For Your Kids / Wildlife Up Close

America’s Teaching Zoo (7075 Campus Road, Moorpark, [805] 378-1441). Shows about animal habitats, nutrition and training. Animals include sea lions, porcupines, primates, lions, tigers, birds, reptiles and others. Reservations required on weekdays. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Weekend shows every hour from noon-3 p.m. Adults $4; senior citizens, $3; children 2-12, $2.

* Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro, [310] 548-7563). Tidepool touch tank with starfish, sea anemones, mussels, sea urchins and more. Open on the half-hours during the week and at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. on weekends. Aquarium hours: weekends 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tue.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Suggested donation: adults, $2; children and seniors, $1.

* Exotic Feline Breeding Compound’s Feline Conservation Center (11 miles north of Lancaster in Rosemond. Call for directions. [805] 256-3332). Free tours of a breeding facility that houses more than 50 endangered cats including cougars, leopards and jaguars. Open daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Wed. Free.

* The Farm (8101 Tampa Ave., Reseda, [818] 341-6805). Kids can get up close to more than 100 farm animals including cows, sheep, ducks, goats and ducks. Also the home of Daisy the Cow of the TV show “Home Improvement.” Open weekends and holidays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., weekdays by appointment only. Admission: $3. Pony rides, $3.

* Moonridge Animal Park (43285 Goldmine Drive, Big Bear Lake, [909] 866-0183). Park features wildlife native to North America including a grizzly bear mother and her two babies, wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, skunks, birds of prey and a snow leopard. Animals are at the facility because they have been orphaned, injured or are rehabilitating for release back into the wild. Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults, $2.50; children 3-10, $1.50., children 2 and under, free. Noon animal presentations daily and 3 p.m.; feeding tours daily except Wed.

* Wildlife Waystation (14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Road, Angeles National Forest, [818] 899-5201). Walking tours of 160-acre sanctuary for more than 1,100 animals including African lions, mountain lions, Siberian tigers, primates, reptiles and bears in fenced-in enclosures. Open for tours first Sunday of the month by reservation. Tours are given every hour on the hour from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults, $9; children 3-11 and seniors, $4.