Explore the Shore
Owen Beach, Point Defiance Park.
Free.
Underwater, revealed
Moea, the 14-year-old sea otter, recently received her routine wellness exam. While under anesthesia, the rescued sea otter was weighed, x-rayed, and given a full dental exam and cleaning. Veterinarian Dr. Kadie Anderson checked Moea’s eyes and nose, listened to her heart and lungs and examined her body. Sea otters are vital for the health of coastal ecosystems, particularly kelp forests like those in Puget Sound and Monterey Bay. They love to eat the purple sea urchins that would otherwise…
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium will be open daily beginning April 1, just in time for Spring Breaks across the region. Of course, animals like the tigers, red wolves, hammerhead sharks and harbor seals can be seen, but there’s so much more to do at the zoo, too. Take a look at our top activities to do at the zoo this spring. Discover the Little Explorers Nature Play Garden It’s all the buzz. Young children can immerse themselves in a…
Fourth and fifth graders at Tacoma’s Arlington Elementary were giddy with excitement as they gathered in their gym. Which animals were they about to encounter? Maybe an armadillo? A skink? The students chatted with their friends about the possibilities as they settled in for the presentation from Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium staff biologists. As part of the Wildlife Champions partnership between Point Defiance Zoo and two Tacoma elementary schools, students learn and practice empathy for wildlife while becoming stewards…