Big Bear Lake Travel Guide

Big Bear Alpine Zoo at Moonridge is a unique wildlife rescue and education center located in the Moonridge community of Big Bear Lake, California. Founded in 1959, the campus originally served as a refuge for injured and orphaned wildlife and still places animal rescue and rehabilitation at the core of its mission. The zoo is home to roughly 85 animals, most of them native species that cannot be returned to the wild, including black bears, mountain lions, gray wolves, vultures, and bobcats. Visitors can observe these once-injured or orphaned animals up close and learn about the local ecosystem through keeper talks. Although modest in size, the zoo is deeply educational and a must-visit for families and nature lovers in the Big Bear Lake area.