Red Wolf

Take a look — this is the endangered red wolf brought to near extinction by humans. Fueled by stories of “the big bad wolf,” humans have become afraid of these misunderstood animals. The red wolf is naturally shy and avoids people.

Amphibian & Reptile Exhibits

Woodland Pond

Many animals call this mud hole “home.” In a place like this with plenty of food, water, shelter, and space, a frog might carry out its entire life cycle here. You might spot spiders, praying mantises, and other creatures in the vegetation.

Whitetailed Deer

Whitetailed deer populations peaked with over 24 million deer when settlers first came to America. Due to the popularity of hides and meat, deer numbers declined to 12 million by the mid 1800s and down to 500,000 by the turn of the century.

Because of this decline, residents brought fallow deer from Europe to Land Between the Lakes in the early 1900s. A small herd of fallow deer still roam the area.

Fallow Deer

Because of the decline of white-tailed deer in the late 19th-century, residents brought fallow deer from Europe to Land Between the Lakes in the early 1900s. A small herd of fallow deer still roam the area.

Wild Turkey

Originally abundant in the region, by 1950 the wild turkey population had plummeted. Reintroduction efforts restored them to the area.

Vultures

Black vultures and turkey vultures provide a tremendous service to humans. By way of a powerful immune system and other amazing abilities, vultures help keep our environment clean by feeding on dead animals.

Bald Eagle

Found only in North America, you can spot a mature bald eagle by its brown body, white head, and tail. Currently over 10,000 nesting pairs live in the lower 48 states, due to national conservation efforts. In 2007, the bald eagle came off the Federal Endangered Species List — a true conservation success story!

Opossum

America’s only native marsupials, opossums have babies that develop in a pouch like kangaroos. At birth they’re the size of a jelly bean!

Coyote

Take a minute to watch this common nocturnal hunter and scavenger. We estimate about 400 coyotes roam Land Between the Lakes. You’ll rarely see them — only hear them. Coyotes eat almost anything and can survive in just about every habitat in North America.

Flying Squirrel

Discover the Southern Flying Squirrel, Kentucky’s elusive nocturnal glider. With large eyes and a distinctive patagium, this small creature soars through the forests, primarily in deciduous and mixed woodlands. They’re omnivorous, dining on a variety of nuts, seeds, and insects.

Aquarium

Immerse yourself in the underwater splendor of West Kentucky’s lakes and rivers at our exclusive fish exhibit. Gaze upon a rich array of fish species that call KY Lake, Barkley Lake, and the surrounding waterways home. From the agile White Crappie to the formidable Largemouth Bass, each species tells a story of adaptation and survival. This exhibit celebrates the aquatic biodiversity of Kentucky, highlighting the importance of conservation and the role these fish play in the local ecosystem.

Backyard Wildlife Habitat & Gardens

Sit back, relax, and watch the busy flights and movements of butterflies and scores of hummingbirds attracted to our colorful blooms. We planted our gardens with native plants, which tend to be hearty and resilient compared to cultivated varieties.

Bat Roosting Boxes

Bats can significantly reduce insect pests in your backyard. Our bat roosting boxes on display provide valuable shelter for local bat species. Look and listen closely as they may be sleeping in there right now. Ask us about white-nose syndrome that is killing bats in our region.

Barn Owl

Nicknamed “ghost owl,” barn owls fly silently due to special feathers on their wings. They nest in barns and prefer to live and hunt in open fields, prairies, and even farmlands.

Barred Owl

If you hear “who cooks for you?” on a calm night at Land Between the Lakes, you probably hear the Barred Owl — the most common owl in the area. Though they look big, these owls weigh only 2 to 2 1/2 pounds due to hollow bones and lots of feathers.

Screech Owl

The pint-sized screech owl preys on mice and insects. You can easily attract them to your own backyard since they often use artificial nest boxes.

Kestrel

Once nicknamed “sparrow-hawk,” this small but swift falcon preys mainly on insects and mice. Although common in farm country, people often mistake them for doves or blue jays, due to their small size.

Great Horned Owl

The great horned owl earned the nickname “tiger of the sky” by being a fierce predator. Powerful feet enable this bird to catch prey three times its own size. Like many birds, great horned owls have a poor sense of smell and as a result, have a unique favorite food — skunks!

Red-Tailed Hawk

With a body shaped like an arrow, red-tailed hawks hunt and dive at great speeds to catch their prey. With excellent vision, they can see a mouse from a mile!

Groundhog

A member of the squirrel family, the groundhog (as known as the woodchuck or whistle-pig) will drop its body temperature nearly sixty degrees, may breathe only once every six minutes, and slow its heart rate for a long winter nap — hibernation.

Bobcat

While bobcats are quite common in Land Between the Lakes, we rarely see them in the wild. These secretive and nocturnal predators try to avoid humans. The bobcat is our region’s only remaining native cat.

Turtle Pond

Look closely to find the common and alligator snapping turtles. By eating a variety of plants, fish, and other aquatic animals, these turtles help maintain our lakes and streams.