McClelland's Critters - Banks, AL

It’s Spring Break and having Layla home is killing my wanna be routine. It is also a good excuse to get out and have fun with the kids (or risk going crazy in the house). We packed up in Melissa’s van and followed April and her kids out to McClelland’s Critters. It’s like a zoo…kind of. It’s a bunch of animals on this couple’s land. They do a walking tour where Mr Mike and his Australian? accent introduce you to the animals. At some points it is pretty hands on as well!

After driving out into the boonies following “Zoo” signs we finally got there. We were able to jump in with the tour he had just started.

We missed most of the monkeys but came in time to see him show that the last one likes Lays potato chips.

Next were the lions. He was tossing chicken into the cages to get their attention and hand feeding them through the gate.

Layla spent this part with her fingers in her ears after one of the lions let out a roar. She thought it was too loud. After the lions we saw the tigers. There were a lot and different kinds. They were big!

This one didn’t like hats or sunglasses. Or the rotten little kids teasing her. I liked her angry eyes

I liked these eyes too. Ash and her huge hat that Layla ended up wearing 😛

The non-stroller riding kidlets

The Liger! Did I spell that right? I just kept thinking of Napoleon Dynamite.

This white tiger was great. Very big and very talkative.

He made this deal growly noise like Rik does when you rub his head

And then he stood up. He…is…huge.

TF slept through it. He doesn’t know what he missed!

I liked the wolves. They were like grey and white wild Revos. Kinda.

And then this big white one came out after everyone called it and more meat was tossed over the fence. He made me sad…he walks like Rik.

Next we met BooBoo the bear cub. He is 2 months old and was 9oz when he was born. SO stinking cute.

After we all oo’d and aahhh’d at the bear cub he busted out the reptiles. First a “2 headed alligator”.

The reptiles got passed around. EG went NUTS over holding them all. Lil miss gentle was a little bit shaky with the gator 😛

Layla was SO not into touching them. She quickly ran over to take over feeding so she would be “busy”

She did touch the gator tail and said it was hard. When the snakes came out she was right at my side and not interested at all in being a part of holding them. Eventually Abigail got Layla to touch a snake tail…and then she held it on her own. Of course I was holding Timmy and the camera and they were in horrible light and wouldn’t move so the pictures aren’t the best…but it’s proof that she did it!

While the rest of the tour went on to the bears the girls were more interested in the sheep/emu/goat side.

And Melissa found the camel

Once the tour had made it back around to the gift shop they brought out a bottle to feed the calf, Oreo. Layla was showing off her big sister skills.

Then Melissa needed in on the action.

and eventually had to wrestle the bottle away from it.

After we were done with animals and buying toy snakes in the gift shop we headed out. As we were driving out we went slow to see the monkeys that we missed. I think this guy was happy to see us leaving…