Wildlife Prairie State Park

Just outside Peoria, the Wildlife Prairie State Park has a lot more for animal watchers than the typical state park. The focus here is on native wildlife. A herd of 18 bison wander a huge enclosure. Big groups of elk and wolves (in their own enclosure) roam, too. They move to a winter pasture so their summer place can recover. Their areas are big, but not so big you can't see them. And the bison come by the viewing stand to get fed.
Cougar, badger, lynx, otter and assorted nonreleasable raptors, including eagles, liver here too.
The park is closed most of the winter, except for members.
3826 N Taylor Rd., Hanna City, IL (309) 676-0998

Critter Camp

Critter Camp takes in all the small odd-ball pets that people get without thinking it through and gives them a permanent sanctuary. You can set up an appointment for up to 6 people and visit 20 ferrets, a kinkajou, fenec fox, degus, parrots, turtles, sugar gliders and everything else. You can either donate or do some volunteer work to visit.
824 Church St., German Valley (near Rockford), IL (815) 266-1342

River Trail Nature Center

The River Trail Nature Center keeps native wildlife that has been injured and can no longer live in the wild. The population constantly changes. You're likely to see some birds of prey and maybe a fox.
3120 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, IL (847) 824-8360

Peoria Flying Carp

Asian carp, imported to eat algae off catfish in farms down south, broke free and invaded the Mississippi River and its tributaries. These carp, which can weigh up to 100 pounds, eat near the surface and sometimes jump out of the water en masse.
The Fish and Wildlife service recently held a conference on flying carp in Peoria, a known hotspot. Their survey of the Peoria Pool--the Illinois River between s Starved Rock State Park to Illinois River Mile 223--has seen invasive carp numbers climb. In 2007 they found 236 bighead and silver carpand 60 silver “flying” carp jumped in the survey boat.
Around Peoria people have taken to shooting and bowhunting the carp.

Quincy Bald Eagles

Bald eagles are attracted to the open water below Dam 21 in Quincy. In January rangers come out with scopes to answer eagle questions.
Quincy Ranger Field Station (217-228-0890)

Iowa MacBridge Raptor Project

The MacBride Raptor Project at the University of Iowa rehabilitates 150-200 birds each year. No open visiting hours, but you can volunteer.
They also offer tours at the MacBridge Nature area, a fall hawkwatch and banding events.
2093 Mehaffey Bridge Rd NE
Solon, IA 52333
(319) 624-2452

Black Pine Animal Park

Black Pine Animal Park gives resuced and retired exotic animals a home. They house a large variety of big cats, birds, a few monkeys and bears and even a coati and a kinkajous. Your visit (during the summer) helps pay for the care of these 45 species.
1426 W. 300 N., Albion, IN (260) 636-7383

Indiana Bats

Red Wolf Sanctuary

The Red Wolf Sanctuary, started in 1979, now has a lot more than wolves. They have wildcats, raptors and bears.
Only one of 14 wolves is a red wolf hybrid; the rest are gray wolves.
The center moved to bigger quarters in Rising Sun.
3027 State Route 262, Rising Sun, IN (812) 438-2306

Cheyenne Bottoms, KS

Cheyenne Bottoms is a mid-point rest stop for 45% of migrating birds in the Western Hemisphere. Whooping cranes, Sandhill cranes, pelicans, and are among the 320 species spotted here.That's why the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network named Cheyenne Bottoms of an important site for the whole hemisphere, the only one in the midwest. They count 619,047 birds for the spring and 273,308 for the fall. The state keeps an excellent calendar of when to expect each species. The Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is nearby and can be reached on the Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway.
56 NE 40 Road, Great Bend, KS (620) 793-3066

Grateful Acres - MI

Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary is a permanent home for what they call misfit large farm animals, small exotics, parrots, rabbits, chickens, and a tortoise called "Gwennie." On summer weekends the animals get together for a petting zoo.
2108 102nd Ave, Otsego, MI

Isle Royal

Isle Royale National Park is home to its own species of red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus regalis, or the Isle Royale Red Squirrel, separated from the mainland squirrrels by 14 miles of water, evolved into a smaller, less red subspecies.They are the most common and most chatty animal on Isle Royale.
Isle Royale is only accessible by boat. Ferries come from Houghton and Copper Harbor, Michigan and Grand Portage, Minnesota.
(906) 482-0984

Bluestern Prairie Chickens

The Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area attracts the greater prairie chicken (a Minnesota species of 'special concern') to dance on the prairie in  by the State). You need to make reservations with the Nature Conservancy to use the blinds in April. Sandhill cranes also visit the preserve.
from Moorhead 11 miles E on US Hwy 10, then 1 mile S on MN Hwy 9, then 1.5 miles E on 17th Ave. S to parking lot.
15337 28th Ave S
Glyndon, MN Get Directions (218) 498-2679

Marsh Lake, MN

White pelicans nest at Marsh Lake, which is part of Lac qui Parle State Park. The once common bird was wiped out completely in 1868. A century passed before a new colony was discovered on Chase Lake in 1968. The Big Island colony has seen 10,000 birds at once. They arrive in mid-April, engage in a courtship dance. According to photographer Dominique Braud, "one female and several bachelor males fly in large circles, riding the thermals over the island during the hot hours of the day." Most eggs are layed by early May, but stragglers go on for a month. Pelicans lay two eggs on the ground on nests close to each other.
About 1/2 mile north of Watson on U.S. 59 and Hwy 7, then west on Chippewa County Road 13. (320) 734-4450

Wallhalla--Moose Captial of North Dakota

Walhalla is the Moose Capital of North Dakota. You may see them in the Pembina Hills Wildlife Management Area northwest of town, the Walhalla Country Club or the Jay Wessels WMA south of Walhalla. The Pembina Hills were created by a gorge from the Pembina River. Pembina also has the state's only naturally occuring (not reintroduced) elk herd.
(218)681.0946

Chase NWR

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge has one of biggest nesting colonies of white pelicans in the country. In 2007, they counted 22,524 birds, down from 34,604 the year before.
Pelicans were spotted at the lake as early as 1863 and were nearly hunted to extinction. By 1905 there were only 500. In 1908 Teddy Roosevelt made Chase Lake the 15th National Wildlife Refuge.
From April to September you need a permit to enter the refuge to see the pelicans.
5924 19th St SE, Woodworth, ND (701) 752-4218

Westie Walk

Two cousins started WestieWalk, a big walk for Westies that benefits breed rescue and research into Westie diseases. In 2009, the walk will be Oct. 10. Two cousins started WestieWalk, a big walk for Westies that benefits breed rescue and research into Westie diseases. In 2009, the walk will be Oct. 10. Friendship Park
138 Oklahoma Ave., Gahanna, OH (614) 475-9206 (west of Columbus)

Ohio Bird Sanctuary

Happy Trails Farm Sanctuary

Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary takes in horses, ponies, goats, sheep and other farm animals seized by humane officers. They also take horses from the Amish. They have regular events, but not visiting hours. 5623 New Milford Rd, Ravenna, OH 44266

Butternut Farm and Wildcat Sanctuary

Butternut Farm and Wildcat Sanctuary is a non-profit sanctuary for rescued wild cats. The Sanctuary hopes to dissuade the public from getting exotic cats as pets. Many former pets--including lynx, mountain lion and serval--live here. Call to make an appointment to visit or volunteer.
13740 Blamer Rd., Johnstown, OH (north of Columbus)

Dock Dogs Championship

For the last 10 years Dockdogs.com has turned the hobby of dogs of jumping into water into a sport. After events around the country, the national championship proves who can leap the farthest or highest off a dock.
For 2009 the Cabella's contest is in Mason, Ohio October 16-18. (near Dayton)

Wolfstock

Necedah NWR

The Necedah National Wildife Refuge in central WI is the summer, nesting home to an amazing flock of whooping cranes. The cranes are a success story of wildlife agencies across the eastern US: they were raised by humans in crane costumes, then taught the migration route by an ultralight plane. A FWS pamplet suggest trying the Rynearson Wetlands trail and tower to spot the cranes, though Birders World says they're shy and really hard to see even if you're on one of the roads closed to the public. In late September the refuge has a Whooping Crane & Wildlife Festival. In August you may get a spot in a blind to see the whooping cranes learning to fly. W7996 20th Street West Necedah, WI 608-565-2551

WI Big Cat Rescue

Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue takes in lions, tigers and leopards that have survived either the exotic pet trade or animal entertainment industry. Photographer Jeff Kozlowski has taken in 7 lions, 16 tigers and 3 leopards. WI Big Cat Rescue is a non-profit and USDA-licensed rescue and educational center. Open Daily 10-6 unless it's too hot. (608) 524-LION (5466)
305 Pine St., Rock Springs, WI 

Sandhill Wildlife Area - WI

The 9,000 acre Sandhill Wildlife Area has a tiny herd of 15 bison in a 260-acre enclosure along the Trumpeter Trail. The original 12 bison were donated by farmer Wallace Grange, who originally owned the land.
Wisconsin manages the herd by selling off 2-4 bison each year.
1715 Hwy X, Babcock, WI, (715) 884-2437