mention potentially dangerous. They look fabulous soaring overhead or watching intently on a fencepost, but being able to get within ten feet of a living one just isn’t something you’re likely to achieve in nature. You can do that here.
Unfortunately for us, a common theme on this trip, some animals, like myself, do not enjoy being gawked at. The resident cougars, for example, were nowhere to be found. I really wanted to see the two living at BC Wildlife Park. I mean, who doesn’t love big cats? But we couldn’t find them anywhere in their enclosure.
Similarly, our seasonal timing wasn’t the best. Some of the bears were still hibernating in late March, with signs around the park informing guests of their absence. These are the inherent risks of wildlife viewing in captivity. Had we pre-planned our visit, we’d likely have chosen a different time of year.
The Animals and their Homes
Most of the animals reside in open, naturalized areas surrounded by fencing. The bigger the animal, the bigger the space. The severity of the fencing correlates directly with the danger posed by the animals within. And flight risk, I suppose.
In some instances, you can pretty much stand right next to the fence. In others, your proximity will be restricted. Viewing areas are available at several of the exhibits with the odd one being a fully enclosed structure. If the animals are cooperative, you should have no trouble catching a glimpse.
Birds of prey get a bit of special treatment at BC Wildlife Park. They have their own building with a sunken approach to an indoor viewing area offering access to several enclosures with owls, hawks, and eagles.
Another smaller enclosure exists next to the amphitheater. It too houses some birds of prey and I speculate these are the birds used in the live demonstrations.
I should note that all animal enclosures come with signage introducing the residents and sharing the story of how they came to BC Wildlife Park. Interesting facts about the species in question are also included.
Playground and Splash Park
Not knowing about BC Wildlife Park until literally hours before we visited, I was surprised to learn it is more than just an animal preserve. It has community park features that make it a multi-activity destination for young kids.
There is a playground and splash park, for example. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a splash park at such a place before but knowing how hot and sunny Kamloops can get in the summer, it’s a terrific idea.
The playground too was unexpected, though a little less so. Even the most curious of kids will get bored with animal watching, particularly if the beasts in question aren’t exposing themselves to viewers. A playground is an ideal distraction and energy-burning alternative that’ll keep your visit from devolving into tantrums.
Wildlife Express Miniature Train
The biggest non-faunal attraction at BC Wildlife Park, though, has to be the miniature train. Dubbed the Wildlife Express, this green cutie pays homage to passenger steam locomotives of yesteryear.
Guests board the Wildlife Express at a dedicated train station located roughly in the middle of the park. Rides cost a dollar and are paid at the station, not at the entrance. The wheelchair accessible train follows a narrow-gauge track tracing a figure eight through the heart of BC Wildlife Park.
Home Hardware Family Farm
The Home Hardware Family Farm extends the alternative attractions to domesticated animals. A replica red barn and surrounding yard houses a few funky farm friends including a llama (who WILL spit at you), a turkey, some chickens, sheep, and a couple of small donkeys.
While not a petting zoo, you’ll certainly be able to get closer to these critters than with the wildlife in the rest of the park. This is mostly due to them being more comfortable getting closer to you, exceptions notwithstanding. See llama, above.
Upgraded Experiences at BC Wildlife Park
BC Wildlife Park was envisioned as an attraction that would entice TransCanada travelers to spend more time in Kamloops. I suppose I am proof that this has succeeded. But it also plays a valued educational and recreational role in the local community.
Birthday parties and summer camps along with school and outreach programs as well as private animal encounters are some of the offerings that cater more to locals than tourists.
Other upgraded experiences, like guided tours, animal meets, and birds of prey flight demonstrations will appeal to both demographics. Scheduling of these events vary throughout the year.
Unfortunately, none were available during our visit, which was too bad because birds of prey demonstrations are fantastic. We witnessed one at the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation in Coaldale and loved it.
When Nature Calls
We too are animals and during longer visits nature will inevitably call. There are four washrooms available, according to the park map.
Two are located indoors at the Discovery Centre. One is presumably closer to the entrance (I didn’t see it) and the other is next to the park side entrance to the gift shop (i.e. not the parking lot side or welcome desk side). These come in men’s, women’s, and unisex/family flavours, all with accessibility.
Outdoors, another two are available deeper inside the park. One is at the splash park (again, I didn’t see this one) and the other is a standalone structure near the train station. I took a look inside this one and it looks clean and modern with the expected fixtures.
Conclusion
I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a smidge of resentment lingering in my heart. I really wanted to pan for gold on the Tranquille. Visions of nuggets filled my daydreams leading up to our Spring Break trip. The unexpected closure of the panning area could have resulted in a trainwreck of a trip.
Thankfully, BC Wildlife Park salvaged an afternoon for us. I’m glad we found it and went. It’s quite likely I’d have never known of the place were it not for those dastardly baby salmon. And that would have been a shame because it’s an enjoyable wildlife preserve.
I only wish I had been better able to plan our visit to ensure we could enjoy some of the live interactive programs. I recommend you check it out the next time you’re in or traveling through Kamloops. Maybe enjoy a glass of lemonade as you make your rounds.