A major Oklahoma roadside attraction has been ordered to immediately cease all animal-related operations following a federal emergency order. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a strict 21-day license suspension to the Arbuckle Wilderness Park in Davis, citing a comprehensive failure to maintain federal minimum standards under the Animal Welfare Act.
The regulatory action, issued in an official letter from the USDA, effectively grounds the drive-thru safari park’s commercial business. During the three-week emergency suspension window, the facility, its management, and all employees are legally prohibited from buying, selling, transporting, or exhibiting any animals regulated under federal law.
The administrative action follows a series of compliance failures detailed by federal inspectors. According to the USDA enforcement letter, the park failed, at least once, to conduct mandatory daily health observations of its exotic livestock, leaving animal health and well-being unassessed.
Federal authorities outlined several critical infrastructure and care deficiencies at the Murray County attraction, including:
- Structural Failures: Animal enclosures and physical facilities were found to be structurally unsound or inadequately maintained, presenting direct safety risks to the animals.
- Climate Protection Deficiencies: Management failed to implement proper environmental safeguards to shield animals from extreme local climate conditions.
- Nutritional Neglect: Diets provided at the facility were not properly formulated or prepared to meet the specific requirements of the animals based on their age, species, physical condition, size, or type.
- Sanitation Risks: The park failed to execute proper pest control measures necessary to protect the animal population from insects and parasites.
The emergency suspension serves as a temporary halt to operations while legal proceedings move forward. Under USDA administrative rules, the ownership of Arbuckle Wilderness Park has been granted the right to appeal the federal decision, provided the request is filed within the 21-day suspension window.
