Animal Adventures

About Animal Adventures

Animal Adventures is an exotic animal rescue and family zoo center at 336 Sugar Rd. in Bolton, Massachusetts. According to the organization, its aim is to provide a home to unwanted animals and animals that can no longer be cared for, while educating the public about them. The zoo's website describes its facilities as USDA licensed, and it says it operates rescue zoo facilities in two locations: Bolton and a second site at 39 Burnshirt Rd. in Hubbardston.

The zoo's website lists Bolton hours of Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hubbardston location is listed as open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The zoo's FAQ says about 60 to 70 percent of its animals are housed indoors because of tropical climate needs, with the rest outside, and that the facility operates year-round.

Beyond the two sites, Animal Adventures takes animals on the road under the name ZOO to YOU. The zoo says its staff travel to schools, libraries, colleges and events throughout the year, and it offers birthday parties and classroom presentations.

History

The zoo's website states that Animal Adventures was established in 1997 by Ed and Brenda Laquidara. The site says Ed Laquidara has worked with exotic animals since his youth, holds a PhD in Zoology, and has been listed as one of the world's top 20 herpetologists. It adds that Brenda previously owned a pet store in Malden, Massachusetts, with her sister Robin.

The zoo clarifies on its website what it is not: it says it is not a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility or animal hospital, that it can treat some animals with minor injuries, and that it cannot take in animals from the wild. Its home page says it cares for surrendered pets and animals from other zoos or breeding facilities.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo's animal directory lists species in several groups. Birds of prey include the Eurasian eagle owl, barred owl, spectacled owl, great horned owl, Russian eagle owl, Ural owl and red-tailed hawk. Other birds include peafowl, ivory-billed aracari, kookaburra, sun conure and turkey vulture.

The wild cat list names the Carpathian lynx, Siberian lynx, Eurasian lynx, bobcat and African serval. The medium and large mammal list includes Highland cattle, kinkajou, Arctic fox, two-toed sloth, capybara, ring-tailed lemur, common marmoset, African bush baby, screaming hairy armadillo, Asian small-clawed otter, grey fox, muntjac, red kangaroo, pale fox, North American porcupine, ferret, mountain coati, African vervet monkey, African crested porcupine and fennec fox.

Reptiles and amphibians on the directory include Nile crocodiles, Burmese pythons, boas, reticulated pythons, blue-tongue skinks, bearded dragons, iguanas, tegus, an American alligator, an alligator snapping turtle, an Aldabra tortoise, an African spur-thighed tortoise, an African pixie bullfrog and an eyelash crested gecko. Small mammals include rabbits, a three-banded armadillo, chinchillas and guinea pigs, and the directory lists the African rock hyrax at the Hubbardston location only.

The Hubbardston page names individual animals there, including the otters Sushi and Wasabi and a capybara called Hubert, along with owls, kangaroos, African crested porcupines, pale foxes, armadillos, kinkajous, chinchillas, cavies and reptiles.

General admission at Bolton, according to the ticketing page, covers an all-day visit that includes animal shows at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (listed as 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sundays), a bunny petting area and goat feeding. At Hubbardston, general admission is described as a self-guided tour of two buildings with daily presentations at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Conservation and programs

Programs form a large part of what the zoo offers. The ticketing page lists several private tours: a one-hour tour in which guests select six animals from a premium list, a 90-minute tour with a zookeeper guide and 10 to 15 animal interactions, a two-hour extended tour, a 4.5-hour VIP tour offered April through November for ages 18 and over, a tour for children ages 2 to 5 with a parent, a reptile tour, and a 30-minute owl encounter for ages 14 and over.

Individual encounters listed include capybara, sloth, otter and tamandua experiences, each with its own minimum age. The zoo says capybara encounters run at Bolton from April through November and at Hubbardston from December through March. Under-18 guests must be accompanied by a paying parent or guardian.

Educational programs include animal classes, field trips, birthday parties and a summer camp. The camp page describes sessions Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon for children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, with a counselor-in-training program for ages 13 to 16. Daily themes cover small mammals and tortoises, reptile handling, larger exotic animals including kangaroos and owls, and a Friday session that includes alligator catching. The zoo says the camp aligns with Massachusetts educational standards. The Hubbardston page also lists Jr. Zookeeper classes for grades K to 8 and a Thursday story hour for ages 2 to 6.

Each winter the zoo runs an evening event called Island of Misfit Animals at Bolton. The zoo's page lists the 2026 event for Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from November 27 to December 27, closed December 25, with holiday lighting, live animal presentations, and the statement that all proceeds go directly to animal care through the winter. Tickets are booked online.

The zoo also lists animal adoptions, memberships, donations, volunteer positions and career opportunities on its website.

Planning your visit

Bolton is at 336 Sugar Rd. and the zoo says it provides free parking for customers only. The zoo sells limited items including chips, water and ice cream, and guests may bring their own food and eat at the picnic tables. The zoo's website lists current hours and seasonal events.

The zoo states a no-pets policy that includes service dogs, explaining that outside animals can stress the resident animals and create health concerns. It is a smoke-free facility: no smoking, tobacco, vapes or e-cigarettes are allowed on the properties. Online ticketing includes booking and service fees as required in Massachusetts, and ticket prices and tour availability are listed on the zoo's website. The ticketing page states that all sales are final.

Contact details listed by the zoo are the phone number 978-779-8988 and the email address info@animaladventures.net.