What is the minimum age to participate?

Children must be at least 5 years old to enter the program; anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

How many people can join a private encounter?

Group size is limited to six participants to keep interactions small and minimize stress on the animals.

What is the cancellation or rescheduling policy?

Cancellations are permitted up to 24 hours before the booking; bookings can be rescheduled without penalty within three days, after which a $25 rescheduling fee applies.

Are open-toe shoes allowed?

No—open-toe shoes and Crocs are not permitted during encounters to ensure safety for visitors and animals.

Are encounters weather-dependent?

Yes. Encounters may change or be canceled due to weather conditions; check communication from the provider on the day of your booking.

Can I take photos during the encounter?

Yes—photos are allowed; bring a camera with a quick shutter to capture fast-moving animals like otters. Staff may request no flash around certain ambassadors.

Private Capybara and Otter Encounter at Scatter Joy Acres (Murray, NE)

Adventure Brief

Spend an hour in a private, keeper-led encounter with capybaras and river otters at Scatter Joy Acres in Murray, Nebraska. Small groups, close educational access, and experienced zookeepers make this a hands-on learning stop for families and curious travelers.

1 hour

easy

From $111.50

At Scatter Joy Acres, located at 4107 Waverly Rd Murray, NE 68409, the private "Water Wonders" Encounter delivers a focused, hour-long, keeper-guided visit where capybaras and river otters take center stage alongside a rotating roster of sloths, kangaroos, porcupines, bushbabies, llamas, goats, and other educational ambassadors for curious visitors alike. Groups are intentionally small—six participants maximum—so the encounter stays personal, questions are answered thoroughly, and animals experience minimal stress; zookeepers guide interactions, narrate behavior, explain species needs and conservation context, and enforce safety rules such as no open-toe shoes or Crocs and a minimum participant age of five years old. The site feels less like a metropolitan institution and more like a carefully curated rural collection of habitats: small pools for otters and capybaras, sunlit pens for farm friends, and sheltered viewing spots where visitors can study fur texture, movement patterns, and social signals that reveal species personalities in detail. Because encounters are private and led by staff, the visit doubles as an educational session: zookeepers discuss diet, enrichment, veterinary care, and the natural history of each ambassador while illustrating broader conservation topics such as habitat loss, invasive species impacts, and responsible exotic animal stewardship at the community level. Practical details matter: bookings require payment for every person entering programs, tours run about one hour, cancellations are permitted up to twenty-four hours ahead, and a rescheduling fee applies after three days; encounters are weather-dependent so bring layered clothing and expect outdoor footing that can be uneven and potentially muddy. Families with young naturalists find this format rewarding because interaction time is measured and guided, photo opportunities are abundant without crowds, and children over five can participate directly while minors must be accompanied by a paying adult, which keeps supervision consistent and reduces stress for both animals and families alike. For travelers based in Murray or passing through southeastern Nebraska, the encounter offers a compact wildlife learning stop that complements regional outdoor activities: nearby hiking, riverside birding and small-town cultural sites make a half-day visit easy to plan, especially for visitors seeking hands-on animal education rather than passive viewing options. Scatter Joy Acres emphasizes welfare and education over spectacle: encounters are structured to avoid animal overstimulation, staff restrict unscheduled access to ambassador enclosures, and educational encounters are the only route for hands-on time, allowing the property to maintain both a small-farm atmosphere and professional animal care standards for visitors' benefit. Plan to book in advance via the provided reservation link, arrive on time to maximize your hour, bring a camera with a quick shutter for playful otter movements, and leave with new questions about species connections, local conservation, and the everyday work that keeps unusual animal ambassadors healthy and engaged.