top of page
Roadside Zoo News
%20(1).png)


Maggot-infested corpse prompts Animal Haven Zoo violation
A decaying maggot-covered lamb carcass, a peacock with an untreated injury and numerous safety hazards were identified at Animal Haven Zoo.
May 22, 2024
Â


Child porn and bestiality charges filed against four Wisconsin men
Preston Kite, Adam Westbrook, Jacob Boudreau and Noah Thiel face charges pertaining to child porn and bestiality.
Mar 18, 2024
Â


Texas roadside zoo owner Jason Clay cooperates with feds for lesser sentence
Texas roadside zoo owner Jason Clay has entered into a plea agreement that requires him to cooperate with officials by providing information
Dec 22, 2023
Â


Natural Bridge Zoo animal forfeiture hearing moves forward
A judge ruled against an attorney for Natural Bridge Zoo today, indicating a forfeiture hearing for 95 seized animals will move forward.
Dec 19, 2023
Â


Animal Haven Zoo cited for feeding maggot-covered meat; failing to treat animals’ health conditions
Animal Haven Zoo cited - animals found with untreated medical conditions and a bear at the roadside zoo found eating maggot-infested meat.
Dec 13, 2023
Â


Feds shut down Even Keel Exotics and seize 142 animals
Even Keel Exotics has been permanently shut down and the feds plan to confiscate 142 animals from roadside zoo owner Zachery Keeler.
Aug 22, 2023
Â


Cicchelli Second Chance Rescue and Exotics permanently shut down by feds
Cicchelli Second Chance Rescue and Exotics, a roadside zoo in Lake City, Michigan, has been permanently shut down by federal officials.
Aug 10, 2023
Â


Bill Zelenski sentenced to life in prison for Waupaca murder over stolen reptiles
William Zelenski will be eligible for parole in 35 years after being found guilty of killing a Waupaca teen over stolen reptiles.
Jul 28, 2023
Â


MToxins Venom Lab fined for hiding the death of bald eagle
MToxins Venom Lab in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been fined for falsifying documents to hide the death of a bald eagle.
Jun 8, 2023
Â


Animal welfare unknown at Even Keel Exotics after ten missed inspections
Even Keel Exotics in Michigan has missed 83% of USDA inspections in the past year, with ongoing concerns for the welfare of the animals.
Apr 13, 2023
Â


Union Ridge Wildlife Center animals being rehomed while Cy Vierstra heads to prison
The animals at Union Ridge Wildlife Center are being rehomed, according to Ohio officials, weeks after Cy Vierstra was sentenced to prison.
Feb 22, 2023
Â


Morgan Machnik of Premier Exotics cited for abusing servals; releasing bobcat
Morgan Machnik of Premier Exotics cited with four federal violations for abusing servals and releasing a captive bobcat into the woods.
Feb 3, 2023
Â


Missing and presumed dead: Dog at Rustic Retreat Deer Park
Another animal is missing and presumed dead at the roadside zoo Rustic Retreat Deer Park near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Jan 11, 2023
Â


Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary cited with a critical violation for tiger cub drowning deaths
Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary has been cited with a critical violation after two tiger cubs drowned in an icy pond.
Jan 4, 2023
Â


President Biden signs Big Cat Public Safety Act into law
The Big Cat Public Safety Act has been signed into law by Joe Biden, putting an end to cub petting in the United States.
Dec 20, 2022
Â


Special Memories Zoo owner and manager agree to pay Animal Legal Defense Fund $130,000
Special Memories Zoo owner Dona Wheeler and former zookeeper Gretchen Crowe have agreed to pay Animal Legal Defense Fund $130,000.
Nov 22, 2022
Â


East Texas Zoo and Gator Park listed for sale by Jason Clay, along with Franklin Drive Thru Safari
East Texas Zoo and Gator Park has now been listed for sale by Jason Clay, following the sale listing for Franklin Drive Thru Safari.
Nov 21, 2022
Â


Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary tiger cub death toll rises to five after two cubs drown in icy pond
Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary's tiger cub death toll rises to five after two tiger cubs drowned in an icy pond during a frigid Wisconsin night.
Nov 20, 2022
Â


Franklin Drive Thru Safari listed for sale after Jason Clay’s wildlife trafficking indictment
Franklin Drive Thru Safari has been listed for sale after owner Jason Clay's indictment on wildlife trafficking charges with Doc Antle.
Nov 13, 2022
Â


Videos show Morgan Machnik of Premier Exotics abusing animals
Premier Exotics owner Morgan Machnik abuses animals, photo and video evidence shows.
Nov 5, 2022
Â
bottom of page