This year Safari West wants to Fall into the wild by giving thanks and showing support for the wildlife hero’s conserving nature in the field. Every year we receive a very generous post-Halloween donation of pumpkins from our local vendors. These vibrant orange gourds are then put to use as exciting new animal enrichment items by our husbandry experts. Whether carved, stuffed, smashed, or whole the critters at Safari West have a ball with these once a year treats. This is also a great time of year for the Safari West keepers as they get to find creative new ways to execute our pumpkin enrichment agenda.

This year we’d like to share this excitement with you. Whether you come for a tour, a meal, or an overnight stay be sure to look for the Safari West conservation team hanging out with the pumpkins every weekend from Halloween to Thanksgiving. Here you will be able to sponsor a pumpkin to be included in the next week’s enrichment program. You can also choose which of the keeper departments your pumpkin will be used in: Carnivores, Hoof Stock, or Birds & Small Mammals. The proceeds generated by each of the three departments will then go directly into a conservation program of their choosing.

We will be advertising these conservation affiliates at the pumpkin patch with our staff standing by to tell you all about each of them.