CALL OF THE WILD REAL CROUCHING TIGERS, BEARS AWAIT FEARLESS KIDS IN L.A. HILLS.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

Taking a break from the classroom for a field trip is always a treat for students, and when the trip involves an up-close visit with lions, tigers and bears - oh, my! - it can make for quite an exciting excursion.

Third-grade students from Mitchell Community School in Canyon Country recently took such an outing to the Wildlife Waystation in Lake View Terrace. After being closed for several months, the refuge for exotic animals reopened in December and is admitting groups from schools and other organizations for guided tours.

Founder and director Martine Colette started rescuing animals on her ranch in the 1960s and opened the facility in 1976 as a permanent sanctuary for homeless exotic animals, such as tigers, and a temporary shelter for native animals that can be released back into the wild.

In addition to rescuing animals, one of the primary missions of the Waystation is educating the public, Colette said.

``We do as many school tours as we can possibly fit into our schedule,'' she said. ``In addition to teaching kids love and respect for all animals, we want to teach them that wild animals belong in the wild, and they don't make good pets.''

Many of the animals at the facility were once owned by people who bought them as pets, only to find that, for example, the cute little tiger cub had grown into a huge and potentially dangerous animal, Colette said.

``We also take (native) animals that people find who have been injured. We nurse them back to health and release them back into the wild,'' she said.

In addition to lions, tigers, bears and baboons, the Wildlife Waystation houses a variety of animals including coyotes, wolves and mountain lions. At the end of their tour, the Mitchell students visited the petting zoo where they fed carrots to llamas, goats and pigs.

``Kids like to touch, so our children's petting zoo is always a favorite,'' Colette said.

On weekends, the sanctuary has stage presentations, and some children in the audience are chosen to participate in activities such as holding a 20-foot python.

``The kids always love that. It produces a lot of different responses, but generally they are just in awe,'' Colette said.

The public can tour on the first and third Sundays of the month at a cost of $12 for general admission, $6 for children 3 through 11 and $9 for senior citizens. Reservations are required and can be made by calling [phone].

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(1 -- also ran in AV edition) A tiger looks back at visitors to the Wildlife Waystation.

(2 -- 3 -- 2 -- also ran in AV edition) Third-graders from Mitchell Community School in Canyon Country are surrounded by homeless exotic animals and area wildlife awaiting return to their natural habitat after healing. At left, a coyote looks out from his refuge at the Wildlife Waystation.