The Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort will close for the winter at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Seasonal closures allow the center’s staff to conduct needed maintenance to exhibits and facilities, which ensure a quality experience for the center’s 50,000 yearly visitors. Staff members also use the time to train the wildlife used in the center’s educational programs.
The center offers a number of wildlife and conservation programs, many of which employ the use of live animals including snakes, turtles, raptors and mammals.
“Our staff is going to focus on training our two newest program animals during the winter closure,” said Salato manager Brent McCarty. “We’re excited to have two new animals that will help us make connections with our visitors. Our goal is to unveil these animals to the public in the spring of 2018.”
Fans of the center can view see what’s going on behind the scenes during the winter closure on the Salato Facebook page or on the Salato Twitter page. The Salato Wildlife Education Center reopens for the season March 1, 2018.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources operates the Salato Center to educate and inform the public about wildlife and conservation. The center is located off U.S. 60 in Frankfort, approximately 1½ miles west of the U.S. 127 intersection. A bronze deer statue marks the entrance of the main Kentucky Fish and Wildlife campus.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Salato is closed on Sunday, Monday and state holidays.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for youth 5 to 18. Children younger than 5 are admitted free. The center also offers annual memberships for individuals and families.
(provided by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources)
