California Living Museum facts for kids
| Date opened | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Location | 10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy Bakersfield, California 93306 |
| Land area | 14 acres (5.7 ha) |
| Coordinates | 35°25′55″N 118°53′10″W / 35.432°N 118.886°W |
| No. of animals | 250 |
| No. of species | 80 |
| Memberships | ZAA |
The California Living Museum (often called CALM) is a special zoo located in Bakersfield, California. It focuses on showing visitors the amazing plants and animals that naturally live in California, especially in the Kern County area. CALM is also recognized by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) for its high standards.
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A Look Back at CALM's Story
CALM first opened its doors in 1983. Its main goal was to teach people about local wildlife. It also helped injured or orphaned wild animals. Animals that could get better were released back into nature. Those that couldn't survive on their own found a permanent home at CALM. Many local groups helped by sponsoring buildings to get the zoo ready. After three years, the zoo welcomed its first visitors.
In 1998, the Kern Superintendent of Schools offices (KCSOS) took over running CALM. This made the zoo and botanical gardens an official school site. Each year, CALM teaches over 13,000 school children from Kern County. They offer programs at the zoo and also visit classrooms and community events.
CALM received special accreditation from the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) in 2010. This means it meets high standards for animal care and education.
Exploring the California Living Museum
CALM covers about 14 acres and is home to many different plants and animals from around Kern County. The museum's goal is to show and explain California's native animals, plants, and even fossils. They want to teach everyone to respect all living things through learning, fun, conservation, and research.
Animal Exhibits at CALM
CALM's zoo features over 80 species of animals. These are animals that were injured or cannot survive in their natural homes. You can even see some endangered species here! The exhibits are designed to look like the animals' natural environments.
Some of the cool animal exhibits include:
- An open area for black bears.
- The Cats of California exhibit, where you can see mountain lions and bobcats.
- A Bird of Prey Exhibit with amazing hawks, owls, and eagles.
- A mammal round that houses different kinds of foxes.
- A waterfowl pond, which is home to resident mallards and attracts migrating birds.
- A special yard for deer.
- An underground reptile house, where you can see snakes and other reptiles.
- A contact area with friendly domestic animals.
Learning and Fun at the DiGiorgio Education Center
When you first arrive at CALM, you'll visit the DiGiorgio Education Center. This building has a gift store where you can find souvenirs. There's also a reading library and rooms for kids to explore. These discovery rooms have changing activities that are interactive and fun. You can also see fossils from long ago, like the Miocene and Pleistocene eras.
CALM also offers services for special events. You can even have birthday parties, weddings, or other group events there.
Helping Wildlife: Rehabilitation at CALM
The California Living Museum is a special place that helps injured wildlife. They have trained staff who care for these animals. The main goal of this care is to help the animals get well enough to go back to their natural homes. Each year, CALM helps about 300 to 500 injured or orphaned animals.
Discovering California's Plant Life
Besides animals, CALM also has several plant communities. These areas are designed to look like different environments found in Kern County. You can see plants from the mountains and even the Mojave Desert.
- The "Trees of California" walk shows off trees from the western and eastern mountain ranges.
- The riparian area is like a mini-version of the Kern River. It shows how the river flows from the mountains down to the valley.
- There is also a desert community, which looks just like the eastern desert.
HolidayLights at CALM
During the Christmas season, from November 28 to December 30, CALM hosts a special event called "HolidayLights at CALM." The zoo is decorated with millions of sparkling lights. These lights create scenes of animals and famous Kern County landscapes. Some displays even flash to music, while others show off native animals in bright lights. Each year, new scenes are added to make the display even more impressive.
