Places to Get Up Close and Personal With Wildlife in Connecticut

Are you an avid birdwatcher? Do you enjoy seeing venomous reptiles like a King Cobra or a Rattlesnake up close? Connecticut is home to a diverse array of marine life, mammals, amphibians and insects, and there are quite a few places where you can get up close to exotic animals around the state that are temporary homes to exotic species of animals from around the world.

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Connecticut has only 1 true zoo and two major aquariums, but did you know there's also a reptile education center? Bird sanctuaries? In Woodbury? Goshen?

I've complied a list of 10 places around the Nutmeg State where you can sometimes pet, feed, or get within a few inches of a Mamba, behind a sturdy piece of glass of course.

The Best Places To See & Learn About Wildlife in Connecticut

If you want to get up close and learn about reptiles, marine life, and exotic land animals, there are some great places for you and the kids to check out around Connecticut.

CT Man Overcomes Emotional Trauma With Wildlife Photography

Tim Kaiser is a former I-95 radio personality that I lost touch with some years ago. Tim reappeared in my Instagram direct messages with photos and a story I had to share with you. His story, is one of overcoming life’s obstacles and finding beauty in a world with so much pain.

I asked for Tim’s permission to share a letter he wrote me and he said yes. The words below are his, they reflect his emotional suffering and his brave journey to combat life’s challenges with the beauty of nature. This is the story of how a CT man has overcome emotional trauma with photography and nature. The pictures below were all taken in Washington and Woodbury, CT.