Photos, videos: Humans mingle with animals during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel

BY ROBIN MILLER | Staff writer
Robin Miller

Author facebook

Author twitter

Author email
Aug 15, 2024
Aug 15, 2024

Barn Hill Preserve, 11342 La. 955, Ethel, is an animal preserve that offers visitors a mix of entertainment and education through animal encounters.

Barn Hill first opened in 2012 as a mobile unit that brought animals to schools to educate students about wildlife and conservation. In 2015, it opened the gates of its zoological park in Ethel. New exhibits are added each year, the newest being a safari exhibit in October.

Barn Hill is open Thursday through Sunday. Tours are $29-$39 and must be booked in advance. Separate animal encounters also are offered. Prices vary for these encounters.

To book a tour or for more information, call (225) 286-3003 or visit barnhillpreserve.com.

To read the complete story, click here.

barn hill 23 — Chandler Castle, an animal care taker in training, scratches the chin of a capybara at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 14 — Benito the spectacled owl watches visitors from the perch in his cage at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 1 — Animal caretaker and tour guide Chandler Castle allows visitors to pet Timmy the tenrec during an encounter tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 35 — A kookaburra laughs for visitors during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

Visitors mingle with sloths during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel, La. Staff video by Robin Miller

barn hill 12 — Animal caretaker-in-training Chandler Castle allows visitors to touch Cletus, a blue-tongued skink, during an interactive presentation at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 7 — An sloth munches on a cucumber slice given to him by a visitor during an encounter tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 22 — A tapir roams in his habitat at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 8 — Visitors walk along the boardwalk during an encounter tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 25 — Capybaras roam their enclosure at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 46 — A bearcat gazes out at visitors during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 40 — A visitor fees cucumber slices to a sloth during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 6 — Visitors touch the outer shell of Presley, the nine audit armadillo, during an encounter tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 15 — Visitors stop to look at Benito the spectacled owl during a tour of Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

Animal caretaker-in-training Chandler Castle mingles with the capybaras during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel, La. Staff video by Robin Miller

barn hill 4 — A kangaroo joey is Barn Hill's ambassador, welcoming visitors to the park's gift shop by lifting her head to be scratched beneath the chin.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 2 — Mandy Ford, right, holds up son Tucker Ford as he offers one of Barn Hill Preserve's sloths a cucumber slice. The Fords drove from their home in Prairieville to visit the park in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 17 — Visitors pet goats during a tour of Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 5 — Visitors get a close look at the flock of parrots in Barn Hill Preserve's aviary during an encounter tour.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 28 — A goat moves in for her close-up at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 11 — Visitors sit on benches in Barn Hill Preserve's open-air theater for an interactive presentation during a tour.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 10 — Signs point the way to habitats and enclosures at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 3 — Caretaker and tour guide Chandler Castle gives one of Barn Hill Preserve's capybaras a belly rub during an encounter tour. All tours must be booked in advance.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 13 — Owen Wilson, an Indian crested porcupine, greets visitors during a tour of Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

Visitors interact with a tortoise during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel, La. Staff video by Robin Miller

barn hill 26 — Animal caretaker in training Chandler Castle shows visitors a tortoise at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 9 — A kangaroo joey peaks out from a cloth pouch in the gift shop at Barn Hill Preserve. Staff members often allow visitors to pet the joey.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 16 — A kangaroo tries to beat the heat by lounging in the shade at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 18 — A sloth waits for his sliced cucumber snacks at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 20 — Visitors walk along the boardwalk that leads to Barn Hill Preserve's animal enclosures and habitats.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 21 — A tapir contemplates venturing into a waterway at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 24 — An albino kangaroo finds refuge in the shade at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 27 — A visitor snaps a photo of a tortoise during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

A tapir roams its enclosure during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel, La. Staff video by Robin Miller

barn hill 29 — Animal caretaker in training Chandler Castle encourages macaws to talk for visitors during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 30 — Macaws compete for visitors' attention during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 31 — A goat enjoys back scratches from a visitor during a tour of Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 32 — Animal caretaker in training Chandler Castle scratches a capybara beneath the chin during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 33 — A tortoise gazes at visitors during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 34 — A goal mingles with visitors during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 36 — A sloth greets visitors to his enclosure during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 37 — Barn Hill Preserve's habitats and enclosures are connected by grassy paths and boardwalks.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 38 — An emu gazes up at visitors walking above along a boardwalk bordering his habitat at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 39 — Goats enjoy visitors' attention during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 41 — Animal caretaker in training Chandler Castle shows visitors Percy, a royal bald python, during an interactive program at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 42 — Animal caretaker Chandler Castle asks visitors if they want to touch Percy the royal bald python during an interactive program at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 43 — Owen Wilson, an Indian crested porcupine, peers out at visitors from the doorway of his house during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 44 — A visitor snaps a photo of an ostrich from the boardwalk during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 45 — Animal caretaker in training Chandler Castle scratches a capybara beneath the chin during a tour at Barnhill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 47 — A goat gazes into the camera during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 48 — Presley, a nine audit armadillo, rolls his protective shell into a ball during an interactive program at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 49 — An animal caretaker interacts with King, an African serval, during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 50 — A macaw enjoys visitors' attention during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 51 — An albino seeks refuge from the Louisiana heat in the shade of his enclosure during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 52 — A sloth snacks on cucumber slices in his enclosure at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 53 — An animal caretaker interacts with an African penguin during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 54 — Animal caretaker-in-training Chandler Castle allows visitors to touch Cletus, a blue-tongued skink, during an interactive presentation at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 55 — Owen Wilson, an Indian crested porcupine, greets visitors during a tour of Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 56 — A goat mingles with visitors during a tour at Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 57 — Animal caretaker in training Chandler Castle scratches a capybara beneath the chin during a tour at Barnhill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

barn hill 19 — The entrance to Barn Hill Preserve in Ethel.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

Robin Miller