Lions, and Llamas, and Goats! Oh, My!

There’s something about spending time with animals that helps to ground and reconnect us. It helps pull our children and ourselves out of that often far too comfortable space that centers around digital screens of all shapes and sizes. Butte County is home to some amazing places that offer all types of opportunities to interact and learn about the furry, feathered, and scaly creatures with whom we share this planet.

Conner Farm Co. in Durham is a sweet spot to start your adventures. The educational experience the kids get when they visit is Jullisa Conner’s favorite part of hosting a petting farm. “The younger generation is focused on indoor stuff and electronics, and being out here and getting dirty is a positive thing for kids. Clothes are washable. Hands are washable. So get muddy, get dirty, and learn about how to take care of the animals.” So many children are really disconnected from where our food comes from, so getting to see a cow or goat milked, collecting chicken eggs from the nest boxes, or picking peaches off the tree really engages and enlightens them. Jullisa and her husband Mikel’s animal menagerie began when Jullissa bought her first five chicks and started raising them. These five eventually turned into the 70 that now free range over their 10-acre farm. Jullisa focuses on the breeds that lay beautiful green, speckled, and even pinkish eggs. After the chickens, it made sense to add a few ducks to the mix. They also have Nigerian Dwarf goats, with twins born in April, a one-yearold Jersey cow named Milkshake, and a twenty-four-year-old Tennessee Walking horse. The cost for coming out for a private tour is $10/person, and you can arrange that with Jullisa through the Conner Farm Co. Facebook page. They also host birthday parties, field trips, and special events. They are even looking to expand into date nights on the farm to share a little of their magical evenings with the community.

The next spot on your animal adventure calendar should be the Two By Two Ranch & Petting Zoo. Owner Tina Cardin started the ranch over twenty years ago while attending Chico State. She runs it along with her daughter, Julia, who is currently attending CSU and working on her animal science degree. They offer educational farm tours that you can book Monday through Friday costing $50 for up to 10 people. If you’re looking for something on the weekends, they offer a private tour for up to 10 people for $100. “Things are always busy and changing on the farm, so you may get to see brand new animals or help us bottle feed babies.” The ranch has so many different types of animals for little ones to see including an emu, rabbits, goats, sheep, miniature horses, and even a donkey. There’s no shortage of things to see and do at the ranch. Typical tours last an hour and whoever is guiding the tour will share insights about the various animals on the farm while answering any questions you or your children have during the visit. The spring rains bring lots of muddy puddles, so be sure to check in and see if they’ve dried up enough for tours. They also offer Goat Grams, 30 minutes of personally delivered baby goat cuddles that will make anyone’s day better. You can reach them at 530-570-7143, message them on Facebook at Two by Two Ranch & Petting Zoo, or on the web at www.twobytworanch.com for more information on all their animal experiences.

If you’re looking to spend some one-onone time with a great pack animal, check out Happy Homestead Llamas. Steven McFarland, an avid outdoorsman and hunter, got involved with llamas when he grew tired of carrying his 180-pound pack while hiking. As his family grew, the number of supplies they carried grew as well, and they began looking for pack animals to help lighten the load. After much research on goats, ponies, and donkeys, he came across several articles on using llamas as pack animals. He and his family visited a ranch in Sonora where they were able to spend some time saddling and walking several of these animals. Steven thought, “You know what, this is pretty cool. I think we like this.” They bought their first two llamas that day and now have added three more. The McFarlands wanted to share their love of llamas with the community and started offering guided day hikes in Upper Bidwell Park. Partnering with Nic’s of Paradise, they provide charcuterie boards and refreshments along with their llamas for everything you need to spend a carefree day outdoors. These hikes are only offered February through April in Bidwell because, after that, the heat becomes too extreme for an enjoyable time. However, if you and your family are interested in hiking with llamas in the summer, you can still do that. After attending a llama orientation class, you can rent your own pack llama. Once you’ve hiked with a llama, you’ll be happy to discover how easily they become part of your ‘herd’ and how family-friendly they can be. Happy Homestead will provide a trailer if you don’t have one capable of transporting your new hiking friends. Steven says that there are some great trails to use during the hotter summer months at Buck’s Lake, Butte Meadows, and the Jonesville area. They are one of only two llama rental ranches in California and continue to grow and expand their offerings. Steven shares that hikers are often surprised by the llama’s quirkiness. What’s that humming sound? It’s the way they communicate. Who doesn’t love hearing their hiking buddy singing along the trail? Check out their website at www.happyhomesteadllamas.com or on Instagram at @Happy_ Homestead_Paradise and find your perfect humming hiking partner.

Maybe your little ones are hoping to see something a little wilder than what’s wandering on the ranches and farms. Head down to the Barry Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary at 4995 Durham-Pentz Rd in Oroville and help out a local non-profit that's been around for almost 30 years. The center is equal parts wildlife sanctuary, educational park, and research center. Some of the animals you’ll be able to see and learn about include mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, tigers, lions, ligers, leopards, and many more. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and no appointment is needed if you want to explore on your own. However, they do ask for reservations if you’re interested in joining one of their guided tours led by a wildlife interpreter. The guides have so much information to share about all the animals and can answer any questions you may have about them; including when they arrived, what kinds of enrichment programs each one favors, and what their status is in the wild. Additional information about visiting along with a listing of their resident animals can be found on their website at www.Kirshner.org.

Butte county offers a bounty of places to get out and explore our world; go collect some eggs, milk a cow, hike with a llama, and linger with lions as you and your family reconnect and enjoy our special space here in Northern California.

Ages 11-17

Ages 11-17

Ages 11-17