Salato Wildlife Education Center
The James C. Salato Wildlife Education Center opened in October of 1995 on the grounds of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in Frankfort, KY. Its purpose is to educate the public about the importance of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and the role of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in their responsible management, conservation, and use.
The Center opened with a handful of indoor exhibits and four outdoor exhibits: rocky mountain elk, white-tailed deer, bald eagle, and plains bison. The first year, annual visitation was a bit more than 35,000. As new exhibits were created, visitation significantly increased.
In 2008, the Center began closing the winter months. This allowed for increased attention to new projects, assuring a top-quality experience for visitors when they return in early spring. Average annual visitation is currently over 50,000, most of whom live in the Bluegrass Region of the state. The Salato Wildlife Education Center is funded through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and boater registrations, and through donations to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Salato Wildlife Center Projects
The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation works to provide updates to the Salato Wildlife Education Center each year. Thanks to our donors, the Foundation has provided Salato with new educational exhibits and made critical updates to existing exhibits.
Interested in helping to support Salato’s projects? Consider making a tax-deductible donation.
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Foundation-Sponsored Exhibits at Salato Wildlife Education Center
Living Stream
The Living Stream exhibit is an educational tool for both adults and children. The Stream itself is an ecosystem comprised of a mosaic of habitats. It supports biodiverse organisms and demonstrates the importance of maintaining good water quality. Here, visitors may discover frogs, toads, crayfish, bluegill, catfish, and many more Kentucky native species.
Bobcat Water Feature
Bobcats are highly adaptive carnivores. Despite rare human sightings, these elusive creatures are North America’s most common wildcat. Salato is home to two bobcats. To mimic their habitat in the bluegrass, we installed a running stream system through the center of their exhibit. Surrounded by native grasses and tunnels, the addition provides fresh water and a thick underbrush for both cats to utilize.
Bluegrass Prairie
The Bluegrass Prairie exhibit guides visitors on a journey through Kentucky grasslands. This exhibit teaches adults and children the difference between native and non-native grasses and more importantly the impacts mowing as on an ecosystem. Northern bobwhite quail is one species that has been greatly impacted by the decline of natural grasslands. Learn more about KDFWR’s bobwhite quail conservation plan and see them for yourself while exploring Salato’s Bluegrass Prairie.
Be Bear Aware
As black bear populations continue to expand in Kentucky, human-bear interactions have become commonplace. To ensure health and safety of humans and bears, it is necessary for residents and visitors to learn to “Be Bear Aware”. The Be Bear Aware exhibit demonstrates the importance of securing food, garbage, and other potential attractants in areas where bears are present.
Frogs and Toads of Kentucky
Amphibians like frogs are among the first animals to respond to environmental changes like pollution and climate change. Their permeable skin and reliance on freshwater habitats make them more susceptible to these changes and therefore great indicators of environmental health. Discover more about this amphibian’s ecological role at one of Salato’s newest exhibits.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Mailing Address:
PO Box 4115
Frankfort, KY 40604
Office Address:
306 W. Main Street, Ste 701/702
Frankfort, KY 40601
c: (502) 229-7578
p: (502) 699-2671
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