Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center sentenced to prison for theft of $287,000 in town funds
Cy Vierstra will spend five years in prison for stealing township funds to finance his roadside zoo Union Ridge Wildlife Center.
top of page
Roadside Zoo News
%20(1).png)
Feb 6, 2023
Mother sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in son's murder over stolen reptiles
Tiffany Powell of Waupaca was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the murder of her son during a dispute over stolen reptiles.
3,451 views
Feb 3, 2023
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.
1,288 views
Jan 30, 2023
Two monkeys missing after the latest act of vandalism at Dallas Zoo
Two monkeys reported missing by the Dallas Zoo are the latest victims in a string of vandalism at the Texas zoo.
203 views
Jan 30, 2023
A dozen monkeys stolen from a Louisiana zoo
At least 12 monkeys were stolen from Zoosiana in Broussard, Louisiana on January 28, 2023.
295 views
Jan 18, 2023
Federal report: Cheetah dies after eating a lunch box at Montgomery Zoo
A cheetah died after consuming parts of a lunch box that was dropped into his enclosure at Montgomery Zoo in Alabama.
434 views
Jan 11, 2023
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.
670 views
Jan 6, 2023
Union Ridge Wildlife Center's USDA license canceled in advance of Cy Vierstra's felony sentencing
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center has cancelled his USDA license while awaiting sentencing on five felonies for theft.
1,447 views
Jan 4, 2023
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.
2,385 views
Dec 20, 2022
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.
448 views
Dec 2, 2022
Waupaca mother convicted of lesser charges in son’s murder over stolen reptiles
Tiffany Powell was convicted today for her role in the death of her son, Ryelee Manente-Powell, who was shot by William Zelenski.
1,719 views
Nov 28, 2022
Rustic Retreat Deer Park ordered to stop public wolfdog sessions or be fined $500 per day
Rustic Retreat Deer Park owner Tom Mueller must stop letting the public interact with wolfdogs or be fined $500 per day, a judge has ruled.
948 views
Nov 22, 2022
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.
582 views
Nov 21, 2022
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.
2,672 views
Nov 20, 2022
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.
5,626 views
Nov 13, 2022
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.
6,596 views
Nov 9, 2022
Texas monkey smuggler pleads guilty
Savannah Valdez of Texas faces up to 20 years in prison for smuggling a spider monkey into the United States and then fleeing from officers.
263 views
Nov 5, 2022
Videos show Morgan Machnik of Premier Exotics abusing animals
Premier Exotics owner Morgan Machnik abuses animals, photo and video evidence shows.
8,260 views
Oct 28, 2022
Montana woman charged for killing and skinning a dog she thought was a wolf
Amber Barnes of Montana has been charged with animal cruelty for shooting and skinning a dog that she mistook for a wolf.
1,416 views
Oct 27, 2022
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife pleads guilty to five felonies for stealing from Vinton township
Cy Vierstra of Union Ridge Wildlife Center faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to five felonies for stealing from his town.
1,373 views
bottom of page