Family Trip to the Watertown Zoo

Brad took the day off work for a family day and we headed to Watertown, SD to go to the Bramble Park Zoo and say hi to Brad's cousin, Sherry. The kids napped on the way, we enjoyed a picnic lunch at the playground/picnic area outside the zoo, had our first experience of the Watertown Zoo, then visited with Sherry at her work for a half hour before heading back home. We all loved the zoo and it was so nice to see Sherry (whose upcoming wedding in early November is something we're really looking forward to!) You have to love the random family days!


Our picnic lunch at the playground.

The zoo is set up with various birds (in cages and in the open) as well as aquariums and a mini-science museum setup in the main building area. We visited that area first and the kids enjoyed running around looking at all the animals and science information they had set up. Megan especially liked the birds and just wanted to sit by their cages and watch them (above.)

Brendan liked the Lionfish.

Both kids, watching the fish.

Megan.

After the main building we headed outdoors for the main part of the zoo. For a smaller zoo they had (we thought) a fair amount of animals and exhibits set up. It was pretty fun for the kids. Above, Brad and Brendan pose by the bear sculpture.

They have a bird sanctuary set up for visitors to walk through. Above is a Sun Conure from South America.

Brendan, Megan and Brad, watching all of the waterfowl in the sanctuary stream.

A pair of Red-Tailed Hawks.

One of their many penguins.

The kids and I, being penguins.

A White-Throated Capuchin Monkey from Central and South America.

A White Bengal Tiger. The sign by his cage said he wasn't feeling very well, and he was pretty mellow while we were watching him.

Two of my monkeys...Brad and Brendan.

The zoo had many Peafowl wandering around (peacocks) and they had the loudest, most unusual (and did I mention loud?) bird call. This white Peafowl followed us around for part of the day and Megan was very interested in it (although she didn't wander too close to it when she was out of her stroller.)

In addition to the Peafowl and various ducks and other waterbirds wandering around the zoo, there were Prairie Dogs everywhere.

One of the regular peacocks.

These Sandhill Cranes didn't have the best setup and put their nest right next to a fence (lower left corner.) The would aggressively call and peck at anyone who walked by (which was constantly, being right against a walkway fence.) The kids did not enjoy the Sandhill Cranes.

There was a whole farm area set up where you could buy corn or other feed for $0.25. We got a few handfuls for the kids and let them feed the chickens, pygmy goats, donkeys, rabbits, and other animals. In between some rocks that the zoo had set up for the pygmy goats we noticed something going on. It turns out a goat was having babies, right in front of us! The kids got to see a couple seconds-old baby goats, which was pretty unique.

My camera died partway through the zoo (which is good...you don't need to see all the animals!), but there were plenty for the kids to watch in addition to the above animals...wolves, foxes, camels, kangaroos, buffalo, reindeer, jaguars, zebra, and other monkeys, birds, and reptiles. It's a nice little zoo, and we plan to go back next year. Another family outing!