Give a baby tiger a bottle, or watch ospreys teach their young to fish. The animal kingdom is only a kangaroo's hop from nearby beaches. Locals and tourists flock to our nearby beaches for sea and sun. But many people get out and about to catch glimpses of some adorable furry (and scaly and feathered) friends. Animal lovers, line up. Thanks to dedicated wildlife protectors, the Gulf area abounds with fantastic animal attractions. THE LITTLE ZOO THAT COULD A few blocks north of Gulf Shores beach, visitors get up close and personal with a variety of animals in the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. This popular attraction may be better known as "The Little Zoo That Could," thanks to a feature series on Animal Planet that detailed its Hurricane Ivan evacuation efforts. It now attracts tourists from around the world. "Fans of the series want to see the Siberian tigers that we took to our safe location during the storm," director Patti Hall says. "And they all want to see Chucky, the alligator that we did not take with us." Chucky had his own big adventure, which made national news. During the storm surge, the 12-foot, 1,000-pound gator floated out of his enclosure and remained at large for five days before handlers caught him. Today, 290 animals live on the wildlife park's seven acres of exhibit space. In 2011, Hall hopes to open a new location several miles north. It will be on higher ground and out of storm surge danger. "We will have exhibits on 26 acres, with a big lake, but we will always remain a 'little zoo,'" she says. "That's our niche." Because it is small, the facility is able to permit unique contact. For an additional fee to regular admission, visitors can climb into fenced enclosures to enjoy contact with baby tigers, lemurs and kangaroos. "The tiger encounters are very popular," Hall says. "They are like kittens. Big kittens. Participants get to romp with them, maybe even give them a bottle. The baby lemurs jump, climb and play all over you. It's really a lot of fun and also fun to watch." In early spring, the zoo took possession of several young giant red kangaroos that will eventually grow to be about 7 feet tall. "But, as babies, they're about the size of a small German shepherd dog and very playful. They love to be held, and they'll be hopping around like crazy this summer in our Australian Outback exhibit," Hall explains. The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily. Closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (55+) and $7 for children ages 3 - 12. Annual memberships and special group rates are available. 1204 Gulf Coast Parkway, Gulf Shores. 968-5732. alabamagulfcoastzoo.com WALK ON THE WILD SIDE "There are countless opportunities to interact with wildlife in a less structured setting," says Joanne McDonough, nature specialist with the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We have 52 miles of beach, but our coastal area includes 607 miles of shoreline along the Gulf, bays and inlets, including more than 400,000 acres of estuaries," she says. "There are about 20 species of whales and dolphins in the Gulf, and West Indian manatees live in Gulf waters and travel the Intracoastal Waterway." There are numerous dolphin-watching cruises in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, but McDonough advises visitors to look for tour operators who are recognized as Dolphin SMART. "Seeing dolphins in their natural habitat is thrilling, but there is a risk that we can disturb or even harm them if this is not done correctly," she says. "It's the same with manatees. These creatures look friendly and harmless, but we must remember and respect the fact that dolphins and manatees are wild animals." Gulf State Park provides more than 6,000 acres of wildlife viewing opportunity, according to park naturalist Kelly Reetz. "The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail is very popular and accessible," she says. "It incorporates part of the old Catman Trail and winds through woods, marshes, dunes and swamps." You probably won't see the legendary half-man/half-cat creature for which the old trail is named, but, Reetz says, you are likely to notice signs of other wildlife. "There are raccoons, deer, bobcats, armadillos, coyotes and black bears," she notes. "Most of the time, the animals will see or hear you before you know they are there, so you might just see their tracks." Reetz is also fond of the spiders, beetles and even millipedes that consider the park home. "Some are really pretty, and the spiders make huge, beautiful webs." Alligators are abundant in the marshes, and bird watching is spectacular throughout the park. "Raptor sightings are very common, and in the summer, the ospreys teach their young to fish," Reetz says. "You'll hear them screeching, and it's quite a show." After the sun goes down, Reetz suggests taking a walk on the beach. Look down to see the tiny ghost crabs that scuttle about. You might also see a unique light show. "At night, watch the phosphorescent glow from diatoms, which are tiny, microscopic animals that live in the sand at the water's edge," she says. "Walk backwards, and look where your feet disturbed the sand. You might see a little flash of green light. That's really cool." The Nature Center at Gulf State Park 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. M - Sa. Reetz and other park naturalists conduct guided trail and beach tours and special programs. 20115 state Highway 135, Gulf Shores. 948-7275. alapark.com Find a Dolphin SMART tour operator at sanctuaries.noaa.gov/dolphinsmart/ BIRDS OF PARADISE A few miles west of Gulf Shores on Fort Morgan Road, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is a prime animal viewing location. Experts have identified more than 370 species of birds there, including seven different species of hummingbirds. Pay attention to signs warning visitors to stay away from sensitive sea turtle nests or Alabama beach mouse habitats. These endangered animals make their homes under the sea oats in the sand dunes. (For more information on efforts to protect local sea turtle and beach mouse populations, see Coastal Keepers at http://www.mobilebaymag.com/article.asp?articleID=247.) Dauphin Island also abounds with beach wildlife, but the barrier island is best known for birds. Thanks to detailed bird counts, it is recognized as one the "birdiest" cities in the U.S. Check out the trails at various Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary locations. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Trails range from 1 to more than 4 miles in length and pass through dunes, wetlands, forests and scrub brush. Refuge beaches and trails are open daily during daylight hours. 12295 state Highway 180, Gulf Shores. 540-7720. fws.gov/bonsecour To learn more about birding on Dauphin Island, visit coastalbirding.org. Image information: Main: Omar is a 3-month-old golden tabby Siberian tiger at The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Photos Courtesy of The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Left: See dolphins up close and personal on a Dolphin SMART tour along the Gulf Coast. Center: Attentive hikers can spot beautiful birds, like the yellow rumped warbler, on nature walks through the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Photos Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Right: Five American white pelicans and a brown pelican congregate on Little Dauphin. Photo Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service