Orange County Zoo

Orange County Zoo and its collection

Orange County Zoo, opened in 1985, is a zoo in Orange, United States.

The zoo is owned, staffed and run by the county. Its residents generally arrive injured, orphaned or abandoned and in need of emergency care, and the plants shown are likewise native to the Southwest.

History

Captive animals have been kept on the site since 1905, beginning with red foxes that were introduced and bred there. A Tustin rancher, Sam Nau, started a small collection with a pair of mule deer in 1920. The zoo opened formally in 1985 as the Irvine Park Zoo.

Animals and collection

The collection is mainly North American, drawn from the western and south-western states and northern Mexico, and includes black bear, bald eagle, bobcat, coati, coyote, mountain lion, mule deer, porcupine, hawks and vultures.

What the venue says

• Parking is managed by Irvine Regional Park, with a fee typically ranging around $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. Both parking lot options and street parking are available nearby.
• wheelchair-accessible entrance
• wheelchair-accessible parking lot