Delaware Zoos, Wildlife Parks & Animal Attractions

Discover Delaware's diverse collection of zoos, wildlife centers, and animal sanctuaries. From the historic Brandywine Zoo in Wilmington to wildlife refuges along the Delaware Bay, the First State offers exceptional opportunities for families to connect with animals and learn about conservation.

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Major Zoos & Animal Parks

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Wildlife Refuges & Nature Centers

120

Years of Brandywine Zoo History

245+

Bird Species at Prime Hook Refuge

On This Page

Brandywine Zoo AZA Accredited

📍 Location: 1001 North Park Drive, Wilmington, DE 19802

📞 Phone: 302-571-7788

🌐 Website: brandywinezoo.org

Founded in 1905, Brandywine Zoo is Delaware's only zoo and the state's sole AZA-accredited institution. Nestled along the Brandywine River in scenic Brandywine Park, this intimate 4.7-acre zoo has been delighting visitors for 120 years with its diverse collection of animals from the Americas and temperate Asia.

Featured Animals & Exhibits:

  • Madagascar Exhibit - Three species of lemurs, tortoises, and guinea fowl in naturalistic habitats
  • Andean Condors - State-of-the-art 110,000-cubic-foot flight cage for these majestic birds
  • Asian Animals - Red pandas, small monkeys, and other temperate Asian species
  • American Species - River otters, bobcats, swift foxes, servals, and capybaras
  • Birds & Reptiles - Toucans, ravens, alligators (summer), and various reptile species
  • South American Animals - Golden lion tamarins, giant anteaters, llamas, and goats

Special Features:

  • Nature playground with giant log crawl-through and natural loose parts exploration
  • Sensory Inclusive certified location through KultureCity
  • Educational programs year-round: homeschool programs, toddler programs, summer camps
  • Special events including Creature Features and Brew at the Zoo

Conservation Status: Continuously AZA-accredited since 1986, accredited through September 2027. Plays critical role in Andean condor conservation efforts.

3 Palms Zoo & Education Center Rescue Zoo

🌐 Website: 3palmszoo.org

Delaware's largest zoo and only rescue zoo, 3 Palms is home to the state's only alligator exhibit, Eastern coyotes, and silver foxes. This unique facility focuses on providing sanctuary for former pets, surrendered animals, and non-releasable wildlife transferred from state-licensed rehabilitators.

Animals & Experiences:

  • Exotic Wildlife - Alligators, Eastern coyotes, silver foxes, leucistic foxes, red foxes, gray foxes
  • Farm Animals - Llamas, goats, cows, mini pigs, sheep, rabbits
  • Birds - Ducks, emus, free-range turkeys, chickens, peacocks, geese
  • Other Species - Giant tortoises, prairie dogs, skunks

Interactive Opportunities: Hand-feeding animals available ($1 per scoop of petting zoo food). Visitors can pet and interact with friendly farm animals while learning about animal rescue and conservation.

Coastal Wilds Unique Encounters

📍 Location: 34215 Peppers Corner Road, Frankford, DE (10 minutes from Bethany Beach)

🌐 Website: coastalwilds.org

Formerly Barn Hill Preserve, Coastal Wilds is home to over 35 diverse animal species and offers Delaware's most unique animal encounter experiences, including the state's first opportunity to swim with otters.

Featured Experiences:

  • Swim with Otters - First-of-its-kind experience offered by a Delaware facility
  • Animal Ambassador Encounters - Up-close experiences with otters, two-toed sloths, red kangaroos
  • Small Mammals & Reptiles - Interactive encounters with aardvarks or sloths, plus small reptiles
  • Conservation Education - Educators share insights on wildlife conservation and inspire positive environmental impact

Mission: Devoted to providing enriching educational experiences that inspire a passion for wildlife conservation through hands-on animal interactions.

National Wildlife Refuges

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Top 100 Birding Area

📍 Location: Tidal salt marshes of the Delaware Bay

🌐 Website: fws.gov/refuge/bombay-hook

Named one of the nation's "Top 100 Important Birding Areas" by the American Bird Conservancy, Bombay Hook encompasses over 16,000 acres of pristine wetlands providing critical habitat for over 250 bird species and diverse wildlife including deer and foxes.

Wildlife Viewing Highlights:

  • Vast flocks of wintering Snow Geese
  • Mute Swans and Tundra Swans
  • Large flocks of ducks and wading birds
  • American Bitterns and Black-necked Stilts (nesting)
  • American Avocets (nesting)
  • Bald Eagles year-round
  • White-tailed deer

Access: Wildlife viewing available from vehicle along auto tour routes and on several walking trails throughout the refuge.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

📍 Location: Milton, Delaware (marshes of western Delaware Bay)

🌐 Website: fws.gov/refuge/prime-hook

Globally renowned for nature photography and birding, Prime Hook protects more than 10,000 acres of valuable wetland habitat supporting over 245 species of birds, including the threatened Rufa Red Knot that feeds and nests here.

Wildlife & Activities:

  • 245+ bird species including Rufa Red Knots
  • 7.5 miles of hiking trails through diverse habitats
  • Four county roads bisecting the refuge's marshes for vehicle viewing
  • Exceptional opportunities for wildlife photography
  • Boating and fishing in designated areas

Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge

📍 Location: DuPont Environmental Education Center, Wilmington

This 212-acre freshwater tidal marsh adjoining the Christina River provides critical urban habitat for diverse wildlife including American Bald Eagles, Wood Ducks, American Beavers, river otters, and Eastern Painted Turtles.

Featured Wildlife:

  • American Bald Eagles
  • Wood Ducks
  • American Beavers
  • River Otters
  • Eastern Painted Turtles
  • Diverse dragonfly species

Visitor Experience: Panoramic river and marsh views from the LEED Platinum-certified Environmental Education Center. Accessible trails and viewing platforms.

Nature Centers & Educational Facilities

DuPont Nature Center

📍 Location: Mispillion Harbor, Milford Neck Nature Preserve

Science-based educational facility with interactive exhibits connecting visitors to Delaware Bay's natural history and ecology. Features horseshoe crab and shorebird conservation exhibits.

Highlights: Interactive displays on horseshoe crabs, shorebirds, and Delaware Bayshore ecosystems; scenic harbor location where Mispillion River and Cedar Creek meet.

Seaside Nature Center

📍 Location: Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes

Features a 300-gallon two-level touch tank with viewing windows, five 1,000-gallon tanks with local fish, and exhibits explaining different park habitats. Live Osprey cam available.

Interactive Features: Touch tank with local marine species, aquarium displays showcasing Delaware coastal fish, habitat exhibits.

Aquatic Resources Education Center

📍 Location: Smyrna (5 miles north of Bombay Hook, Delaware Bayshore Byway)

DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife facility focusing on wetlands, fishing, and aquatic education. Nestled within Woodland Beach Wildlife Area.

Features: Large aquariums, educational displays, 940-foot tidal marsh boardwalk, ponds, natural areas. Located along scenic Delaware Bayshore Byway.

Baldcypress Nature Center

📍 Location: Trap Pond State Park

Exhibits showcase Delaware's connection to water and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Features an 18-foot replica baldcypress tree and 500-gallon floor aquarium.

Unique Features: Waterfall feature showcasing Trap Pond fish species, virtual pontoon tour of the pond, baldcypress swamp ecosystem exhibits.

Ashland Nature Center

📍 Location: Hockessin

Features trails along Red Clay Creek through woods and meadows to Hawk Watch Hill. Exceptional birding year-round with peak hawk migration viewing in August-September.

Wildlife: Hawks, kestrels, Bald Eagles during migration; songbirds along forest trails; diverse year-round birding opportunities.

Abbott's Mill Nature Center

📍 Location: Milford Millponds Nature Preserve (376 acres)

Features beautiful pet-friendly trails and visitor center with live animal collection and taxidermy animal displays for close-up wildlife discovery.

Access: Pet-friendly trails, live animal exhibits, educational displays.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research 24/7 Emergency

📍 Location: Newark, Delaware

📞 Phone: 302-737-9543

🕒 Drop-off Hours: 9 AM - 5 PM daily

🌐 Website: tristatebird.org

With over 40 years of experience, Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research is one of the premier wildlife rehabilitation centers in the United States. Founded in 1976 following the Olympic Games oil spill in the Delaware River, this nonprofit provides professional, compassionate rehabilitation to injured and orphaned native wild birds.

Services & Scope:

  • Care for 3,000+ injured and orphaned native birds annually
  • Only licensed wild bird rehabilitator on the Delmarva Peninsula
  • One of the largest wild bird clinics in the United States
  • 24-hour oil spill response management team
  • Lead wildlife rehabilitation organization during 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill
  • Open 365 days a year

How to Get Help: If you find an injured bird, bring it to their facility between 9 AM and 5 PM any day. Admit station available in vestibule for drop-offs. For questions, call 302-737-9543.

Delaware Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators and Educators (DCWRE)

📞 Website: dewildliferescue.com

Established in 1995, DCWRE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization caring for sick, injured, and abandoned wildlife with the goal of returning them to the wild. This diverse group of volunteers of all ages and experience levels come together to help Delaware's wildlife.

Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators by County:

  • New Castle County: Hilary Taylor - 302-834-4604
  • Kent County: Catherine Martin - 302-270-9256
  • Sussex County: Tonyea Mead - 302-228-1063
  • Deer: 302-739-9912
  • Bats: 302-735-8670
  • Birds: Tri-State Bird Rescue - 302-737-9543
  • Water Turtles/Terrapins: Vickie Henderson - 302-632-0304
  • Stranded Marine Mammals: MERR Institute - 302-228-5029

Nearby Zoos & Aquariums (Within 1 Hour)

While Delaware has limited zoos and aquariums within its borders, several world-class facilities are located just across state lines:

Adventure Aquarium

📍 Location: Camden, NJ (30 minutes from Wilmington)

🌐 Website: adventureaquarium.com

Features 15,000+ aquatic animals in 2 million gallons of water. Home to the East Coast's largest shark collection including the only Great Hammerhead Shark on exhibit in the US, hippos (only aquarium in the world), and Little Blue Penguins.

Signature Exhibits: 760,000-gallon Ocean Realm tank with 400+ Atlantic Ocean species including sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, and green moray eels.

Philadelphia Zoo

📍 Location: Philadelphia, PA (30 minutes from Wilmington)

💰 Discount: Brandywine Zoo members receive 50% off admission (saves $45 for family of four)

America's first zoo, featuring diverse animal collections and innovative habitats. Brandywine Zoo membership provides excellent reciprocal benefits.

National Aquarium

📍 Location: Baltimore, MD (1 hour from Delaware)

🌐 Website: aqua.org

Award-winning exhibits on Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Mission-driven institution focused on connecting people with nature to inspire ocean conservation through education, habitat restoration, animal rescue, and advocacy.

Practical Visiting Information

🕒 Brandywine Zoo Hours & Admission

Hours: Daily 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (last admission 3:30 PM)

Closed: Christmas Day; may close for severe weather or construction

Parking: Free parking along Brandywine River in Brandywine Park. Handicapped spaces adjacent to Education Building and in general lot.

Discounted Admission: Delaware residents with EBT card or Art-Reach Access Card: $2 per person for up to 4 people (present valid Delaware EBT/Access card with photo ID).

Contact: 302-571-7788

🎟️ Brandywine Zoo Membership Benefits

Free Admission: Unlimited visits for 12/24 months (some special event exclusions)

Reciprocal Benefits: Reduced admission at 150+ AZA zoos and aquariums nationwide, including 50% off Philadelphia Zoo admission

Bonus Passes: Household/Senior/Military level+ receives 2 passes each to Delaware Children's Museum and Delaware Museum of Nature & Science ($53 value)

Guest Passes: Higher tiers include 4-8 guest passes

Zoo News: Member subscription included

♿ Accessibility

Brandywine Zoo: One of 1,800+ locations nationwide certified through KultureCity for sensory accessibility. Second Sensory Inclusive certified location in Delaware.

Parking: Handicapped spaces located adjacent to Education Building (near entrance) and in general parking lot.

Visitor Services: For lost children, personal articles, or emergencies, go to Admissions Building/Zootique Gift Shop.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Planning Tips

Best Time to Visit: Mornings when animals are most active; spring and fall for comfortable weather and bird migrations.

Plan Your Time: Allow 2-3 hours for Brandywine Zoo; full day for wildlife refuges with trails.

What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, binoculars for wildlife refuges, camera, water bottle, sunscreen.

Educational Programs: Check zoo websites for homeschool programs, toddler programs, summer camps, and special events.

Frequently Asked Questions

Delaware has three major zoos and animal parks: Brandywine Zoo (Wilmington), 3 Palms Zoo & Education Center, and Coastal Wilds (Frankford). Brandywine Zoo is the state's only AZA-accredited institution and has been operating since 1905. While Delaware's zoo count is small, the state compensates with five major wildlife refuges and nature centers, plus easy access to world-class facilities in Philadelphia and Camden, NJ within 30 minutes of Wilmington.

Absolutely! Brandywine Zoo offers exceptional value for families, especially those with young children. As an AZA-accredited institution with 120 years of history, the zoo maintains professional standards in animal care and conservation. The intimate 4.7-acre size means less walking for little legs while still featuring impressive animals like red pandas, Andean condors, lemurs, and river otters. The nature playground, sensory-inclusive certification, and beautiful Brandywine Park location make it ideal for 2-3 hour family visits. Delaware residents with EBT cards pay only $2 per person, making it highly accessible. The zoo's educational programs and special events add year-round value.

Delaware offers several one-of-a-kind wildlife experiences: Coastal Wilds features Delaware's only swim-with-otters experience, the first of its kind offered by a zoo in the state. 3 Palms Zoo houses Delaware's only alligator exhibit and serves as the state's only rescue zoo. Brandywine Zoo is the oldest zoo in Delaware (founded 1905) and the state's sole AZA-accredited institution. For birding enthusiasts, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge ranks among the nation's Top 100 Important Birding Areas, and Fort Delaware's Pea Patch Island hosts one of the East Coast's largest wading-bird rookeries. Tri-State Bird Rescue is internationally renowned for oil spill response, having led efforts during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Delaware's national wildlife refuges offer the best native wildlife viewing. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (16,000+ acres) features year-round Bald Eagles, wintering Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, and white-tailed deer, with vehicle and walking trail access. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge hosts 245+ bird species including the threatened Rufa Red Knot, with 7.5 miles of hiking trails through marshes. Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for Bald Eagles, Wood Ducks, beavers, and river otters along the Christina River. State parks also excel for wildlife: Cape Henlopen features Delaware's only viewable Piping Plovers, Brandywine Creek State Park has hawk watching from Hawk Watch Hill (peak August-September), and Trap Pond State Park offers baldcypress swamp ecosystem exploration.

For injured birds, contact Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research at 302-737-9543. You can bring injured birds to their Newark facility between 9 AM-5 PM daily; they have an admit station in the vestibule for drop-offs. For other wildlife, contact licensed rehabilitators by county: New Castle (302-834-4604), Kent (302-270-9256), Sussex (302-228-1063). Specialized contacts include deer (302-739-9912), bats (302-735-8670), water turtles/terrapins (302-632-0304), and stranded marine mammals (MERR Institute, 302-228-5029). The Delaware Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators website (dewildliferescue.com) provides comprehensive information. Never attempt to rehabilitate wildlife yourself, as it requires special permits and expertise.

Delaware does not have any standalone public aquariums, but several nature centers feature impressive aquatic exhibits. Seaside Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park has a 300-gallon two-level touch tank plus five 1,000-gallon tanks with local fish and a live Osprey cam. Aquatic Resources Education Center in Smyrna features large aquariums showcasing wetlands and Delaware Bay species. Baldcypress Nature Center at Trap Pond has a 500-gallon floor aquarium displaying pond fish species. For full aquarium experiences, Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ is just 30 minutes from Wilmington and features 15,000+ aquatic animals including the East Coast's largest shark collection, hippos, and sea turtles. The National Aquarium in Baltimore is about one hour away.

Brandywine Zoo features diverse species from the Americas and temperate Asia. Year-round residents include red pandas, three species of lemurs (in the Madagascar exhibit), golden lion tamarins, giant anteaters, capybaras (world's largest rodent), river otters, bobcats, swift foxes, servals, Andean condors in a 110,000-cubic-foot flight cage, porcupines, llamas, goats, ravens, toucans, tortoises, guinea fowl, and various birds and reptiles. Summer residents include wallabies and alligators. The zoo's Madagascar exhibit showcases lemurs in naturalistic habitats with tortoises and guinea fowl. As an AZA-accredited institution, the zoo participates in Species Survival Plans, playing a critical role in Andean condor conservation efforts.

Spring and fall migrations offer the most spectacular birding at Delaware's wildlife refuges. Spring migration (April-May) brings shorebirds including the threatened Rufa Red Knot to feed on horseshoe crab eggs at Prime Hook and Bombay Hook. Fall migration (August-September) features peak hawk watching at Brandywine Creek State Park's Hawk Watch Hill, with kestrels, hawks, and Bald Eagles passing through. Winter (November-February) showcases vast flocks of Snow Geese and Tundra Swans at Bombay Hook. Summer nesting season (June-July) allows viewing of Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, and the rookery of nine heron/egret/ibis species at Fort Delaware's Pea Patch Island. Early morning visits provide the best animal activity and lighting for photography.

Related Delaware Resources

Last updated on November 27, 2025