Petting Zoo at Bonnie Springs, Old Nevada

I like animals, and I always have, and I always will, like them. I especially like birds, again, all species, but I especially like "stupid" birds like pigeons, chickens, peacocks and turkeys. Birds, as a species, are non-conformists, and are not at all "politically-correct" in the great scheme of 21st century American life, and they seem to buck every trend that our modern society has to offer. Now I have been accused of being a "maverick," but I'm not as far off the scope of the radar as the indigenous and transplanted birds that call Bonnie Springs their home.

Left: Entrance to the petting zoo; Jack and Paris have just entered the zoo. Right: A very typical resident of the zoo, who walks around and "does his own thing..."

To set the record straight, all of birds who live at Bonnie Springs aren't confined to the petting zoo, on the contrary, most of them are roaming, or flying free. I just thought I'd include the "free rangers" on this page of the Bonnie Springs story, as to me, it seemed like the most logical thing to do.

Left: If you like pigeons, you'll want to go inside on the the many lofts that Bonnie Springs features, so you can mingle with the indengenous pigions. Right: A few residents of one of the lofts, stare uneasily at me, as I snap their photo.

After you adjust your senses to the many turtles who freely swim in the pool next to the restaurant, you can't help but to notice the many ducks and geese that co-exist with the turtles, and share the same large pond. I didn't bother to count the number of ducks and geese, but there are many of them, and they're all "free spirits," as they are free to come and go as they please. After you leave the pond, you'll notice many peacocks, pigeons and chickens that live at Bonnie Springs, who just sort of fly or roam around the place at will. If you like birds, Bonnie Springs is the place to visit.

Left: This white goat is very tame, and will allow you to pet her, as she wanders around the zoo. Right: A tame, spotted deer at Bonnie Springs' petting zoo.

After you pay your parking fee at the parking lot, located outside of Bonnie Springs, everything inside is free, except, of course, things like meals, soft drinks, turtle food; you know what I mean. To get into the petting zoo, all you have to do is open a quite rustic gate, and you're in there. Inside you'll find tame sheep, lambs, llamas, goats, and not-so tame peacocks, pigeons and chickens. The not-so-tame peacocks, pigeons and chickens won't bite you, they just don't want to be petted, held or caressed. Generally, you can come to a space of two or three feet from them before they get edgy, but when you intrude into their space, they will run or fly away from you, in a "New York" moment.

Photos: This tame llama has made many friends!

Inside the petting zoo, you'll find lots of tame animals that will be happy to have you rub their forehead or pat them on the cheek, or stoke their back. LLamas, goats and calves freely roam about, plus the aforementioned chickens, pigeons and peacocks. Plus, there are many animals in cages or open pens, so it is a petting zoo and a whole lot more.

The co-founder of the ranch, Bonnie McGaugh still works at the ranch, and if you didn't know who she is, you'd just think of her as an ordinary worker. We had the opportunity to visit with her, as she was attending to a cage of quail, and she answered our questions about the operation, and provided information for much of what you are reading on these web pages. Our thanks go out to Ms. Bonnie McGraugh, for running such a fun, informative and family-friendly operation.

Left: "Beauty" pets the beast, at Bonnie Springs. Right: I asked "Beauty" to photograph me petting the tame llama.

If you like pigeons as much as I do, Bonnie Springs features a couple of cages, located outside the petting zoo, that is home to many pigieons. Pigeons are "home bodies" and prefer to repose in cages, or more commonly refered to amongst pigeon fans as "lofts," so they're really not kept in captivity. You can open the door to the cage, enter it, and can be immediately innundated in a swirling mass of flying pigeons. You can hear all of the cooing sounds they make, listen to the flapping of their wings, and maybe even get a stray feather deposited on your head... or ever worse, but whatever the case, you're surrounded by a flock of pigeons, up close, and personal.

Left: Bonnie McGaugh answers question from Peggy and Sharlenee. She still works hard running and maintaining the ranch, and especially enjoys working in the petting zoo. Right: High from her perch, a typical petting zoo resident sizes me up, as I snap her photo.

In our humble opion, the petting zoo is the crown jewel of Bonnie Springs, and is not something that you would ever want to pass up.

Web page design has been created by Eric's Enterprises, Inc., website design, and