A little groundhog named Maple now living at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo has a backstory that’s anything but ordinary. Her journey began far from California in Bandon, Oregon, where a now-shuttered safari attraction became the center of a major animal welfare investigation and raid.
The West Coast Game Park Safari Raid That Rescued Over 300 Animals, Including Our New Favorite Groundhog
In May 2025, Oregon State Police led a four-day operation at West Coast Game Park Safari, a facility long criticized for its conditions. What investigators found was deeply troubling: malnourished animals, filthy enclosures, shocking neglect, missing animals, and a dead tiger found in a freezer. One inspection report described a lioness kept in a dark, unventilated den and a chimpanzee living in isolation after the loss of its companion. There was only one staff member responsible for the care of over 300 animals…