Matt Crabtree, owner of Nomads Animal Encounter in Seminole, Oklahoma, didn’t originally set out to run an exotic animal rescue. “I actually went to college for marine biology. I thought I was going to be working with ocean animals.” But life took a turn. “My wife is actually from Holdenville and we started off just rescuing animals that got displaced from their homes.” What began with dogs and cats quickly expanded into donkeys, lambs, and eventually exotics like coatimundis and wallabies. After a viral Facebook post from a birthday party on their property, Matt says, “We quit our full-time jobs the next day, and this is what we’ve done ever since.”
Today, Nomads is home to a staggering array of animals. “We have coyotes, wolves, foxes, bobcats, and 47 foxes that live here full time. We have deer, yaks, emus, turkeys, raccoons, and three different species of monkeys.” Despite this range, they draw a line at dangerous apex predators. “We just don’t do any of the big crazy animals because we live right across the street from a school… we don’t need anybody getting eaten that sneaks over.”
Education is a significant part of Matt’s mission, particularly in dispelling myths about exotic pets. “Most of our animals are rescued, donated, confiscated or surrendered exotic pets.” He warns, “People get these exotic pets thinking it’s going to make them cool… and it could not be further from the truth.” Foxes, for instance, are “the most commonly rehomed exotic pet in North America,” largely due to their odor. “Red foxes they used to actually use their urine in stink bombs.” Even litter training fails: “It will literally run you out of your house.”
Matt educates the public on wildlife dynamics that even many landowners don’t understand. “If you start trying to take out the whole pack of coyotes she can actually do what’s called compensative reproduction.” He explains, “A female coyote can… reproduce up to 13 in areas where there’s low competition.” And worse, “those younger generation coyotes tend to be a lot more wild and ferocious” than the older ones they replaced. The lesson? “Pick off the coyotes going after the calves, not just any you see.”
Unlike a traditional zoo, Nomads gives visitors the chance to engage closely with animals. “You’re walking in there amongst the wolves amongst the foxes 15–16 deer walking around you.” With tour guides providing insight, “They teach you about the animals what you can do to help conservation and the animal’s personal background.” Matt emphasizes, “It is not just playtime. It is a really cool educational experience.”
Nomads hosts school trips, church groups, scouts, and homeschoolers. “We can accommodate about 50 people at max but we mostly keep group sizes at 10 or less.” As for booking, “Definitely by messaging us on Facebook or TikTok Don’t call the phone. I’m not going to answer.” With only six staff, the operation runs on passion and hard work, not corporate polish. “People see our following and think we’re a huge organization. We are not.”
Matt doesn’t shy away from the realities of wildlife. “Zebras cause more injuries on their caretakers than any other two animal species combined.” Even sweet-seeming creatures pose risk. “We got a water buffalo… he dislocated my shoulder and cracked some of my ribs just from playing with me.” He sums it up bluntly: “Unless you’ve been in the trenches with them there’s so many weird, random things you just wouldn’t expect.” His advice to would-be exotic animal owners? “Do not buy these things. You do not need them. You cannot keep them.”
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