The Creature Conservancy is pretty awesome! I pass by it all the time but finally had a chance to visit during open hours on a Sunday. It was pretty delightful & the staff were super friendly and interacting with the animals. The CC was started 20 years ago with Al the Alligator! He was dropped off at the Vet clinic and they started CC all around him. Pretty awesome. It's not a massive space so it was perfect to get there at 3:30pm - in time for the 4pm show which is followed by an Al the Alligator feeding! We checked out all the habitats on the outside as well. Super cool experience - I'd love to come back for one of their turtle yoga, 18+ paint nights, etc. They always have pretty cool themed programming. Also follow their social media - they post the best content! read more

The Creature Conservancy - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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10 stars!! My husband found this place and it's amazing!! Sooo many animals and better than the Zoo because you don't have to walk a ton and the workers are very friendly and personable. There are a lot of things you can look at without paying such as the Tegu (big looking lizard), an Owl, tortoises, parrots, black swans, muskrat, llama, horses, and one other animal. But if you pay for admission, you can enter their buildings that have lots more animals like sloths on the ceiling, a reindeer, an emu, mongoose, warthog, clouded leopards, a cougar, and a 300 pound alligator! There are many animals inside for sure! General admission is $15 and it's considered a day pass which means you can leave and come back (the lady clarified for us). Kids above 2 are $13 and those 2 and under are free! Loved this place and def coming back! read more

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The staff there at The Creature Conservancy are friendly, approachable, and they are genuine. They are very attentive and are willing to share their knowledge about the array animals at Creature Conservancy. I enjoyed their presentation of the cougar and dingo dogs. I will share my experiences with others. read more

Amazing staff and fun experience!! I will return and have shared this with my friends and coworkers.

Looking for something fun and active to do with a friend indoors, this place kept popping up. I had heard about it and wanted to go there but thought it was a place with only 15 minutes of time looking at snakes. My friend and I went there and had a great time for a few hours. They have several animals including 5 sloths, a reindeer, wolves, lots of different kinds of turtles, African porcupines, and much more. Their classes/demonstrations are fun and informative. They have a few outdoor exhibits but you can stay inside for most of the time during the cold Michigan weather. In the summer they have more outdoors. It was a great way to spend a few hours on a rainy Saturday. The annual membership fee is very affordable. Certainly something, I'm considering. read more

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Came here to be one with the sloths this past weekend! And it was worth it ! They have all sorts of creatures here. I loved the reptiles and amphibians too! Not to mention how welcoming and nice and informative the employees are! I went to one of the presentations and it was so nice to just watch and listen up close. And then to have the employees come down with the creatures so we got one on one experience was so awesome! Now if only I could hold a sloth, that would just be the bees knees! read more

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One of our favorite places to visit on the weekend! It kind of gives a zoo vibe but way, WAY better. First off, the animals come first. This is a non-profit for conservancy, rescue, rehab, and education before it is for entertainment. A lot of their animals are abandoned exotic pets, animals that have been injured and can't return to the wild, or part of rotating education programs in partnership with other organizations. They are only open to the public for visiting hours on the weekend, with the exception of First Fridays for adults each month and special events. My husband and I have gotten their yearly membership over the last 2 years which offers unlimited visits during their open hours. Otherwise you can purchase tickets for a specific day in advance or buy at the door. The people there are so friendly and take the time to really talk to you about their animals and answer questions. They have special animal presentations where they feature some of their animals and I've learned so much from these! Finally, the animals are just awesome! From a whole bunch of sloths, to a cougar, to the cutest muntjac deer, they have a lot of unusual and really special creatures here. read more

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Love the creature conservancy! Great for all ages. I went with my sisters and parents (all adults) for something to do while they visited me in Ann Arbor and was so happy with the experience. Easily walkable. Up close to see all the animals. I'd 100% rather go here than a zoo. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. read more

What a pleasure visiting the creature conservancy on our visit to Ann Arbor! It was far better than any experience at the zoo! I felt that the staff were very welcoming and caring about the animals that reside there. Kids had a chance to learn and pet some of the animals during live presentation. We especially enjoyed seeing the sloth, armadillos on wheels and porcupines close up. Highly recommend for kids and adults alike! read more

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Loved this experience and will return!! We were supposed to do the Harry Potter trivia but got sick which was sad. We did make it to the afternoon holiday dessert tea event which got us up close with a sloth, skunk, and several other creatures with their handlers. It then includes entry to the rest of the conservancy and the 4pm show. We stayed until closing because it was so cool!! We got to see beautiful creatures and their stories. Some were petting OK like the goats and the deer-like creature you can see in the photos whose species name I forgot while writing this. Others were obviously show and tell. Overall the special event was really cool and the overall place was great. Will return. read more

The Creature Conservancy - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

This is solely based on outdoor experience. We came on a whim on our vaca to kill time. Great reviews. I mean, the outdoor area was great- and it killed an hour with kids. They enjoyed petting the sheep. You see a cool baby gator outside of main office. Tortoises very cool. You get so close to everything which is great. I think the interior exhibits are only open on weekends. I deducted a point because I saw a lot of workers who said the inside was closed and also told me there were no bathrooms. Kinda annoying. All in all, I'd come back and experience the inside exhibits for sure. Parrots were loud and chatty It was cute We even stumbled upon a private party and Coyote tricks which was pretty lucky and cool! read more

The Creature Conservancy - Chatty Parrot - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Love any place that takes care of their animals and teaches others about them. All the handlers took the time to talk to us

My second home away from home. I really love learning about all the animals and getting to meet new animals. The themed monthly experiences are great. I visited for the first time a few months ago and have been back multiple times since. I love the staging areas with room enough for all to see and experience. Its a new experience every time. read more

The Creature Conservancy - Here on his birthday - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Sometimes marriage gets tough. You know what's also tough? Scaly reptiles. So it's only fitting we came here for the private tour for our 7th wedding anniversary! We wanted to do something unique, as always, yet still quite socially distant in these times. I highly suggest the private tour for groups of friends, family, or to celebrate any special occasions. We did the reptile tour, which begins after the conservancy closes to the public. I'm a Nature Nerd, and it was such a good start to spring to get out of "remote work life" and into nature. As always, seeing the creatures and hearing the stories brings a reminder for empathy and a respect for Mother Nature. Our tour guide, Lucas, as well as a marketing employee (taking pictures, I can't recall her name) made it comfortable and fun! It was just hubs and I, and our two great hosts. We handled snakes, turtles, lizards, fed all kind of reptiles and learned and saw a lot. This is of course in addition to up close and personal encounter with Al the gator. Great info and because we are clearly in 5th grade, lots of giggles surrounding the mating strategies of each animal that we were taught. A reminder when you go, animals are living beings. If they're not in the mood to play along with the hosts reindeer games, be respectful of that and willing to move to next exhibit. Support this conservancy! It's two-fold. They are giving shelter to creatures but also exposing many youth to Mother Nature AND career options! read more

Wow amazing they treat the animals so nicely and there enclosures are so well maintained the entire outside is free and to get in the inside is money but all of the money goes towards making enclosures and feeding the animals great place to go when your near or in Ann Arbor Michigan! read more

We live super close the Creature Conservancy but hadn't been until last weekend and OMG WHAT WERE WE WAITING FOR?? It's the perfect way to spend a fun afternoon. Their drop in hours are 1-5pm on weekends but you can also schedule a private tour or visit/field trip during the week if you reach out to them directly. We went on a Saturday open hours and had a blast. Stuck around for almost 3 hours enjoying all the different presentations and animal interactions. Each month they have a featured animal that they deep dive into and do a presentation on and this month was a look at their kangaroos. They did a nice presentation on their stage area and then everyone got to pet one, which was SO fun. They also have other half hour presentations throughout the day as well. We enjoyed an alligator feeding, getting up close and personal with the most adorable opossum, and a session with an emu. They also have a ton of other exhibits including snakes, lizards, turtles, a cougar, porcupines (shout out to my porcupine buddy "Lady Gaga"), a sloth, a bearcat, an albino alligator, and more! Outdoors there are several birds like parrots and black swans, as well as an arctic fox (!!!). The animals housed here are mostly rescues or have been surrendered by folks who unfortunatley brought them home as pets and they're very passionate about taking great care of them and protecting all these miraculous species. Staff is incredibly knowledgeable and seem to adore the animals. I had a great time and learned so much. If you're my 10 year old cousin Olivia don't read this: I totally plan to book a behind the scenes tour for her for Christmas this year. They're 90 minutes long and you can really dive in deep with the animals they have available. I can't wait! read more

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What an amazing experience! It was well worth the price too ($100 for 2 people). We had a private tour with Zach, and he was super informative and patient as we asked questions and took pictures. We were able to interact with quite a few animals and the facility was very clean and well maintained. read more

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I am not sure how this place went under our radar for so long, but I am glad we finally discovered it! While I cannot speak for the experience for the regular admission, my husband and I had an amazing time on our private tour with Alexander. He showed us the facilities, introduced us to all of the animals, provided tons of interesting facts about the species he was showing us, as well as fun information regarding the personalities of the animals themselves. He told us that this was 'our' tour and to let him know if we wanted more or less information about any particular animals, but really, everything he presented was perfect. We had many questions and he was able to answer all of them. In addition to getting to see all of the animals, we also got to pet a kangaroo, feed porcupines, and feed sloths. I definitely plan to come back and see the animals when it is warmer and more of them can venture outside and get to see the demos put on during regular hours. read more

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The Creature Conservancy is a perfect spot to go visit for an afternoon! I went on a recent Sunday and loved every minute that I got to spend learning about the animals. Outdoors there are several creatures, including several turkeys, a fox, black swans, and en emu. Step inside and pay a small $6/adult fee to be able to see more of the animals that are housed here. We saw some sleeping bearcats, two kangaroos, an alligator, a cougar, a sloth, warthogs, macaus, turtles . . . and I'm probably missing or forgetting about some of them! The staff at the Creature Conservancy was so knowledgeable about all of the animals, and they obviously love their job. They answered many of our questions throughout the day and did several presentations (feeding the cougar and bringing out the emu to visit and eat some celery out of guests' hands), which were informative and entertaining. I would love to come back as the weather warms up and see what other animals are out and about on my next visit to the Creature Conservancy! read more

We came here on a whim and I am so glad we did!! You can never be too old to visit a zoo and I had so so much fun here. We came on a Saturday just wanted to explore and learn about the residents of the conservancy. Immediately we were greeted by this cute deer creature who was so sweet and gentle. We explored the outside grounds a bit more, noting the Tegu and Bird exhibits. The admission was only $10 to enter the inside exhibits where we got to see a cougar, turtles, wary hogs, porcupines, alligator, and even pet sloths! Around every hour, the staff would do presentations on various species which was so informative and enjoyable. Of course my favorite was the sloth presentation where we all got to gently touch his fur at the end. The way the conservancy is laid out is so unique, with an awesome second floor walkway where you can see the cougar explore multiple levels and be walking right on top of your head. I would love to come back again, especially for the various seasonal events they have in rotation. Highly recommend this place for a fun experience around the Ann Arbor area. read more

The Creature Conservancy is an up close animal experience you won't find anywhere else. This diamond in the ruff is a unique showcase of reptiles, cats, sloths, birds to name a few and a great day out with the kids or if you're a kid yourself. Each turn inside the building you'll be wow'd and excited by their movements. I was surprised about how close you can get to the alligators, sloths and birds! The volunteers are wonderful and provide in depth knowledge about the specific animals traits and characteristics. Highly recommend. read more

Lots of neat animals, some meet-the-creature talks, and a pretty mellow experience overall. The bulk of the creatures are in a large, barn-like building; each has a walled-off section. Some feel more like "habitats", some more like "pens" or "cages" --- some have bars to keep them in, some have in-ground pools to keep them wet, and some have milk crates to climb on. Overall, these feel like the nicer end of the "zoo" containment range, and definitely feel home-made rather than industrial. The mountain lion has a neat enclosed walkway over the main corridor --- she likes sitting up there and looking down. The red kangaroo likes coming up to the window and looking at kids, then hopping around a little. The warthogs are entirely engrossed in pushing an old water-cooler bottle around their large fenced area. The white-collared raven likes staring at people. The hours are fairly limited; our toddler is better in the mornings, and the Creature Conservancy is only open in the weekend afternoons. We managed to time a visit around nap-time and it worked fairly well. When they're closed, you can wander around the outside areas (arctic foxes, goats, turkeys) for free, but can't go into the main barn building; might need to try that, but it's no substitute for a proper visit. read more

Do you like animals? Do you like to see them hanging out? Do you love a staff that wants to educate and showcase the animals personalities? You need to go to the Creature Conservancy! I have checked out two of the Creatures of the Night events, both were amazing and have been multiple times just to see Al eat and the sloths hang out. The parrots in sweaters make themselves known while you can go hang out with goats, named after the office. It's my favorite spot to bring out of town guests! read more

Until this past weekend I had no idea that this even existed. Who would have ever guessed that Ann Arbor had gators, sloths, a cougar, kangaroos, and a variety of other exotic animals living within city limits? From the moment you walk in, it is very obvious that the staff at the Creature Conservancy really enjoy what they do, and they are seriously committed to the safety and well-being of each and every one of these animals. It is my understanding that a lot (if not all) of the animals currently found here came from people who, in a lapse of judgement, thought it might be a good idea to keep a wild, exotic animal as a pet. Each month they feature one of their animals and have special "shows", where you get a more up-close and personal lesson and background of these special animals. July is sloth month, so we were able to see and pet one of their sloths. Something I found very interesting is that the Creature Conservancy is currently working with several zoos to breed these 3-toed sloths, because the zoos are not having a whole lot of success. These animals don't seem sad like some of the animals I've seen in some of the bigger zoos. These guys really do work hard to take care of these animals, and ensure their happiness and longevity. If you happen to go on a Saturday, the cougar gets a batch of new toys, and it is really fun to watch the excitement of playtime. A visit to the Creature Conservancy is a great way for people of all-ages to spend an afternoon in Ann Arbor! read more

Saw Creature Conservancy listed under Yelp events. I am so thankful that I did. Thank you Yelp floor the heat suggestion. Wow!!! I'm in love with this place. I wish I could move in and snuggle the animals all the time. Is there a position for that... Director of petting maybe? Came here on a Sunday which was the day they were featuring Poco the Sloth. Sad, I missed the cougar day a few weeks ago, wonder if they let you pet him to? Back to my visit... We learned about Sloths, got to seem Poco in his element there and we were even able to briefly touch him as he came by. There are many different animals to see and interact with. They all seemed very sweet, happy and well cared for. On top of that all of the staff was friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. Allowing you touch the animals and ready to tell you about them. I cannot wait to go back especially when it's a bit warmer so I can see more of the animals that are outside. Glad that they are open to visitors and hope that in the future they will be open later. My only suggestion would be that they put up better signage outside directing you to the entrance and where to pay. Right now it's pretty confusing. I also hope that they will consider a yearly membership fee for customers as an option. read more

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This place is amazing! The animals at the creature conservancy are animals, who couldn't live in the wild. Every saturday and sunday they present around 6 different animals, give a lot of information about them and answer to any question you have. You can tell that the people who work there have put thier heart into hepling animals by taking care of those at the Creature Conservancy and also by educating the visistors. Everybody there helps to make a difference! read more

Very cool exhibits with a focus on visitor education. Small, friendly, clean, and amusing, perfect half-day getaway. Really enjoyed the various presentations by the staff. read more

This place is a hidden gem in Ann Arbor. Not only is it open during the week for you to visit with a few of the outdoor animals, but it is even better during open hours on the weekends. I used to visit when I lived five years ago almost weekly and only recently got to return with my kids. It does not disappoint. The sweet little muntjac deer are still so sweet and the black swan is still so creepy and territorial! There's lots to see and experience and I am rooting for this place from afar! If you're in AA, don't miss it! read more

Great activity for the winter with kids given most of the experience happens inside. However, it seems a bit overpriced for how many exhibits they have and how long you can actually entertain children under eight years old. We did attend two of the informant events about snakes and porcupines and they were quite excellent. read more

I wish I could give this place 10 stars. My boyfriend and I come to the creature Conservancy quite often. Their prices are not bad, at $10 for an adult, and then they have discounted rates for children and seniors. They also have a membership program, which I should look into, because you get discounted rates for that as well. They have great programs, and even though we have been here quite a few times, I feel like we're never seeing the same thing twice. The animals seem very well taken care of, and always seem very happy. Even as an adult, I love watching the interactive and educational presentations that are put on every weekend. The people who work there really know what they're doing, and you can tell that they are very passionate about animal conservation. read more

One of my favorite places in Ann Arbor!!! It's perfect for an afternoon with friends or family and learn about rescued/surrendered exotic animals. Every month the conservancy features a different animal on stage, providing cool facts and visitors can (depending on the animal) pet/feed them. read more

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A super cool place to visit! All sorts of animals from sloths to turtles, birds, alligators, kangaroos, and so much more. The outdoor area is by donation and once you enter the building there is a well worth it fee, maybe like $10 per person if I remember correctly. Very informative and you can pet some of the animals. My friend and I got to pet goats and turtles, and the kangaroo. Definitely goin to come back to this conservancy! Thank you for a great experience. read more

We had a birthday party here, and it was everything we hoped for and more! The facility is great--lots of parking, big room for the party and the animal presentations, a small kitchen, great decor and lighting AND they put paper over the tables along with markers so the kids could color as we gathered. The man who did the animal presentation obviously had experience working with kids. He was patient, entertaining and informative, and he made sure I got lots of pictures of the birthday boys with the animals we'd chosen. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about the Creature Conservancy. I would host another event there in a heartbeat. read more

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This is the best place in America. The Creature Conservancy is a treasure. The people who run it do an amazing job, you get to see the creatures (a mixture of rescues and educational animals) up close and learn about them first-hand, and the entire feel of the place is friendly and welcoming. At The Creature Conservancy, I have: pet a kangaroo, pet an armadillo, pet an opossum, pet a sloth, pet a baby alligator, watched a cougar play in a ball pit, made deep eye contact with a parrot, watched an adult alligator eat some chicken, watched a snapping turtle eat some chicken, fed an emu, been hissed at by a swan, and watched a porcupine eat some squash. Nothing is better read more

The Creature Conservancy - Sleepy porcupine - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

An amazing organization in our small town....can't believe we are so lucky! The folks who founded this and run it are dedicated to the highest standards of animal husbandry and make it an enjoyable educational experience that you will want to come back to again and again, regardless your age. read more

Had a great time at the Creature Conservancy. They have events/showings throughout the day on weekends. Was able to see the cougar playing! It's great to see animals in more natural habitats. There were Arctic foxes, kangaroos, emus, black swans, cravens, and more. Also super well priced! Just wish there were a few more exhibits. read more

This is a most wonderful place! In just a few short hours, we learned so much about the animals presented in March! Who knew that opossums are so very cool? And, because we could touch one, the beautiful Athena, we discovered how silky soft they are! We will be back again and again! They focus on different areas each month, so the experiences will be different! All of the staff are so warm, friendly, and informative! Thank you for a wonderful afternoon! read more

My family I visited recently and we were very unimpressed. There wasn't a clear direction as to where we should see the animals. When we finally found our way the staff hurried us around to each show while we were still trying to just look at the animals. The animals there were beautiful and the staff seemed to be educated but the animals were in very sad and small cages....we made a comment to one of the girls that worked there and she said "They were fine" but we knew better. We'll take our grand children to the Detroit Zoo if we want to see animals. read more

I love animals, I especially enjoy the interactive aspect of meeting with some of the animals that are here (the kangaroos). There is a veterinary clinic on site that shelters dogs that we got to see out on their walk. The cuteness factor is at a 10 here as is the information and staff that are eager to share their knowledge about the "creatures" onsite. read more

While looking for something different to do with the grand daughter on a Saturday afternoon, I somehow stumbling upon this place online. I had brought my cat to see their vet once, but had no idea what was going on out back! When we 1st pulled up in the parking lot there was a pen with a few turkeys, and an Arctic fox.. We wandered around the past those displays and up to the wrong door where we were greeted by a young man asking if he could help us... When we told him him we were looking for the animals he smiled really big and said "come with me". What he led us to was an outstanding collection of animals that are lovingly cared for and open for your visit. Be sure to read the backstory about this place , as it made it feel all the more special to me . My grand daughter was pretty happy about the place too! There were caregivers along the path with various animals that they told us about & let her pet. I will happily go back for another visit, I'll probably even take my grand daughter again too! read more