WNC Nature Center

WNC Nature Center Asheville's Wildlife Park
Plan your next visit at wildwnc.org! The WNC Nature Center is Asheville's premier wildlife park!
(2599)

This page is managed by the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, a 501c3 whose mission is to support and grow the facilities and programming of the WNC Nature Center through fundraising, events, membership and other outreach initiatives.

Wild Fact: Bobcats are solitary and mostly nocturnal—but Tufts & Kohana don’t mind sharing the spotlight! Come see them ...
06/25/2025

Wild Fact: Bobcats are solitary and mostly nocturnal—but Tufts & Kohana don’t mind sharing the spotlight! Come see them during the day, when they're often sunbathing, exploring or pouncing around their habitat together.

☀️ It's expected to get up to 95° in Asheville today—stay cool out there!We care about our wild community, and that incl...
06/24/2025

☀️ It's expected to get up to 95° in Asheville today—stay cool out there!

We care about our wild community, and that includes YOU. Here are a few tips to beat the heat:
💧 Stay hydrated
🧴 Wear sunscreen
🕶️ Take breaks in the shade

At the Nature Center, our animals know how to handle the heat: they seek shady shelter and always have access to fresh, clean water thanks to our Nelson waterers.

Let’s follow their lead and take care of ourselves in the heat. Bring a refillable bottle if you visit and fill up at our water stations!

Corporate Friends – Wildly Supportive: Chorus AshevilleQ: What Nature Center animal would you be?A: I’d choose to be one...
06/23/2025

Corporate Friends – Wildly Supportive: Chorus Asheville

Q: What Nature Center animal would you be?
A: I’d choose to be one of the red wolves. Not only are they beautiful and elusive, but their story is such a powerful example of the importance of conservation. We really love how the red wolf habitat at the Nature Center helps educate visitors about the challenges these rare animals face—and why their survival matters.

Q: What’s the most interesting animal you’ve seen in the wild?
A: Living in Asheville, I’ve had quite a few black bear sightings—especially while hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway or through the woods. It never gets old spotting one in the wild!

Q: What do you love most about WNC?
A: The connection between the mountains and the animals that call them home. There’s something really special about how nature and wildlife are woven into daily life here.

Answers by Bethany, community manager,

Corporate Friends are the Sponsors and Partners who help to support and amplify the mission of the Nature Center.

🐔 Our staff had fun pickin’ chicken names—see if you can spot the theme!Meet the flock: ElviraSharonaGloriaDelilahRoxann...
06/22/2025

🐔 Our staff had fun pickin’ chicken names—see if you can spot the theme!

Meet the flock:
Elvira
Sharona
Gloria
Delilah
Roxanne
Cecilia
Jolene
Lola
Layla
Billie Jean
Peggy Sue
Mary Jane

☀️ + First Day of Summer = the perfect time to talk about staying cool... like a black bear! 🐻Did you know black bears...
06/20/2025

☀️ + First Day of Summer = the perfect time to talk about staying cool... like a black bear! 🐻

Did you know black bears don’t sweat? To beat the summer heat, they seek out shady spots, splash in streams, or sprawl belly-down on cool ground—nature’s version of air conditioning! 💦🌿Heat can evaporate through their paws and other places that have minimal fur, such as their face, ears, nose, belly, and inside of their legs.

Just like us, wildlife has its own ways of staying comfy in the summer sun. Stay cool out there, and enjoy the longest day of the year! 🌞

🌼🐝 It’s Pollinator Week! 🦋🌸And here in Asheville, the city has declared June as Pollination Celebration Month — a perfec...
06/19/2025

🌼🐝 It’s Pollinator Week! 🦋🌸
And here in Asheville, the city has declared June as Pollination Celebration Month — a perfect time to give a little love to the bees, butterflies, and other hardworking pollinators that help plants grow and ecosystems thrive!

Why are pollinators important? Because one out of every three bites of food you eat depends on them! 🍓🥦🌽

You can support pollinators in your own backyard by:
🌿 Planting native species. Blanket flower and Shrubby St. John’s Wort (a bee magnet!) are what you see here.
🚫 Skipping pesticides and letting your garden grow a little wild!

Come visit our beautiful new pollinator garden at the WNC Nature Center and see these pollinators in action — we’ve got buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies soaking up the blooms!

👉 Tag us in your own pollinator-friendly garden pics and let’s keep Asheville blooming!

🐾 It’s time to vote for your favorites in Best of Asheville 2025 — and we’d love your support! 💚 Voting is now open at h...
06/18/2025

🐾 It’s time to vote for your favorites in Best of Asheville 2025 — and we’d love your support! 💚 Voting is now open at https://bestofavl.com!

The WNC Nature Center is honored to be nominated in these categories:

✨Services: Nonprofit Organization
✨Shopping: Place to Buy a Gift
✨Education: Summer Camp
✨Things to Do: Children’s Birthday Party Venue
✨Family Attraction: Outdoor Attraction and Tour

If you love wildlife, nature, and supporting local conservation, please take a moment to cast your vote! 🦊🐢🐻

Get ready for wild facts from our amazing teen volunteers! They'll be sharing fun nature insights from June 17 to August...
06/16/2025

Get ready for wild facts from our amazing teen volunteers! They'll be sharing fun nature insights from June 17 to August 8. Look for their themed stations from Tuesday to Friday: Nature at Night, Nature Networks, and Nature's Matchmakers.

Ask questions, learn something new, and support their journey into environmental education!

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and we’ve got the perfect last-minute gift ideas at the Nature Center Gift Shop! Whether yo...
06/14/2025

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and we’ve got the perfect last-minute gift ideas at the Nature Center Gift Shop! Whether your dad is bold, stylish, or always sipping coffee, there’s something here he’ll love. And every item gives back in some way 🐾

🔥 African Dream Foods Hot Sauce – Add some wild flavor to Dad’s BBQ! Each bottle supports African wildlife conservation.
🧦 Conscious Step Socks – Comfy, cool, and cause-driven. Each pair donates to a different global initiative!
👛 Buffalo Leather Wallets – Rugged and refined, handmade in the USA with 5% of profits going to education.
☕ Coffee Mugs by Joe – Designed by local artist (and vet!) Joe Richichi, these mugs are functional art with a WNC flair.
🧢 Logo Ballcaps – Keep Dad shaded on summer hikes with our adjustable WNC Nature Center caps.

🎁 Stop by this week and pick up something meaningful—just like Dad.
📍 Open daily | No admission needed to shop

🐻 Brews & Bears is TONIGHT (June 13)! Sip a drink, stroll the park, and enjoy a wild evening with our animal friends.🎟️ ...
06/13/2025

🐻 Brews & Bears is TONIGHT (June 13)! Sip a drink, stroll the park, and enjoy a wild evening with our animal friends.

🎟️ Buy your tickets online until 2 PM — after that, grab 'em at the door.
wildwnc.org/brews-and-bears

See you tonight at the WNC Nature Center!

❤We’re teaming up with The Blood Connection for a Mobile Blood Drive on ✨Friday, June 27✨ from 10 AM–3 PM, and we need y...
06/12/2025

❤We’re teaming up with The Blood Connection for a Mobile Blood Drive on ✨Friday, June 27✨ from 10 AM–3 PM, and we need you!

👀Look for the Blood Connection bus in the overflow parking lot near the ABYSA soccer fields — right on your way to the Nature Center.

With a critical need for donations right now, every donor will receive:
🐾$20 e-gift card (standard reward)
🐾Bonus $10 e-gift card
🐾$10 charitable giveback to the Friends of the WNC Nature Center
🐾1 free guest pass to the Nature Center

That’s over $50 in total rewards, plus the chance to help save lives and support local wildlife.

✨Reservations are recommended. Book your appointment here https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/278802

🐛Breaking News: The Nature Center has a NEW INCH-STALLATION!✨ A giant caterpillar has crept its way into the Nature Cent...
06/12/2025

🐛Breaking News: The Nature Center has a NEW INCH-STALLATION!✨ A giant caterpillar has crept its way into the Nature Center, and it’s ready for climbing, crawling, and lots of photos! We think this story definitely has legs - lots of them! Wiggle your way over for the perfect photo op 📷

Tag your coverage:

Address

75 Gashes Creek Road
Asheville, NC
28805

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when WNC Nature Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to WNC Nature Center:

Shortcuts

Share

Category