View source for DeYoung Family Zoo

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox zoo
| zoo_name = DeYoung Family Zoo
| image = 
| area = 
| location = [[Wallace, Menominee County, Michigan|Wallace]], [[Michigan]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|45.30793|-87.644913|type:landmark_scale:2500|display=inline,title}}
| date_opened = 1990
| num_animals = 450
| num_species = 125
| largest_tank_vol = 
| total_tank_vol = 
| annual_visitors = 
| members = 
| exhibits = 
| owner = Bud DeYoung, Carrie Cramer
| website = {{URL|http://thedeyoungfamilyzoo.com}}
}}

The '''DeYoung Family Zoo''' is a zoo that opened to the public in 1990. It is open yearly from May until the end of October. It is located in [[Wallace, Menominee County, Michigan|Wallace]], in the [[Upper Peninsula]] of [[Michigan]], United States, about {{convert|15|mi}} north of [[Menominee, Michigan|Menominee]]. The zoo is owned by Bud DeYoung and Carrie Cramer.  The facility has many exotic felines, and provides visitor interactions, as well as baby animals to pet and bottle feed.

==Animals==
The zoo's most popular attractions are [[tiger]]s, [[leopard]]s, [[lion]]s, a [[liger]] and a [[hippopotamus]].   
There are also Russian [[grizzly bear]]s, [[cougar|mountain lion]]s, [[wolf|wolve]]s, [[striped polecat|zorilla]], [[marbled polecat]]s, [[kinkajou]], [[coyote]]s, Bennett [[wallaby|wallabies]], [[ring-tailed lemur]]s, white [[Bengal tiger]]s, a wild [[Mustang (horse)|mustang]], [[coati]]s, [[camel]]s, [[yak]], [[white-fronted capuchin]], [[binturong]], chimpanzee, [[spotted hyena]]s, [[striped hyena]]s, [[boa constrictor]]s, [[Burmese python]]s, anaconda, many different kinds of lizards, [[mouflon]] sheep (Petunia), [[lanner falcon]], crested porcupines, black bears, alligators (that the owners swim with and catch on the weekends in the summer), spider monkeys, [[bobcat]]s, badgers, [[emu]]s, [[red kangaroo]], [[New Guinea singing dog]]s, [[olive baboon]]s, [[black-backed jackal]]s, lynx, [[Arctic fox]]es, ducks, geese, chickens, rabbits, palm civets, tortoises, [[European pine marten|pine marten]]s, [[fennec fox]], albino raccoon, and [[red fox]].

DeYoung and Cramer also participate in rehabilitation of local species of animals including [[white-tailed deer]], [[raccoon]]s, and anything else that needs help. In 2008, the zoo successfully bred two endangered [[Siberian tiger]]s, which produced a litter of four.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=166135 |title=Cute, cuddly and endangered |accessdate=2009-03-23 |author=Natalie Zimmermann |date=2008-07-28 |publisher=Upper Michigans Source.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524061858/http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=166135 |archivedate=2011-05-24 }}</ref>

There have been questions regarding the care of the animals in the zoo in more recent years. [https://www.thedodo.com/tommy-chimpanzee-missing-zoo-1838935407.html A Chimpanzee named Tommy was donated to the zoo in 2015 but the DeYoung Zoo denied having the chimp]. Later, Tommy the Chimpanzee was indeed at the zoo but PETA had concerns about the conditions the Chimpanzee was in. https://www.peta.org/action/action-alerts/deyoung-family-zoo/

Also, at least [https://www.roadsidezoonews.org/post/57-animals-disappear-from-deyoung-zoo-in-the-past-14-months-records-show?fbclid=IwAR32t8DCGYxChzfGT6aO3NR_0UqO-OKBblzopEVzhfGE03ghUclbMecS0ss 50 animals have been misplaced by the DeYoung family zoo] and the owners refused to provide answers and proof of where the exotic animals have disappeared to.

==Attractions==
Attractions include a petting zoo full of domestic animals to meet and feed, with more than 400 animals from all over the world. Visitors can watch the zoo animal programs and animal feeding. 
The zoo offers hands on education and animal education programs. The park strives to educate the public on animal issues, conservation needs, and proper animal husbandry.

==''My Life is a Zoo''==
''My Life is a Zoo'' is a television show on [[National Geographic Wild]] cable station, filmed at the DeYoung Family Zoo.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110112152732/http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/wild/shows-my-life-is-a-zoo My Life Is a Zoo- Nat Geo Wild<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Neil Genzlinger of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that DeYoung and Cramer "should be commended for their exotic-animal rescues and abundant enthusiasm but perhaps not for their hygiene," citing an occasion in the series in which Cramer is seen kissing a hyena on the lips.<ref>Neil Genzlinger (2010) [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/arts/television/22wild.html?_r=1 "All Creatures Great and Repulsive"], ''The New York Times,'' April 21, 2010.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://thedeyoungfamilyzoo.com}}

{{Zoos of Michigan}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Zoos in Michigan]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Menominee County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Menominee County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Zoos established in 1990]]