Michigan’s Quirkiest Animal Encounters  

Michigan’s sprawling wilderness is most famous for its diverse scenery, from the glittering Great Lakes to lush, forested landscapes. Once you look deeper into your surroundings, though, you’ll find a dazzling array of quirky wildlife that calls this state home: prehistoric fish that have been swimming in Michigan waters since the dinosaurs, one of North America's rarest little songbirds, hardy sled dogs, and many more. 

One of the Rarest Songbirds in North America 

The Kirtland’s warbler is one of the rarest songbirds in North America and was brought back from the brink of extinction by the heroic efforts of the Kirtland's Warbler Conservation Team. This delightful blue-gray and lemon-yellow songbird is a discerning habitat hunter and will only breed on the sandy ground beneath young jack pines. 

If you’d like a glimpse of one of these charming little songbirds, Michigan Audubon runs tours out of Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling from late May into June, and the U.S. Forest Service leads morning tours from the Mio Ranger Station in May. Another option is the Kirtland's Warbler Festival in Roscommon. Held in early June, the festival celebrates the Kirtland’s warbler with bird-banding demonstrations, jack pine tours, keynote talks, live art auctions, kids' activities, and more. 

A Prehistoric Giant 

Lake sturgeon look more like living fossils than fish. Instead of scales, five rows of bony plates cover their torpedo-shaped bodies – much like the shells of turtles or the skin of crocodiles. Whisker-like barbels droop beneath their mouths. The barbels assist the sturgeon in their hunt for bottom-dwelling prey, which they vacuum up with their suction-like mouths. These ancient fish can live for decades – some even more than a century. While fishing is only possible during short seasons and limited quantities, you can always appreciate lake sturgeon through grassroots conservation efforts. The Black River Sturgeon Hatchery in Onaway leads hatchery tours in summer and early fall, and SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium in Auburn Hills protects juveniles before releasing them in a popular community event.  

Sun Salutations, With a Twist 

Can you hold your pose with a baby goat on your back? There’s exactly one way to find out. 

At Yoga on the Farm outside Holly, a herd of 11 goats, often in silly outfits, encourages laughter and relaxation through beginner-friendly yoga classes in a bright red barn. Bluebird Meadow Goat Yoga holds classes in a quiet meadow near Ada, just northeast of Grand Rapids. Near Lansing, Original Goat Yoga Michigan pairs yoga, animal-assisted therapy and sweeping views with a rewarding wine happy hour. Farther north, near Traverse City, Black Star Farms offers goat yoga along Michigan’s Traverse Wine Coast, giving you the chance for a little mindful relaxation in between bouts of wine tasting. 

Cuddles and Coffee With Cats 

Michigan's cat cafes make a cup of coffee deceptively dangerous. At a cat cafe, you reserve a block of time, order something to drink and sit in a bright room full of cats that are free to roam. What’s dangerous about this? Each of the cute, cuddly kittens staring up at you with their big, bright eyes is visiting from a local rescue and looking for a home. If you're not considering adopting a new furry friend, your visit still supports the cats by encouraging them to socialize. 

In Lansing, the nonprofit Constellation Cat Cafe keeps a full coffee bar on one side of the glass and 15 to 30 rescue cats on the other. Catfé Lounge in Ferndale is run by the Ferndale Cat Shelter and features free coffee after an entrance fee. Holland Cat Cove isn’t a café, but it does feature Michigan-made snacks. In Sanford, Cozy Cats Cafe features artwork, jewelry, cat toys, trinkets, and other items handmade by local artists. And Tiny Lions in Ann Arbor offers toddler story time, trivia and – if you want more after the goats! – yoga with their cats. 

Look a Giraffe in the Eye 

At Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, a raised deck called Twiga Overlook puts you face-to-face with one of the largest giraffe herds in the country. Feed these gentle giants a few leaves of lettuce for about the price of a coffee. The overlook closes 30 minutes before the rest of the zoo, so go there first. For something closer to a safari, Deer Tracks Junction in Cedar Springs – just north of Grand Rapids – runs Michigan's only drive-thru safari. Roll along at 5 miles an hour with the windows down while bison, zebras, yaks, ostriches, and a giraffe line up for a bite from your feeding bucket. 

Meet a Kennel Full of Alaskan Huskies 

Michigan has one of the biggest mushing cultures outside Alaska, and you do not have to be an athlete to get into it. Most tours follow the same pattern: you meet the dogs, hear a little history, then get a short lesson in handling a sled before heading out on a run with an instructor beside you. The Upper Peninsula is home to several kennels, though there are options throughout the state. 

Want to learn more? Meet the mushers of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  

Watch Bears Be Bears 

Just north of Newberry, Oswald's Bear Ranch has been a sanctuary to rescued and orphaned black bears since it opened to the public in 1997. Roughly 40 of them now live across four large habitats with room to climb trees, swim and nap. Visitors walk the perimeter on raised platforms, and the bags of apples you can purchase on site are a sure way to get the bears’ attention. 

Hand-Feed a White-Tailed Deer 

The Deer Ranch on U.S. 2 in St. Ignace is the oldest live whitetail deer exhibit in North America. Dozens of white-tailed deer, fawns and rare white deer can be found along a self-guided walk through the wooded enclosures. Buy a bag of feed at the gift shop, and they’ll come right up to the fence to greet you. Come spring, the year’s new fawns are often bottle-fed with help from guests. 

Watch Thousands of Michigan’s Tallest Birds Come to Roost 

The best place to see them is Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary, Michigan Audubon's largest sanctuary located 6 miles northeast of Jackson. It benches on a hill above Mud Lake Marsh to look out over the roost where thousands of cranes pass through during peak season that runs from late October into mid-November. Bring binoculars, a blanket and more layers than you think you need.  

For more birding opportunities in Michigan, sign up for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Winged Wednesday text alerts – text "BIRD" to 51555 – for weekly tips on what is moving through the state and where to see it. 

Get more tips on bird-watching in Michigan, even in the offseason! 

Cuddle a Cow

Cuddly Coos Farm in Swartz Creek, just outside Flint, gives you the opportunity to reconnect with nature by hanging out with some gorgeous Highland cows. Highland cows have shaggy coats, sweeping horns and long fringe over their eyes, and they are as calm as they look. The family-owned farm books private sessions by appointment – either a cuddle with brushing and feeding or an hour-long spa session where you bathe, brush and blow-dry a cow. 

What will be your favorite animal encounter in Michigan? Try one or try them all.