Driving either direction on Zion Ridge Road you will pass through big open country here, with lots of potential. The usual criteria for finding raptors apply: eagles may be soaring high on a sunny day and most raptors will be perched if it is raining. Perches are at a premium: check dead trees on wooded margins, utility poles, hay bales, and fence posts. Scott Road, though it appears on the map, is not open to the public, and is almost always gated.

Please, note that leaving roadways and walking on Wilds property is not permitted.

The Wilds is a private, non-profit safari park and conservation center that combines cutting-edge conservation science and education programs with hands-on experiences and one-of-a-kind adventures that include ziplining, horseback riding, fishing, and more. Located in southeast Ohio, the Wilds is home to rare and endangered species from around the globe living in natural, open-range habitats.

The property encompasses 9,154 acres or approximately 14 square miles and includes 2,000 acres of pastures and a 27-acre Carnivore Conservation Center. The Wilds is designated an Audubon Important Bird Area so the property includes a birding station with a covered lookout as well as a butterfly habitat with hiking trails, more than 15 miles of mountain bike and hiking trails, and approximately 150 lakes.

With nearly 10,000 acres of grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and lakes, the Wilds is home to a great diversity of bird species. Audubon has recognized the Wilds as one of Ohio’s Important Bird Areas, and birdwatchers from near and far have discovered the abundance of bird life here.