Guaranteed Moose Sightings: The Maine Wildlife Park

Here’s the truth about seeing a moose in Maine: it’s hard. You can drive logging roads at dawn and dusk for days, scanning every pond and marsh, and never spot one. Moose are magnificent, but they’re also elusive, and their habitat is remote.

If you want a guaranteed encounter with a moose—along with black bears, bald eagles, lynx, deer, and dozens of other native Maine animals—the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray is your answer. It’s not a zoo in the traditional sense. It’s a rescue facility and education center where animals that cannot survive in the wild live in naturalistic enclosures, giving visitors the chance to see Maine’s wildlife up close.

The park sits just off I-95, making it accessible to anyone traveling through southern Maine. For families with kids, it’s one of the best wildlife experiences in New England. For photographers, it offers shots you’d never get in the wild. And for anyone curious about Maine’s fauna, it’s a comprehensive introduction to the animals that share this state.

What Makes This Different from a Zoo

The Mission

The Maine Wildlife Park is operated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife—the same agency that manages hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation across Maine. This isn’t entertainment; it’s education and rescue.

The Animals

Every animal at the park is a permanent resident who cannot be returned to the wild. These are:

Orphaned animals raised by humans and unable to survive independently
Injured animals that have recovered but cannot function in the wild
Imprinted animals that view humans as their species
Animals with disabilities that would make wild survival impossible

The park doesn’t acquire animals for display—it accepts animals that need a home.

The Setting

The enclosures are large and naturalistic, designed to approximate Maine’s forests, wetlands, and streams. Walking through the park feels like hiking in the woods—you just happen to encounter wildlife at every turn.

The Animals

Moose

The stars of the park. Maine’s iconic animal is here in a spacious enclosure where they’re often visible near the viewing areas.

What you’ll see:

The sheer size of these animals (bulls can weigh 1,000+ pounds)
Their distinctive features: the bell (dangling skin under the chin), the massive antlers (on bulls in summer/fall), the long legs built for wading through deep snow
Their surprisingly gentle demeanor up close
Behaviors you’d rarely see in the wild: feeding, resting, interacting with each other

Why it matters: Most visitors underestimate moose size until they see one up close. These are enormous animals—much bigger than you imagine.

Black Bears

Maine has one of the largest black bear populations in the lower 48 states, but seeing one in the wild is rare. At the park, you can watch bears for as long as you like.

What you’ll observe:

Climbing (black bears are excellent tree climbers)
Swimming in their pond
Foraging behavior
Their range of coat colors (some “black” bears are brown or cinnamon)
Their surprising agility for such bulky animals

Big Cats

Canada Lynx: This elusive wildcat with distinctive ear tufts and oversized paws (natural snowshoes) is almost impossible to see in the wild. The park’s lynx give you a rare close look at this iconic boreal predator.

Cougar (Mountain Lion): While cougars were extirpated from Maine in the 1800s, the park maintains cougars for education. Seeing these powerful cats—which some believe still roam Maine despite official denials—is a highlight for many visitors.

Bobcat: Smaller than lynx, more common in Maine, but equally secretive. The park’s bobcats demonstrate the difference between these often-confused species.

Birds of Prey

Bald Eagles: The park cares for eagles that can no longer fly due to injuries. Seeing these magnificent birds at eye level gives you an appreciation for their size—wingspan up to 7 feet—that you never get when they’re soaring overhead.

Other raptors: Owls (great horned, barred, and others), hawks, and falcons. Each has a story of why they can’t return to the wild.

Deer and Other Ungulates

White-tailed Deer: Maine’s most common large mammal, but seeing them up close reveals details you miss from a distance or a moving car.

Elk: Not native to modern Maine (though present historically), elk are maintained at the park for education and viewing.

Smaller Mammals

Fishers: These large, fierce members of the weasel family are common in Maine’s forests but rarely seen. At the park, you can watch their acrobatic climbing and powerful builds.

Porcupines: Slow-moving, bristly, and surprisingly cute up close.

Foxes: Both red and gray foxes reside at the park.

Raccoons, skunks, and more: The small mammal collection rounds out Maine’s wildlife diversity.

Reptiles and Amphibians

A nature center houses Maine’s reptiles and amphibians—snakes, turtles, salamanders, and frogs. These cold-blooded residents often get overlooked but represent important parts of Maine’s ecosystem.

The Fish Hatchery

Brook trout swim in outdoor ponds where visitors can feed them. Bring quarters for the fish food dispensers—watching the water erupt with hungry trout is a favorite activity for kids.

The Visitor Experience

The Layout

The park consists of a loop trail (approximately 1 mile) passing all major enclosures, plus additional paths to specific exhibits. The main trail is paved or hard-packed gravel, accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

Time needed: 1.5-2 hours for a complete visit at moderate pace. Longer if you linger at favorite animals or explore all exhibits.

What to Expect

Up-close viewing: Animals are often near fences and viewing areas. These are habituated animals comfortable with human presence, not wild animals fleeing at the first sight of people.

Natural behavior: Despite being in enclosures, the animals exhibit natural behaviors—foraging, climbing, swimming, resting in the shade.

Educational signage: Each enclosure has information about the species and often the specific animal’s story.

Staff and volunteers: Park personnel are knowledgeable and often available to answer questions.

For Families

Why kids love it:

Guaranteed animal sightings (no “maybe we’ll see something”)
Interactive opportunities (feeding fish, touching pelts)
Playground and picnic areas
The wonder of seeing large animals up close
A nature center with hands-on exhibits

For young children: The park is perfectly sized—not overwhelming like a major zoo, but enough variety to stay engaging.

For older kids: The conservation message and animal stories add depth.

For Photographers

The park offers photographic opportunities you’ll never get in the wild:

Close-up shots of moose, bears, and other large animals
Raptors at eye level
Controlled lighting (plan for overcast days or golden hour)
Repeated opportunities if a shot doesn’t work the first time

Tips:

Bring a telephoto lens, but you can get good shots with standard zoom
Plan for animals behind fencing (shoot through gaps or wide open aperture to blur fencing)
Best light: early morning or late afternoon
Best animal activity: cooler temperatures (animals more active, less hiding in shade)

Practical Information

Location

56 Game Farm Road, Gray, Maine

Just off I-95, Exit 63 (Gray). Easy access from Portland (~20 minutes), Augusta (~45 minutes), or anywhere along the I-95 corridor.

Hours and Season

Season: Mid-April through November 11th (Veterans Day)

Hours: Typically 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (last admission at 4:00 PM)

Closed: Mondays (except holidays) in spring and fall. Open daily in summer (July-August).

Check the website for current schedule and any closures.

Admission

Prices (2026):

Adults: ~$10
Seniors (60+): ~$8.50
Children 4-12: ~$7.50
Children 3 and under: Free

Important: Cash only at the gatehouse. There’s an ATM at the snack shack if you forget.

Facilities

Snack shack: Burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, snacks.

Picnic areas: Tables throughout the park. Bring your own food if you prefer.

Restrooms: Available at multiple locations.

Nature center: Indoor exhibits with small animals and educational displays.

Gift shop: Maine wildlife-themed items and souvenirs.

Accessibility

The park is highly accessible:

Main trail is paved or hard-packed gravel
Wheelchair and stroller friendly throughout
Accessible restrooms available
Most viewing areas accommodate mobility devices

Tips for Your Visit

Timing: Animals are most active in the morning and on cooler days. Hot afternoons often mean animals resting in shade.

Bring quarters: Fish feeding is a highlight, and the dispensers take quarters.

Plan for weather: The park is mostly outdoors. Bring rain gear or sun protection as needed.

Don’t rush: Spend time at each enclosure. Animals often become more visible and active if you wait.

Take the guided tour: When available, guided programs add depth to the self-guided experience.

Why Visit

Conservation Education

The park teaches visitors about Maine’s wildlife in ways that books and videos can’t match. Seeing a moose’s size, watching a bear climb, hearing an eagle’s wings—these experiences create lasting impressions and conservation awareness.

Supporting Wildlife Rescue

Your admission supports the care of animals that can’t survive in the wild. The park operates on limited budgets; visitor fees help maintain quality care for its residents.

A Realistic Alternative

Not everyone can spend days in remote Maine hoping for wildlife sightings. The Wildlife Park offers certainty—you will see moose, bears, and eagles—in a fraction of the time.

Perfect for Visitors

For tourists with limited time in Maine, the Wildlife Park provides a wildlife experience without the logistical challenges of finding animals in the wild.

The Maine Wildlife Park delivers exactly what it promises: guaranteed encounters with Maine’s most iconic animals. It’s not the same as spotting a moose in the wild—nothing is—but it’s real animals, up close, with stories of rescue and survival. For anyone who wants to understand Maine’s wildlife beyond the photographs, who wants to see a moose without the dawn drives and logging roads, who wants kids to experience the wonder of large wild animals safely, the Wildlife Park is an essential stop.