Bays Mountain Park Offers 'Keeper Talks' to Meet Native Wildlife

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Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium in Kingsport, Tennessee, hosts 'Keeper Talks' that allow visitors to learn about and interact with the park's native wildlife, including turtles, fish, foxes, wolves, bobcats, and snakes. The talks take place during feeding times and enrichment sessions, giving guests an up-close look at the animals' behaviors and diets. Many of the park's turtles are pet surrenders that the staff rehomes in the outdoor pond during warmer months.

Why it matters

Bays Mountain Park's 'Keeper Talks' provide a unique opportunity for the public to engage with and learn about the native wildlife of Eastern Tennessee. The talks aim to educate visitors on the importance of proper pet ownership and the dangers of releasing non-native animals into local ecosystems.

The details

During the 'Keeper Talks', Animal Care Supervisor Jake Joyner feeds the park's turtles, fish, and other aquatic animals, allowing visitors to observe their behaviors and dietary needs. Many of the turtles at Bays Mountain were previously kept as pets before being surrendered to the park. The staff rehomes these turtles in the outdoor pond during the summer, but in colder months, they are housed in the indoor watershed exhibit to acclimate them to the temperature change.

• Bays Mountain Park hosts 'Keeper Talks' throughout the year.
• The watershed exhibit will close this summer for renovations to provide a larger habitat for the turtles and fish.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Bays Mountain Park will be renovating its watershed exhibit this summer to provide a larger habitat for the turtles and fish, which will require the exhibit to be closed during construction.