California Living Museum - Bakersfield, California

Talk to the animals at the California Living Museum, or CALM Zoo, in Bakersfield, California. Visitors are encouraged to learn a respect for all living things – animals, plants, and fossils – at this zoo that was founded in 1980, but didn’t first open to the public until 1983. It’s a place to go to not only enjoy being with the animals, but to become educated about them as well.

All of the species in the California Living Museum, whether they are plant, fossil, or animal, are native to the state of California. These native species are arranged in eleven different exhibits around the park, such as Desert Animal Habitat that includes the desert tortoise, the blacktailed jack-rabbit, and the roadrunner (minus his cartoon nemesis Wile E. Coyote), the Al Robbins Herpetological Center that features amphibians, reptiles, and small animals, or the Mammal Round that includes several smaller predators. There are also several bird exhibits as well as black bear and coyote exhibits.

The CALM Zoo is a great place to go for some environmental education. In three sessions throughout June and July, students 6 through 12 have an opportunity to learn everything they wanted to know about the California wildlife. Live animals are used in these daily lessons. The cost is $70 a session for museum members, and $85 for non-menbers. CALM also provides off-site and on-site science education. On-site is $1.75 per student and $3.25 per adults, with the prices for off-site science education varying by the distance traveled. The topics included in these classes are animal classification, habitat, and adapting.

There are other special programs at the California Living Museum including adopt-an-animal donations that provide food and shelter, along with veterinary care for the animals. Depending on the amount of your donation, you will receive free passes to visit CALM Zoo, photos of the animal you are sponsoring, and an adoption certificate. A special holiday program, HolidayLights @ CALM, runs from November 25th through December 30th. The museum puts on a light display at night featuring volcanos with multi-hued lava, a sea serpent in the pond, and a monkey throwing coconuts at Santa and his sleigh. The cost of this is $4 for ages 3 through 17, $6 for Seniors, and $8 for adults. Parking is $1.

The California Living Museum is located at 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway in Bakersfield, California. The general operating hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with it being closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, and the gift store closing its doors at 4:30 PM. During winter hours the museum closes one hour earlier, as does the gift store. Adults are charged $6.50 for admission, Seniors $4.50, and Students with an ID $3.50. Children 3 to 17 pay $3.50, with children under 3 being admitted for free. 

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