Deer Haven Mini Zoo, a roadside zoo located at 12312 Detour Rd, Keymar, MD 21757 Keymar, Maryland, owned by Bradly Gerwig, received a notice of intent to sue for violating the federal Endangered Species Ac (ESA) and state cruelty laws. Gerwig has 60 days from the day he received the notice to respond to the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s notice.
The roadside zoo has been accused of housing animals who are suffering in cruel conditions. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection reports, the zoo has had multiple violations filed during routine inspections. Some of the findings include a repeat sanitation offense which includes a buildup of feces and excreta in a rabbit’s cage. Fresh rat holes were observed in the area along the perimeter fence line behind he coati and arctic fox enclosures.
Federal inspections cite the roadside zoo for multiple violations regarding the lemurs (endangered species) including the lack of an enrichment plan to promote the psychological well-being of the animals, which is mandatory for non-human primates under the Animal Welfare Act, and persistent sanitation issues around their enclosure. Red ants have been found in and around the lemurs’ food supply, and there are fresh rat holes in their enclosure and throughout the zoo property.
Rust was found in the water bowls of the lemur cage and also a buildup of hair and material was found on their perch. Insufficient gates were found in the goat and highland cow enclosures.
The same U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection reports identify numerous animals with injuries or in poor health including a bobcat, cavy, and coatimundi. Additionally, the facility itself is in poor condition, posing a public safety hazard.
The zoo has been in existence since 1987 and currently has two employees. According to the inspection report, the zoo doesn’t have a sufficient number of employees to carry out the day to day husbandry duties and maintenance on the property and enclosures. Additional personnel is needed to ensure that cleaning, maintenance, and pest control duties are performed at an appropriate frequency for the number of animals housed at the facility. It currently houses 50 regulated and non-regulated animals.
Deer Haven’s other recent AWA violations include failing to provide animals with adequate veterinary care, failing to store food properly, and failing to address animals’ abnormal behavior, which indicates psychological distress.
According to the ALDF, there is video footage reveals seriously ill animals, some vomiting and suffering from diarrhea. A mother artic fox was filmed struggling to breathe or move while her pups walked around her. (I do not have the footage.)
This isn’t the first time an animal organization has tried to close Deer Haven’s doors. PETA claims it helped to transfer a bear, Lily, who was allegedly housed in a tiny enclosure at Deer Haven to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado in 2017. PETA also claims it has offered to move the other animals to other sanctuaries at no cost to the to Gerwig. The Animal Legal Defense Fund has made the same offer and so far, Gerwin has not accepted either offer.
Gerwig started the roadside zoo when he acquired white-tailed fawns (as a hobby) and began collecting animals which became more exotic along the way. Gerwig claimed in the 1991 article, he is not sentimental about the animals. Once he and his wife acquired the animals, he felt prompted to open his land to the public and charge admittance. The zoo currently has a revenue of $70,502 annually.
If Gerwig does nothing about this latest notice, the ALDF will move forward to file a suit under both federal and state law. The notice letter identifies both violations of the Endangered Species Act the Maryland state criminal code, causing suffering of both endangered and non-endangered animals.
A protest is being held Sunday, May 6th, in front of Deer Haven Mini-Zoo. PETA organizers are in charge of it.
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer, and an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the television show, “A Close Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her tripawd, Brody, who was a formerly abused pup who lost his leg because of cruelty inflicted upon him. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and be sure to check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com.
This needs to be closed down ASAP. Animals live in deplorable conditions. Why haven’t these animals been removed before now? Why haven’t they been charged with animal cruelty in the past? Why were they still allowed to stay open? It seems they’ve been allowed to operate all these years without penalties. Why haven’t animal control officer site at them for animal cruelty why does it take the ALDF to do something about this?
Or PETAand the ALDF on the same team or are they competing against each other to see who can do more or get more notoriety from this case? Kind of strange for PETAto be holding a protest after the ALDF served a notice to the zoo.
Gerwin doesn’t seem to care about the welfare of the animals. They’re there to make him and his wife money.
Close this zoo!
Not all roadside zoos are bad. Deer Haven sounds bad but is it? That is the question.
I enjoyed your article. Why do people have to mistreat animals so much?
Get those animals out of there!
I hate almost all roadside zoos. Keeping animals crammed into small areas is cruel. No better than other zoos. They should be closed! Has Deer Have closed its doors?
I like the article
This is really useful, thanks.