Huge thanks to Super Elite Yelper Gary I. for suggesting our visit to this unique animal rescue. Animal Tracks rescues animals, some exotic and some not, and aims to take the very best care of them that they can. Their public tours are an effort to raise funds for animal maintenance and to educate the public about the harm to the animals of raising non-domesticated exotic pets. The stories they tell are frightening. Who in their right mind would try to raise a wolf family in an apartment? Who with any common sense would think a monkey would make a good pet? People can be extremely stupid and self-centered when it comes to exotic animals, unfortunately. This is why so many exotic animals end up in danger, on the streets, or in packed rescues. The mostly-volunteer staff did a remarkable job introducing us to the animals in their care. The wide variety of animals calling Animal Tracks home is mind-boggling: birds, kangaroos, wolves, porcupines, baboons, donkeys, horses....the list goes on and on. The animals seemed clean and well-cared for by staff that is very invested. The only issue we had was parking access. Our car was blocked in by another guest's car for at least 20 minutes, without any warning that we might be blocked in. Finally, a staff member asked the remaining guests who was parked there and they did eventually move their car. If you are an animal lover, the tour is highly recommended. Perfect for kids! read more

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Animal Tracks is an animal sanctuary for exotic animals and this wildlife rehabilitation center is located in Agua Dulce (between Santa Clarita and Palmdale). Each Sunday the center offers guided tours (no walk-ins allowed) and visitors will need to book a session on their website. [Sunday Public Group Experiences & Prices]: It is a 75-minute guided tour that focuses more on education over physical contact. For adult (ages 13+), the price is $49.95 per person + online booking fees. I actually purchased the experience via Groupon with an additional 20% off. [Preparation]: Arrive 10 - 15 minutes early and wear comfortable closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, and layers for outdoor conditions. All visitors must complete an online waiver prior to attending. Water, Gatorade, coffee and snacks are available for purchase in the barn. [Parking]: Park as directed upon arrival and I was able to park within the premise of the barn. [Experience]: The tour started at 2 PM and ended at 3:30 PM. Our main guide Stacy was humorous. Each segment of the tour had its own specialist who shared knowledge on specific animals. During the tour, our party was able to see the following animals: horses/donkeys (with an opportunity to feed them lettuce leaves at no extra charge), hybrid wolves (with an opportunity to feed them by throwing food via a small window opening), cockatoos, armadillo, skunk, opossums, pigs, scorpions, porcupines, hedgehog, kangaroos, monkeys (including Tara who was featured in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl), sugar gliders (will need to ask the staff to see them), etc. Some animal got some clever pun names like Quillie Eilish (one of porcupines). [Barn]: There is a small gift shop at the barn and visits will also see cats running around the shop. [Conclusion]: The tour was extremely educational and it was quite an eye-opening experience to see these rescued animals. This is a much better visit than The Gentle Barn and the tour from Animal Tracks is the real deal. Highly recommended for any animal lovers. P.S. - Donation box is located within the barn. P.P.S. - Visitors can also take a centerpiece plant on the tables back home for free at the end. read more

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Every single person at this sanctuary does an incredible job of sharing the animals stories, teaching us how to respect them properly, and most of all loves them unconditionally. You can tell each staff member has devoted themselves to the care of these animals and it makes my heart so happy. This sanctuary is literally what dreams are made of. I find it really special/important that they don't make any of the animals do tricks, and if an animal does not wish to come out -- they don't have to. I'm so happy with my experience and if you have the means, please check it out. read more

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Nice place for a family outing as they really do care for their animals on site! Everyone was very nice a knowledgeable. Ticket prices are reasonable with Groupon. read more

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My son has always had a fascination with monkeys. I googled where it was possible to actually hold a monkey, and this place was the first on the list (still is), so I thought it would be an amazing birthday gift for my son. I was told to check out the google and yelp reviews to see what the place was about. When doing so, I indeed read reviews and saw pictures of visitors holding and interacting with monkeys. So in 2024, of course, I booked the VIP experience for my son's 18th bday. It cost $639. It was a 5 hour drive one way to get there. And while the experience was only going to be 1.5 hours long, I knew it would be worth the price and long drive for my son to have the experience he has been dreaming about since he was a little boy. Unfortunately, that was not the case. You only get to view the monkeys from the bleachers which are about 10-12 feet away from the the tables where the staff show the monkeys. The staff seemed like they were actually trying to frighten us as if the monkeys were going to attack us. Completely different than what I saw and read pictured in the reviews. Don't get me wrong, animals are animals, and all animals are unpredictable and pose risk, but that is why we signed the waivers, and none of us were young children. That being said, I will say that the staff was very knowledgeful and it was clear that they truly care about the animals. there were many cool animals and it was a fun visit overall. However, if I had known that something had apparently changed to where google and the reviews are no longer applicable, and they are no longer allowing hands-on interactions with the monkeys, I would not have driven 10 hours total and paid $639 for the 1.5 hour for the experience we got. I would definitely visit if I was already in the area but only at the normal $49 rate for the same 1.5 hours. I basically paid an additional $439 for the same experience with the same length of time, while expecting what I was seeing and reading in the reviews. And for that, I am only giving the 3 stars. I would hope that the staff would advocate to have the misleading information on google changed, or clearly indicate and communicate that hands-on interactions with the monkeys that are clearly pictured in the reviews are no longer allowed, rather than directing you to the reviews to get information about the experience. Because the reviews are no longer applicable to the experience they currently provide. read more

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Had the opportunity to visit Animal Tracks this past weekend and it was an amazing experience. The sanctuary had so many different types of animals I didn't think I would ever get to meet. We got to meet an actual porcupine, and they were MUCH larger than I had expected! Their unique personalities came right out and they were adorable to witness. We also met a spunky armadillo, some beautiful kangaroos and a joey!, as well as marmosets and even a baboon! We also met various other types of monkeys that were sold as pets and animal actors that unfortunately are no longer wanted, including the monkey in Pirates of the Caribbean! You can tell all the animals at the sanctuary are very well taken care of and I am happy to have supported this sanctuary in their mission to nurture, educate and protect these animals that cannot be returned back into the wild due to human intervention. The location is a bit far but it is so worth the drive. We also had the pleasure of meeting Leo, the friendliest barn cat and Spooky (?), the gentlest chihuahua mix ever. If you want to meet and get up close and personal with some unique wildlife, or just love animals, highly recommend visiting Animal Tracks. read more

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What an amazing experience! I went with my husband yesterday and we both loved it. Tour Guides From start to finish, the main tour guide and all the volunteers were all so friendly, welcoming, funny, and made sure we all had a great time. They were all really knowledgeable, and after each different animal experience, I honestly felt like I learned a lot about what I can do personally to bring awareness to the issues that each of the animals face. They all seemed to care so much about the animals, which was amazing to see! Animals The animals we got to feed and pet - donkeys, horses, dogs, puppies The animals that came out that we weren't allowed to pet (but still awesome!) - cockatoos, hybrid wolves, armadillo, scorpion, groundhog, hedgehog, porcupines, skunks, monkeys, baboon, kangaroos, some sort of cat from the bobcat family Most of their areas have misters, so that helped so much during the hot day! I didn't even need my fan mister. It's a short 50m drive from LA. Went to the cowboy tavern after for brunch, and the rustic mercantile next door, which were both great! Highly recommended this place to anyone! read more

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The owners and most of the staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, which we really appreciated. Unfortunately, one staff member left a very negative impression. She had short white hair and was stationed in front of the monkey enclosures. She was rude and made inappropriate comments toward guests, including young children. It made the experience uncomfortable for our group. If you visit, I hope you have the same positive interactions we did with the rest of the team -- just be aware that our experience with this particular staff member was disappointing. read more

Definitely a place you must go at least once! It was quite a drive to get here but so worth it! You really get to see the animals up close. You can even pet and feed some of them. The volunteers and director of the sanctuary were great and they really know their information. You can really tell they love their job and the animals they care for. A few downsides would be there's limited tour slots each day so this is an activity you would do earlier in the day. Make sure to use a restroom before you come here because they only have a portal potty to the public and there's no sink to wash your hands. (There is a sink inside their bird showroom) The weather fluctuated a lot during our visit so I would suggest layering up especially during the colder seasons. You don't see every single animal at this sanctuary but there's limited time and some are resting. Nonetheless, can't wait to come here again!! read more

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It was wonderful learning about these animals, their backgrounds and experiencing (hands on) with some of them. The volunteers were exceptional, sharing and with their personal bond with the animals! Such an amazing experience, that I would love to go again! The guides were very expressive in their presentations and we learned so much! This is an experience you need to partake in and tell your friends!! read more

How have I lived in LA for 25 years and not known Animal Tracks existed? We had such a fun and educational tour there and learned so much about a variety of rescued exotic, domesticated and wild animals such as porcupines, baboons, fennec foxes, monkeys, an armadillo, and even a scorpion! All the staff is knowledgable and entertaining, and the animals are very, very well cared for. The owner, Stacey, lives on site and treats every animal like part of the family, she taught us so much about animal welfare, conservation, and how each creature lives in the wild. Animal Tracks is such a refreshing change to a large zoo, and I highly recommend it to any animal lovers. (All the proceeds, including the gift shop, go directly back to caring for the animals.) read more

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I visited Animal Tracks over the weekend as part of a group and I, as well as the rest of my group, had a really special and wonderful experience. Chrissy and the entire staff are extremely polite and gracious, and you can see their passion for animal welfare shining through with how happy and well kept all the animals are. Everyone on-site is a volunteer and really works hard and does a great job. I really think everything they do is very commendable and I wish I lived closer because I would volunteer as well. I always research every place that has animals before I go to make sure they are reputable and I can 100% tell you that Animal Tracks is extremely reputable and has a great reputation. They are legitimately a great organization, and visiting is an extremely fun way to spend an afternoon. It was really hard to choose my favorite animal. I would say, Frank the Tank the Armadillo was the funniest. I loved his love for bouncing balls. I even saw him do a double bounce on his head followed by a bounce on his back all while holding onto the ball, which I certainly cannot do myself. The wolves were beautiful, and watching them run was really special. If I had to choose, I would say the baboon was my favorite. She was really sweet and feisty, and I was just amazed at how tough but also beautiful that species is. They also have horses, donkeys, kangaroos, and a whole host of other animals. All of them arwell kept and well fed and it's a real pleasure to support this business. I would highly recommend to anyone and everyone and I plan to be back in the future. read more

Animal Tracks - Zoos Near Me - Agua Dulce, California

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My visit at Animal Tracks was an interesting as well as a learning experience, thanks to the knowledgeable volunteers. The exotic animals even had accompanying music from their country of origin. Most notable, it was stressed that these animals are not meant to be pets and we were given reasons why. Up close to these seldom seen animals and being able to touch some of them was unforgettable. The interaction shown by the volunteers to the animals showed how much they care for each for them. The Animal Tracks sanctuary is an experience to share with everyone who cares about protecting these precious animals. It's also a great way to spend a fascinating day with wonderful people! Many thanks to everyone at Animal Tracks. Kay Hopkins read more

Visited the sanctuary yesterday with my family. We had such a lovely experience. Husband and I took our son, but I think I was more excited than he was (hah). We enjoyed seeing the different animals so close and learning new facts about them. Everyone was pleasant and made it a great experience. Woul have loved to be able to pet the animals, but that may be a different package or due to being in such a large group? Either way, we enjoyed the up close and personal experience. read more

Animal Tracks - Zoos Near Me - Agua Dulce, California

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I love this place. The animals are so well taken care of and the staff is super friendly!! read more

Animal Tracks - Hedgehog - Zoos Near Me - Agua Dulce, California

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Incredible close experience. Funny guides and you can tell they really care about the welfare of the animals as well as education others. Truly think everyone should attend this tour at least once. Prepare for some light walking. read more

Animal Tracks - Zoos Near Me - Agua Dulce, California

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AMAZING AMAZING EXPERIENCE. There are so many animals theyve rescued and take such amazing care of. If you can, do the VIP tour. My family did it and it was so great. We got to feed kangaroos and horses and other animals, so and learned about so many animals they had! You get to meet so many animals!! Seriously. Amazing. I went with my husband and three kids (17,13,1) and everyone had fun. read more

Animal Tracks - Zoos Near Me - Agua Dulce, California

This is my first time going to animal sanctuary of any kind, so I didn't know what to expect to be honest. I love that you can tell people work there really care about the animals, and they have specific care takers that bond with the different animals, which is so endearing. We got to meet the armadillo, who's soooooooooo cute, porcupines are super adorable also. Monkeys, hedgehog, skunk, horse and donkey. I learned so much abt them, I can imagine it's great for bringing kids here so they can learn the right knowledge abt wild animals, also not get bored at all. All in all, super happy I went there. 10/10 read more

So fun. This is a completely curated and narrated 90 min tour and interaction with the animals. Great experience and loved the staff. You can tell they love the animals. read more

Animal Tracks - Petting the baby pig. - Zoos Near Me - Agua Dulce, California

This place is my Disneyland! I think I've been five or six times. And I will continue to go back as much as I can. I always learn something new. Even on the tours that I've been on where there might have been one or two people you could tell we're not full-blown animal lovers by the end, there completely smitten with the animals and the staff here! This place is an example of a true passion project. I cannot recommend highly enough to bring your children and your adults here! read more

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Awesome morning feeding the donkeys and horse Spirit! Never before seen armadillo playing basketball! We loved the porcupines, pig and hedgehog. So much info re exotic animals and their care, not to be domesticated! My grand boys 16 and 10 were amazed! We really enjoyed the sanctuary and exotic pets up close and touchable. 5 stars for staff Josh and Bob!!! read more

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My toddler really enjoyed seeing and learning about all the animals -- and so did our entire family. The presentations are fun and full of great information -- not only about the animals, but the environmental dangers they face and how we can help. The porcupine's are HUGE! But you can pet kangaroos and all other kinds of animals, depending on the day. Will definitely return and recommend, as long as you're looking for a guided tour instead of free roaming. :) read more

Absolutely wonderful experience! The staff are incredible storytellers and really immerse you in the background of the animals. They raise awareness of the negative impact of exotic pets, and really educate you on a lot of subjects while allowing you to meet them. Great space and you can tell they take care of their animals. read more

Amazing place ! A little peace of heaven on earth . Friendly and knowledgeable staff . Animals are clearly well cared for . Definitely recommend read more

Had a great time at Animal Tracks! Staff and volunteers were great, super nice and energetic and you could totally tell they all loved the animals. We got to see many animals up close (not touching), and all the animals looked quite healthy energetic, and very relaxed around staff and people. A lot of the animals were abandoned by irresponsible people or retired from showbiz and now get to live out a chill life here at Animal Tracks. My favorites were the armadillo, wolfdogs, donkeys, and fennec foxes! Make the drive up, it's worth it. read more

First the volunteers were all so nice & friendly, made the experience even better . It was awesome seeing all the animals up close and personal especially the cool fun armadillo . The only thing that I didn't like was we did not get to see half the animals, my son was so excited to see the fox but must have been a misunderstanding I guess but that the only thing . read more

Loved getting to know all the animals and the staff are respectful to the guest and more importantly the animals telling us social cues about the monkeys were my favorite. Great place and a must go. read more

Honestly it was such a great experience, as soon as you drive up to the gate you are welcomed with such a positive attitude by the staff. As you wait for the experience to start they show you some of their animals and then once it starts it gets to even better. The staff is amazing and they do such a great job at not only treating their customers like family but they also take very great care of the animals. It's not a huge location but the experience is so worth it. Will be returning back. I also love animals so the commitment they show to help out the animals in need and make this world a better place wins my support. Thank you animal tracks and all the volunteers . read more

I completed my first volunteer day and am elated. The sanctuary is immaculate--no smell, clean kitchen area for animal food prep, etc. The volunteers on the team are top notch--all very nurturing to both critters and humans alike--asking several times during day if I have questions, need water, and even if I'm cold. I'm a 61 year old lady and felt very well received among the exotics as well as the like minded animal advocates. I recommend Animal Tracks as an outstanding volunteer opportunity if you have the desire, time, and motivation to do so. They do adapt the tasks to the skill set of the volunteer and are generous with the education (with emphasis on safety). I can't think of a better or more rewarding use of my time than learning from kind people, caring for these animals that deserve only the best, and teaching others why it is best to leave them in the wild. read more

Thank you Stacy and team for the amazing tour and caring for all these gorgeous animals, it was a great surprise for my husbands birthday, we had a blast, learned so much about these animals and can see how greatly they are cared for, a must visit! read more

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Such a great experience these animals are truly loved & taken care of. Very educational & appropriate for all ages

Found this place while browsing on the Bucketlisters app and I'm glad I did! Upon arrival you are instructed where to park and asked to check-in, and sign a waiver. Once everyone in your group arrives the tour will start. It's a small group setting with the director and multiple volunteers showing you the animals up close while providing background information and answering any questions. They also aim to inform on how we can be better as humans in order to help the animals flourish in their natural habitats. The armadillo, Hank the Tank, was super fun to watch with his silly antics, and the cockatoos were a riot. But if you're into cuter types, then you'll love the fennec foxes and Kiwi the hedgehog. All in all it was a great experience and if you're reading this trying to decide on going or not, the answer is yes! read more

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A tour at this awesome sanctuary is a MUST!! There are so many different animals to see, that you would otherwise only get to see in their native countries. And they're all here, in Agua Dulce! If you're looking for a fun, educational place to take your kids, this is it. If you're in need of ideas for a fun date, this is it right here. The staff are super knowledgeable and friendly. Did I mention the animals are adorable and fascinating to see up close and personal. Take a tour here, you won't regret it. read more

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Chose to come here to celebrate my birthday and it was a wonderful experience. Though we came during the heatwave (100+ degrees), it wasn't too bad during our tour as we were primarily in the shade with misters. The staff and volunteers were very welcoming and gave a great tour filled with lots of fun facts and information about each animal. They also emphasized about the importance of maintaining wild animals in the wild instead of as pets and how important each animal plays in the ecosystem. They do great work here and everyone seemed to care for each animal and love what they do. You don't get to see all of the animals, so tours will differ. You get to get close to many animals but as far as interacting, we got to pet and feed a horse and donkeys.l (super cute). Time flies by and they make sure to fill the whole time with fun. I wish it would have been even longer, but I suppose we'll just have to come visit again :). Recommend arriving early to make sure you don't miss anything and out of respect for everyone's time as they are prompt with everything. Parking was easy as the staff meets you at the entrance and directs you where to park. read more

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Animal tracks is an immersive sanctuary with many species and a wonderful staff. These animals were previously pets and are now living the rest of their lives here. You can tell the staff has a great appreciation and respect for the animals. I highly recommend you to visit to support this amazing sanctuary, you won't regret it! read more

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Came here with my family and we ALL loved it. The animals are all lovely and the staff very friendly and welcoming. I loved the fact that they spoke about each animal and told us how/what they contribute to ecosystems. read more

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Everything. The staff was great. Loved all the animals and the care given to them. We would highly recommend this place.

Accessibility: There are no stairs, and only one sloping driveway to walk up, and if needed you could park at the top and join there. It is quite centralized, and perfectly flat where the animals are kept. If you inform them ahead of time of any phobias or allergies to certain animals, they will make accommodations, such as showing you a place to rest and relax while the rest of the tour views that animal, and they won't even mention it's name. Be sure to inform them of any peanut allergies, as some of the animals eat peanuts. They will ask this question before bringing the tour to that area. Yesterday, a lady's phobia to birds was accommodated while the rest of us viewed cockatoos. I have seen boas and scorpions on previous tours, so be sure to communicate any phobias or limitations you may have in advance. They really will make every effort to ensure you can enjoy your visit. Tickets: Public tours on Sundays for $49.95, or Private tours Saturdays or weekdays for $200/person or $180/person for more than 6 people. Animal Tracks is a wonderful place to visit to see exotic animals up close. Nestled in Agua Dulce, a famous location for filming Westerns, the site is a wildlife sanctuary for exotics. Some were the victims of the pet trade, captured in the wild or bred in captivity to see to those who think diminutive marmosets would make great pets, until they start to bite and urinate everywhere. Among the many different species, they have wolf dog hybrids surrendered by people who learned too late how difficult it can be to keep them contained and happy. There are also animals retired from the movie industry, and from wildlife rehabilitation centers that were not releasable back into the wild. Due to state and federal law, you cannot pet the animals, though you will be strongly tempted by the Fennec Fox. However, multiple animals will be brought right up to you for highly educational demonstrations. I have gone several times, with yesterday being the first time since Covid. Each time was different, and I always learned something new, so the owner clearly puts great effort into keeping the presentations fresh and updated. As guests gather for the start of the tour, they are allowed to feed a dun gelding and two donkeys. Then the tour itself began with two cheeky cockatoos. Afterward, we got to see Tara, the capuchin from the movie, "Pirate's of the Caribbean", a different species of capuchin, a sweet baboon, a 6 Banded Armadillo, a Fennec Fox (which was anime-level of cuteness), marmosets, kangaroos, a skunk, and two porcupines snuffled near our feet. Upon the conclusion of the tour, guests are allowed to take a look at the other exhibits, to see animals such as foxes, raccoons, and many others. This would be the perfect place to visit if you have kids. The owner, Stacy Gunderson, has a wealth of knowledge about each of the species in her care. You will come away with a fuller appreciation of the many specialized adaptations of the animals we share this planet with. Give this wildlife center a look. read more

Animal Tracks - Wolf hybrids - Zoos Near Me - Agua Dulce, California

Such a cool experience!! There are so many different kinds of animals they rescue and care for. They do a great job at teaching about conservation and explaining these animals are not meant to be pets and the correct way to appreciate wild animals. I highly recommend! read more

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Wonderful wildlife rehabilitation center with an emphasis on wildlife conservation. Very enjoyable tour.