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Cat Tales
The History
Cat Tales Zoological Park was founded in early 1991 by, cofounders, Mike & Debbie Wyche. We were registered with the Secretary of the State of Washington as a non profit charity and Incorporated on July 27, 1991. We have been licensed by the USDA as a "Class C - Exhibitor", the classification given to all major zoos, since August 2, 1991. We were classified as a 501(c)3 with the IRS on December 10, 1991, and granted permanent status in 1996.
The first summer there were four cats and the tours started and ended in the house. Our gift shop was half of the living room with photos on the walls. Our visitors parked in what was the front yard and came through the front door to sign in. The tours started out the front door, included the four cats, and came in the back door where the guest surveys were on the kitchen counter.
We started incorporating a volunteer staff, some of whom are still very much involved. With the help of our previous Senior Staff and Felidae experience, we began training in the basic day to day care of big cats and how to give good informative tours to our visitors.
As word of our facility traveled throughout the U.S., we began to rescue more and more cats (and other non feline animals) from the private sector. Some of them came to be part of the Park's family, some were placed in other centers.
We ended the summer of 1992 with two tigers, five pumas, a serval, two bobcats and two lynx. By Spring 1993 we had three leopards, a clouded leopard, three tigers, four pumas, a serval, two lions, two bobcats, two lynx, two kinkajous, an agouti, and three prairie dogs. (We soon placed the non felines in other homes.)
Our attendance slowly increased and so did our staff. During the 1998-99 school year the Park's Outreach Programs and On site Tours hosted thousands of students K-Adult. The staff averages 20+ members who are either students, instructors, or volunteers.
Currently, as of Spring 2005, we feed an average of 14,000 pounds of food per month to 42 Big Cats, 2 Bears, 3 Parrots, 2 Snakes, 2 Lizards, 1 Raptor, 2 Hamsters, 3 Goats, 1 Rabbit, 2 Ferrets, 4 Dogs, 2 Geese, 5 Ducks, 10 Chickens, and 6 Domestic Cats, plus miscellaneous creatures which occasionally call the Zoo their home. .
Some of these animals are not on exhibit to the general public but provide additional experience for the students enrolled in the zoo school. Most of the non-felid animals arrived as "orphans" and were taken in as part of the zoo's rescue program.
Cat Tales also is the home of the Zoological Training Center which is the only school of this type in North America. Students from all over the world come here to the Park to learn the profession of Zookeeping.
We currently have Zoos waiting to hire future graduates from our program.
Our Mission Statement
Cat Tales Zoological Park is dedicated to:
Promote the welfare and survival of all living species through dedication, conservation, and education. Promote the preservation of endangered species in general, with a specific focus on the endangered & exotic cats. Provide and promote the highest possible standards for professional zookeepers, animal trainers, and animal care specialists. Provide and promote accurate environmental information and education for all ages.
Environmental education for all ages to prevent the continued destruction of wildlife habitats and the plundering of the world's resources like the rainforest without regard to the long term consequences.
Rescue Work Cat Tales works with various state wildlife agencies, USDA, and HSUS plus private agencies throughout the United States in rescuing and relocation of exotic animals of all types. The Park is on standby to receive and house exotic cats which need homes for various reasons ranging from abandoned or abused animals to the cases where someone wanted a "unique pet" but tired of it after the novelty wore off.
The zoo averages 45 calls per month regarding animals needing our rescue efforts and is instrumental in helping draft new exotic animal regulations in various communities on a local, state, and federal level to help stop the profiteering in exotic animals all together. Contact us for information on how to get involved with your own local government agencies.
Cat Tales receives no local, state, or federal government support. FUNDED BY GATE RECEIPTS, GIFT SHOP SALES, MEMBERSHIPS, ANIMAL ADOPTIONS, AND YOUR DONATIONS ! Send your tax deductible donations to:
Cat Tales Zoological Park - N. 17020 Newport Hwy - Mead, Washington, 99021-9539 -USA
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