citation_inspection: 10966

The perimeter fence gate near the lama and alpaca enclosures was open. The perimeter fence gate near the grizzly bear enclosure was not locked. This facility gives guided tours only and so public barriers for the dangerous animal enclosures are in conjunction with the tour guides to keep patrons safe. Several barrier fence gates for dangerous animals are latched only with chains or unlocked latches and the barrier for the baboon enclosures was not complete. The grizzly bear barrier fence had no gate. Several of the primary enclosures housing tigers and a lion are not locked. The primary enclosure for the Asian black bears is not locked. Several campers are located outside the perimeter fence about 30 yards from the grizzly bear perimeter fence gate. Volunteers stay in these while helping at the facility. Some volunteers were onsite. The president of the facility is the only one with dangerous animal experience. All work done with dangerous animals must be done under his direct supervision. Upon arrival for inspection, the president was off site and the inspectors had to wait about one hour for him to return. At the time of the inspection perimeter fence gates were unlocked and open as noted. Volunteers had access to the facility with unlocked primary enclosures for dangerous animals while the president was off site. Volunteers cannot have access to these dangerous animals when the president is not present. Contact with these dangerous animals could be potentially fatal to a volunteer worker. It could lead to lethal consequences for the animals as well, if local health officials would require rabies testing. This test requires removal of the brain. These perimeter gates need to be kept locked at all times that they are not in direct observation by an employee of the facility in order to ensure that members of the public do not enter without supervision. Public barriers need to be in place. All primary enclosures for dangerous animals need to be locked securely.