We had learned of the Kangaroo Creek Farm a few years back
but had not yet been there for a visit.
I was waiting for the opportunity to visit here with our young grandsons
and although one of them was not able to join us, we set out with the 7 year
old to enjoy a visit with the kangaroos.
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| Kangaroo Creek Farm - Winfield, BC |
The Kangaroo Creek Farm is a private farm that has been
keeping kangaroos and wallabies for over 20 years. They opened for this season in March and will
be open until the end of October every day from 10am until 2pm. The months of July and August are extended
hours.
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| A wonderful place to visit |
They charge a very affordable price for entry, children under 5 are free, seniors and youth only $5, adults $10 and there are
no other costs once you are on the farm, unless you choose to buy a cold drink
available at their concession. No gift
shops, just lots of animals to spend some time with up front and personal.
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| the Capybara family |
This very large rodent is a native of South America and the
largest rodent in the world. The most
familiar rodent I can relate him to is the guinea pig, which we consider pets
in this country but these live wild in their homeland. The smaller one enjoying his petting is
almost 8 months old. His dad, lying
nearby blended in with the sacks and just kept on napping, oblivious to the
activity around him.
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| the Pantagonian Cavy |
The Pantagonian Cavy, known also as a Mara and so much
easier to remember, is from Argentina.
It is amazing how well all of the animals at Kangaroo Creek Farm have
adapted to their human visitors, young and old.
There is no reaction when someone approaches to pet, they seem to
enjoy it all. Being the fourth largest
rodent in the world, they are also related to guinea pigs and the capybara but
are more similar in looks to a bunny and a deer, whom they jump like.
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| Old western town |
The enclosed field where the kangaroos and wallabies are
found has a ‘western town’ to add to the fun of this adventure. We are free to wander around visiting with
the many staff members who are very willing to tell you all about the animals including each of their names. They
carry branches and treats and will give them to you to feed to the kangaroos and wallabies as the animals wander freely around the area, too.
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| Peacock has his say |
This peacock, whose name I’ve forgotten seemed to think he
was the boss. He would put the run on
the kangaroos, although these two were quite patient with him and ignored him
until he went away.
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| Kangaroo enjoying the banana |
One of four kinds and the largest of the species, this is
the red kangaroo. Known to be from
Australian where the kangaroo population was 34.3 million in 2011, we were
excited to be able to pet one of these special fellas with the soft coat. These young ones can grow up to be 6
feet tall and weigh 200 lbs.
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| Wallaby not hungry |
The wallaby is the smallest of the species and weighs up to 18 kg (40
lbs). The diet for them as well as the
kangaroos is mainly grasses, weeds, roots and green leaves. The many staff on the farm are ready to
give you a branch of willow leaves to feed the wallabies or their favorite
treat, a chunk of banana when they get their fill of leaves.
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| Irwin in the shade |
Irwin is a young male albino wallaby. Being albino, he has no color in his skin or
eyes. He kept his eyes closed for much
of our visit with him, they would be sensitive to the sunlight, but he didn’t
hesitate to take the leaves and the banana, once he was able to smell it.
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| Baby kangaroo - joey |
What a thrill to be able to hold a joey, the babies of the
kangaroo family, while visiting the Farm.
There were several of them but our grandson was holding the one albino
of the group, whose name was Casper. He was
able to hold him for a few minutes while giving him some nibbles and a cuddle
before Casper was passed to another of the long line waiting to have their own
cuddle.
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| Lots of animals |
There is quite an variety of animals on the Kangaroo Creek
Farm other than kangaroos that enjoy the visitors, too. The baby emu were only 2.5 weeks old so not
outside yet. The large emu enjoyed
visits as he wandered about. They goats are friendly, always looking for
treats. The Sugar Glider of the possum
family is so tiny. The llama and horses
are in their own corral.
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| Birdhouse display |
The
Kangaroo Creek Farm has some great information and related links on their
webpage about all the animals we were to see on our visit there and I
recommend, should you be interested to learn more, that you check that out.
They are located on Main Street, one block behind the A&W in Winfield on Hwy 97. Parking is on the street but there is also limited handicap parking down the driveway on the Farm.
