'Animals Are Suffering' At Olympic Peninsula Zoo, Lawsuit Claims

SEQUIM, WA - Endangered animals living at a drive-through zoo near Sequim are "suffering" in cramped, squalid conditions, according to a new lawsuit filed by a California animals rights group.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund sued the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim in federal court this week. The game farm has gained fame for its waving grizzly bears and exotic predators like wolves, lions, and tigers.

The suit alleges that animals are being harmed in violation of the Endangered Species Act. The ALDF provided photographs to Patch of a grizzly bear with a large gash across its back and a Bengal tiger being kept in a small cage.

"The veterinarians observed outward behavior manifestations of severe stress among the animals and noted the often inadequate size of the enclosures, the lack of companionship, the aggressive nature of certain animals, and the safety risk it created," the lawsuit says.

One of the strangest parts of the lawsuit highlights the practice of feeding bread to animals. Visitors can buy whole loaves at the entrance and toss bread slices to animals. The ALDF claims this practice is not monitored, and might be putting the animals' health at risk.

We have reached out to the Olympic Game Farm for comment. We will update this story if we hear back.

The suit also alleges that the game farm is operating in violation of Washington state animal protection laws. The zoo keeps Roosevelt elk, according to the suit, which is not allowed in Washington by zoos not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

This isn't the first time the game farm has been scrutinized.

In 2006, the Animal Protection Institute complained about conditions in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In 2015, then Northwest Animal Rights Network board president Rachel Bjork told the Huffington Post of the game farm: “We’ve received a lot of complaints over the years."

In response, Robert Beebe, president of the Olympic Game Farm board of directors, told the Huffington Post that each predator has 200 square feet of space visible to the public, but another 2,000 square feet of space that's not visible.

In a 2004 inspection report, the USDA found multiple violations at the game farm, including that a tiger was euthanized by being shot to death. Bear enclosures were seen rusting, risking a bear escape, according to the USDA.

"[In an enclosure for] a bear named "'Roscoe,' there is extensive heavy rust buildup on the cyclone fencing. Excess rust may indicate deterioration of the fence and can compromise the integrity of the enclosure to a point where it can no longer contain the animal," the inspection report read.

Some visitors have observed poor conditions at the zoo, according to online reviews.

"We went to the game farm this afternoon and felt nothing but saddened at the conditions that the animals were living in. We felt guilty for having patronized an establishment that keeps animals in such poor conditions," one TripAdvisor review reads.

The ALDF wants a federal judge to remove the animals from the game farm's custody, and appoint a monitor to re-home the animals in accredited facilities.