Just back yesterday from a short road trip. After picking up our grandson in Portland, our first stop was at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. While we were waiting for our scheduled tram ride through the free range area, we checked out the animals in the exhibit area, which included this handsome badger. Several more photos from our afternoon there to follow this week... A little bit about this wildlife park: "Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a 723-acre (293 ha) wildlife park located in the town of Eatonville, Washington, United States. Its primary feature is a tram tour which takes visitors through a 435-acre (176 ha) free-range area. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The park and its companion zoo, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, are both owned and operated by Metro Parks Tacoma. In 1971, founders David and Connie Hellyer donated their vacation property near Eatonville to Metro Parks Tacoma to be set aside as a wildlife preserve. The park opened in 1975. Several bond issues have been passed over the years to help pay for improvements at the park. Facilities added over the years include the snowy owl exhibit (1982), great horned owl exhibit (1985), Cat Country exhibit (1987), barn owl exhibit (1988), the Cheney Discovery Center for children (1989), wolf exhibit (1992), grizzly bear and black bear exhibit (1993), picnic pavilion (1995), and the coyote/red fox exhibit (2003).[1] In 2000, voters passed a sales tax increase that provides a steady income for the Point Defiance Zoo, Trek and other Pierce County parks and supplies about half of the park's income. The park also opened the Hellyer Natural History Center, a laboratory/classroom that can be used by students, scientists, and others in the community.[1] In 2005, an additional 100 acres along the northern border of the park was purchased to help protect the tram route from residential development and provide additional space for research and conservation programs. Then in 2007, an additional 7-acre (2.8 ha) bridge of land was acquired, increasing the size of the park to 722.89 acres (292.54 ha)." Please zoom.