As you enter the driveway at Calkins Nature Area, there are signs that say "No Pets."
As much as we would love to have your pets visit us, we do not allow pets for a number of reasons.
- Your pets can acquire illnesses via wildlife if they come into contact with certain animals along our trails (particularly raccoons).
- Our rehab animals are incredibly defensive around other animals, so bringing pets near our rehab enclosures can be very stressful and unhealthy for our animals in recovery.
- Diseases and illnesses can also transfer through your pet's saliva, a sneeze, and via other means which can be fatal to our captive critters.
For these reasons, and many others, we ask that you please leave your pets at home when visiting the nature center.
If you have questions about our pet policy, please feel free to contact the nature center staff at 641-648-9878. (Service animals are an exception to this rule).