Wild Wonders brings exotic animals to kids

Many kids have never touched a baby skunk or an African pigmy hedgehog, and they may not have chased a 90-pound tortoise across the lawn. But, with the help of Genola-based Wild Wonders, toddlers and teenagers around Utah County have had the chance to get in touch with some of Utah’s wilder creatures and some from around the world.

Wild Wonders is a state and federally licensed facility for wild animals that cannot be sent back to the wild. Run by Sarah and Spencer Jacobsen, the facility houses more than 20 wild and exotic animals, which are frequently taken to schools to educate children. The Jacobsens took a fox, a raccoon, a baby skunk and a hedgehog to Spanish Fork for a presentation to Segway employees and their children Wednesday, where even young toddlers were entranced by the animals. Most were brave enough to stroke the skunk down its back and touch the prickly hedgehog, but only a handful of children were willing to let the tarantula scale their arm.

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Tagged as: African Pigmy Hedgehogs, Animals, Children, Fox, Raccoons, Sarah Jacobsen, Skunks, Spencer Jacobsen, Tarantulas, Tortoises, Utah, Wild Wonders

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