Wildlife Learning Center

About the Wildlife Learning and Conservation Center

The Wildlife Learning and Conservation Center, often shortened to WLC, is located at 16027 Yarnell Street in Sylmar, in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California. Its website describes it as a zoological park nestled in an old olive grove, where guests explore wildlife from across the globe. The center is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

According to the website, the center provides life-long care to more than 100 displaced, rescued and zoo-born wild animals. Its stated mission is to provide public education that inspires people to care for wildlife and the environment, to develop a deep interest in the life sciences, and to give loving care and sanctuary to animals in need. A March 2022 ABC7 report describes the center as a nonprofit that relies on admissions and tour sales to support animal care, and that also accepts donations.

History

A March 22, 2022 ABC7 Los Angeles report describes the center as having operated for nearly 20 years, and names David Riherd as director and Danielle Burns as general manager. In that report Riherd says the center began because he always had an intense interest in animals and nature. Burns says some animals were people's pets that had been kept illegally, and some came from the wild with permanent injuries.

The same report says that for the two years before it was published, the center had offered only small private tours, and that it was reopening to general visitors as COVID restrictions eased and restarting school outreach programs and assemblies.

Exhibits and habitats

The center's grounds are described on its visit page as a landscaped setting with walking paths for viewing animals throughout. General admission is self-guided browsing.

The visit page names sloths, eagle owls, porcupines, snakes, armadillos, reptiles and tortoises among its animals. The tour pages add lemurs, which guests feed from outside the enclosure, and hedgehogs. A Time Out Los Angeles listing refers to the "leafy grounds of this suburban Sylmar sanctuary."

Conservation and programs

Tours. The center lists two guided tours led by a biologist, both requiring advance reservations and limited to seven guests. The Adventure Tour lasts 90 minutes and is recommended for guests aged five and older. It includes interactions with sloths, reptiles, porcupines and tortoises, plus one experience chosen from lemurs, hedgehogs or armadillos. The Zoofari Tour lasts 45 minutes and includes one animal interaction chosen from armadillos, porcupines or snakes. General admission is included in the tour price for both, and additional animal experiences can be added.

Individual animal experiences. The center also offers individual animal experiences, which are booked separately from general admission.

Outreach. The outreach page says biologists combine wildlife with the California academic standards for science in one-hour presentations. Listed packages include the Biodiversity Bundle, with a North American porcupine, a lizard, a bird, a tortoise, two small mammals, a bug or amphibian and a snake, and Reptiles and Friends, with a tortoise, two lizards, a walking stick, two snakes, an amphibian and a Madagascar hissing cockroach. The center charges travel fees by distance.

School programs, camps and parties. The center lists school field trips, birthday parties and winter camp. The winter camp page lists ZooKids for ages 6 to 8 and ZooKeepers for ages 9 to 12, held at the center on set dates between late December and early January.

Giving. The website lists animal sponsorships, monthly giving, wish lists, and volunteer and internship opportunities.

Planning your visit

Hours. As listed on the center's website, it is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. General admission is self-guided, and guided tours require advance reservations. Admission categories and prices are on the website.

Parking. The visit page tells visitors to park in the center's lot and walk to the admissions building, and says overflow parking is available on both sides of the street.

Contact and details. The center's website lists the address as 16027 Yarnell Street, Sylmar, CA 91342.