Last summer I first heard ab
out a little place north of Las Vegas called Roos N’ More. It is a small zoo in Moapa, NV that has many exotic animals. At first I was a little hesitant as I was raised in hippie-ville and was taught that petting zoos are not good. However, I swallowed my pretentiousness and took my girls there.
I was surprised and very pleased with what I found. Roos N’ More is owned and run by veterinarians. The 
animals were re-homed here from places where they should not have been; people tend to forget that wild animals do not make great pets. Animals that come to this wonderful facility that do not handle the visitors well are found new homes in more appropriate places (large zoos) where visitors are not as close.
Being able to experience animals brings a great understanding of them. The staff and volunteers were all very knowledgeable and turned what could have been a bad place into a wonderful place to learn more about animals while encouraging conservation. They are a non-profit organization and are not open everyday, so plan ahead for your trip. They also provide on-site parties, private tours, school trips, and bringing the zoo to you if their open dates do not work with your schedule.
Our first trip was in June and the temperature was over 100 degrees. We were all fairly upset that we were physically unable to spend as much time as we would have liked exploring. Misters were set up and water was plentiful but 
kids can only stand it for so long. During our trip however, we did get a chance to hold a baby wallaby. Nadia was very excited about all of the animals. Nicole was very leery and didn’t want to touch any of them.
By far our favorite animal was the bearcat (Binturong). He was exceedingly friendly and curious. Nadia loved petting him and though he was funny when he rummaged through the stroller.
This past weekend my Mom and I took 
the girls back to visit Roos N More. Unfortunately I didn’t bring our camera so I didn’t get many pictures. Nadia was elated to see the animals again. She was very brave feeding the donkey and camel. At one point, a macaw wanted to sit on her shoulder but she was not very comfortable with it. Nicole was unsure of things and didn’t want to touch animals. She did find a pig behind a fence she was fond of. The only animal she showed interest in touch were African Crested Porcupine. While she was not able to touch these critters, she was rewarded for her bravery by getting to take home a quill.
For those visiting the Vegas area, Roos N More is a must see. Many of the animal exhibits in the city are abysmal. Roos N More does it all right. They are a wonderful organization I am extremely happy I found. Like all non-profits, they always need donations. It is expensive feeding and caring for these animals and enrichment items are wanted, as are basic hygiene items and soft warm blankets for the babies. For those of you living in the Vegas area that have not been, it is only a hour drive north and well worth the short trip.
