Kisma Preserve

About Kisma Preserve

Kisma Preserve is a donor-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in coastal Maine. Its website describes the preserve as a stable, lifetime home for non-domesticated animals and says it has been dedicated to exotic animal care and education for over 30 years. The stated purpose is providing education about and care for animals. The website's contact page places the preserve's primary facility in the Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park region, and the mailing address shown on the website is PO Box 84, Mount Desert, Maine 04660. It is not an AZA-accredited facility.

The visit page describes the preserve as a permanent home for many animals whose lives are entwined with humans, and as the home of several staff members. It says the preserve is 100 percent supported by donors and by the fees it charges for experiences.

History

The About page says the organization has been dedicated to exotic animal care and education for over 30 years. According to the visit page, the preserve's small staff and volunteers collectively have close to 70 years of experience there, and they have known many of the resident animals since infancy.

Exhibits and habitats

Visits are organized as guided tours rather than a self-guided walk-through. The visit page lists a Meet a Wolf encounter, which it calls the preserve's most popular experience, in which guests meet one or more wolves up close and join the daily socializing or exercising routine. It also mentions special fundraising night visits and full moon visits with the wolves. A Private VIP Tour offers close meetings with most of the residents, more in-depth information and more time focused on the guest's interests. Custom tours are available on request.

The visit page says the close relationships between staff and animals allow photo and artistic opportunities, and gives examples such as costumed photos, serenading wolves with a cello, or sunrise yoga with a view of Cadillac Mountain while a black bear eats breakfast nearby. The preserve's Animals page shows photographs it describes as a small sample of the animals that make their home there.

Conservation and programs

The preserve's wildlife page offers advice on injured or abandoned wildlife. It says qualified professional advice should be sought before acting, that usually the best thing to do is nothing at all, and that most areas restrict handling wildlife without proper licensing. It invites callers at 207-667-3244 for advice or referrals to nearby resources.

The home page also lists camping offered through Hipcamp. The listings are named Camping with Wolves, described as primitive camping on the grounds to experience the sounds and feel of the preserve at night, Raw and Rough, and Cadillac Mountain View Hammocks. The preserve accepts tax-deductible donations through its website, and the visit page says donors and supporters have priority for its limited encounters.

Planning your visit

As listed on the preserve's website, regular daily hours run from mid-May to late fall, weather permitting, and appointments are available year-round. All activities require reservations and are subject to availability. Tours are reserved by phone at 207-667-3244, and the contact page invites visitors to call for directions.

The visit page sets out these conditions: every visitor must stay with the guide and remain in the tour, there are no refunds, and a requested time change is accommodated once or converted to a gift card or donation. Special opportunities such as personal animal encounters, photography and camping carry additional cost. The preserve says it cannot make guarantees because the animals are in their homes and are free to be wherever they choose within their enclosures. The website encourages visitors to check the preserve's Facebook page for the latest information.