FREE Wildlife Programs in the Great Smokies

Wilderness Wildlife Week in the Great Smoky Mountains is a free, eight-day family program in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Lectures, classes, photography shows, musical performances and demonstrations run from Jan. 9-16.

Nearly 20 of 230 programs are specifically for kids, such as

• Animal Olympics, an interactive program that compares human senses and abilities to those of wild animals
• Oh! Possum, a chance to meet a marsupial
• Those Ain’t Teddy Bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a session about the icons of the Smokies
• Kiddin’ Around, a hands-on introduction to mountain music and instruments for kids, and
• Wings of America, a live bird show from the American Eagle Foundation.

Celebrating its 20th year, Wilderness Wildlife Week is part of Pigeon Forge Winterfest, which continues through February. Rangers from the National Park Service, biologists, botanists, nature photographers, animal rehabilitators and Smoky Mountains residents donate their time for the week’s presentations.