Action Wildlife

About Action Wildlife Foundation

Action Wildlife Foundation, also known as Action Wildlife, is a nonprofit wildlife park at 435 Torrington Rd. in Goshen, Connecticut. The organization describes its mission as connecting people to the natural world through agriculture, education and hands-on animal experiences. Its website says the park emphasizes preserving biodiversity and features species that are not found elsewhere in Connecticut.

According to the park's FAQ, general admission covers the main park, the safari, the petting zoo, a museum and the gift shop. Visitors can walk or drive through. The FAQ says the main park has about 4 miles of roads and that the safari section is a 1-mile loop.

As listed on the park's website, it is closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday and Friday from noon to 5 p.m., and open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The website is the place to confirm current hours.

History

News12 reports in its Goshen feature that Chase and Heidi Jespersen took over leadership of the park in 2022, continuing the vision established by founder Jim Mazzarelli. The park's website presents it as a nonprofit organization today. News12 describes the property as a sanctuary for a wide range of species and notes that many of the animals are rescues.

Exhibits and habitats

News12 describes the animals at the park as ranging from alpacas to zebras, and names aoudads and zebus among the species. The park offers a petting zoo with a barnyard and other domestic breeds, a safari section viewed on foot or by vehicle, and a safari hayride on weekends. The park's website says close-up animal encounters can be booked.

The FAQ describes the hayride as running Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. in the safari section, lasting about 20 to 25 minutes, and being interactive. Guests are told to buy animal grain ahead of the ride. The FAQ also states that outside food may not be used to feed the animals.

Conservation and programs

The park lists birthday parties, field trips and animal encounters on its website, along with a library pass option and a season pass. The FAQ says the library pass program and a Connecticut Kids passport offer reduced admission, and that no veteran, military, senior or EBT discounts are available.

Encounters are priced per group of up to four people and do not include park admission. The park explains that, as a nonprofit that receives no federal or state funding, encounter pricing reflects supplies, staff experience and time. The FAQ says arrivals more than 10 minutes late may result in cancellation, that encounters are nonrefundable and nontransferable, and that weather does not qualify for rescheduling because the park operates rain or shine. Parents or guardians must stay and supervise children during encounters.

Seasonal programming appears on the homepage. A program called Safari Walkers offers early-opening walks for families with young children, and the FAQ says the park is walk-through only on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. A fall festival, Fall Fest, is listed on the website with hay rides, corn mazes and fall refreshments; the page says admission includes a carving pumpkin and that hay rides do not run on weekdays. The listing gives September 19 through November 1 as the festival dates.

Planning your visit

Tickets are bought at the ticket booth on arrival, according to the FAQ. Ticket prices and any seasonal rates are listed on the park's website. Visitors may walk or drive through the park.

The park states that all pets, including dogs, are strictly prohibited, to protect the animals and the visitors' own pets. Outside food for the animals is not allowed. Events and encounters can be booked through the website, and the park lists a gift card option.

The FAQ says the park has no general phone line and directs inquiries to events@actionwildlifefoundation.com; the park also lists Facebook and Instagram accounts. A park map and an FAQ page are available on the site.