WNC Nature Center in Asheville, NC

The WNC Nature Center is located in East Asheville, in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The Nature Center is home to many different species of native animals and an educational farm, as well as a butterfly garden, walking trails and a gift shop.

The Nature Center houses its animals in spacious enclosures with lots of vegetation and natural hiding places, unlike some zoos that keep the animals in cages. The trails wind up and down the hilly terrain between the animal exhibits, making it a great place to walk. There are several peacocks that run around loose at the Nature Center, and you are guaranteed to see several friendly squirrels that live among the trees on the wooded property.

Among the popular predatory mammal exhibits are the red wolves, grey wolves, red and grey foxes, bobcats and cougars. Periodically, the WNC Nature Center hosts a very popular program-their wolf howls. People can attend the nature center after dark to learn about the wolves and listen to their haunting calls. The cougars and bobcats are often seen lying in the sun, casting leisurely glances at the people walking by. You'll often see the foxes curled up on a rock, little noses tucked under their tails, snoozing in the sun.

The Nature Center is home to several large black bears who roam their vast enclosure, and a herd of white-tailed deer. They can all be observed from an elevated boardwalk, and the bears can be quite entertaining.

There are lots of birds and small mammals at the Nature Center, including vultures, owls, and hawks; otters, skunks and bats. The otters are a lot of fun to watch as they swim around and seem to perform for their audience. A clear glass wall on a lower level allows you to watch the antics of the otters under water. Next to the otter pond is a fun slide for kids, so they can play like the otters do.

The World Underground explores all the things that go on under the surface of the soil, as you walk through a winding tunnel. Close to that is the turtle pond where you can watch turtles sun themselves and swim around.