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Wilderness Trails Zoo started as a dream of two sisters and their husbands. Both couples enjoyed interacting with and taking care of animals. Inspired by this passion, they developed a plan. What better way for them to fulfill their desire to be around animals and share this passion with the community than to open a park where anyone can come to enjoy animals up close and personal?

The next step was to find property on which they could establish their park. The couples grew up around the Montrose area, so when they found 56 acres for sale just outside of Birch Run, they could not pass up the opportunity. Originally named Wilderness Trails Animal Park, the zoo opened its’ doors to the public in 1991. It started out small, focusing on native species of wildlife and hoofstock but as word spread about the big little park, the animal collection grew.

While the two families deeply enjoyed running the zoo, with the addition of so many animals the population soon reached a size when additional resources were needed. The decision to apply for non-profit status was reached due to two main factors; first, the owners wanted the zoo to be self-sustaining long after the families were personally unable to care for the zoo. Second, the owners wanted to be able to raise funds to improve the park to a point where it could participate at a national level in cooperation with other zoos.

By January 2003 the zoo had received its 501©3 status and begun to operate as a non-profit entity. Everything that had once been owned by the two families was donated to the non-profit corporation.

In 2024 Jeremiah Tietz, long time friend and business associate of the founders stepped in as the new Director allowing retirement for our founding Directors. Jeremiah has devoted the past 25 years to Zoological Conservation, Education, and working with endangered and rare species, he is a board member on the Animal Welfare Alliance as well and has spent his career promoting advancements in the Zoological industry and rallying for proper animal welfare and regulation reform within the industry. His focus on education and outreach and his goals for expansion and renovations have brought about an excitement to the zoo to continue building onto the original dream and focus that WTZoo was founded on.

In 2024 in addition to a new Director and President on our board we also would like to congratulate Kelsie Bailey on stepping up to Operations Manager of the zoo and Vice president of our board of directors! Kelsie is a Michigan native but grew up in New Mexico where she attended Western New Mexico University  getting her degrees in Zoology and Cellular Molecular Biology. She interned at WTZoo in college and fell in love with the zoo and decided to move full time to Michigan to pursue her career with the zoo. Kelsie has been a vital member of the zoo for the past decade and has been recognized as the Birch Run citizen of the year for her outstanding outreach to our community. Kelsie's passion for conservation and education and drive to make every visitors experience memorable make has made her key in the daily operations of the park.

In 2024 we also welcomed new board members Charli Lillian, Dwain Beck, and Karen Beck.

Charli moved from Central Tennessee to join our team and help bring about positive growth and help focus on establishing a greater diversity and accessibility to our organization. Charli’s position here at the zoo is Director of Public Outreach and her ideas for improving our outreach to all people is such a welcomed asset to our board.  Charli has over a decade of experience in the zoological and agricultural industry and successfully ran her own farm in Tennessee working with a variety of species for years.  She is a well loved motivational figure. Charli was severely injured in 2023 when a drunk driver hit her at a high rate of speed. She sustained nearly fatal injuries and a spinal cord injury leaving her partially paralyzed. Despite this life altering event she has maintained her wonderful positive attitude and drive to help others and make an impact on this world.  Her outlook on life and passion for the zoo brings us the wonderful perspective she adds in our continuous efforts to share our message here at WTZoo to all people of all walks (or rolls) in life!

Dwain Beck and Karen Beck hold the positions of Treaurer and Secretary on our board of directors. Both Dwain and Karen hold a  lifelong passion for animals, education, and business management. Making them vital assets to our organization.  Dwain has owned and ran multiple accounting firms over the past 30 years and Karen has nearly 20 years of experience in business and finance  management. Their expertise and combined passion for animals makes them a perfect fit here at WTZoo.

Today the zoo houses more than over 500 individual animals representing over 50 different species. Wilderness Trails Zoo is constantly striving to improve both the lives of the animals in our care as well as the community’s involvement and enjoyment.