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(UPDATE: May 26, 2020) - People in the Kelowna area will soon be able to enjoy one of the region's most loved attractions.
Kangaroo Creek Farm is officially opening this Sunday, and will be following strict COVID-19 measures to keep visitors and staff safe.
Hours will be 10 am to 3 pm, seven days a week. For a full list of procedures in place, see the farm's Facebook post below, or visit their website.
Kangaroo Creek Farm has moved, and is now located at 5932 Old Vernon Road.
(Original story: May 12, 2020)
The Kangaroo Creek Farm has been a popular tourist destination and a local favourite for years, and while they would normally have been open already, the farm is not accepting visitors right now.
People in the Okanagan region are hopeful that some of their favourite attractions will be able to open this summer, like the drive in theatre in Enderby.
Caroline MacPherson, owner and operator of the Kangaroo Creek Farm, says that they’ve had a lot of people asking about their opening date.
However, fans of the farm will have to wait until the end of the month, or longer, to visit the wallabies and peacocks and kangaroos.
“In the interest of being especially cautious, we are going to wait until after the Order of the Provincial Health Officer, regarding places where people tend to gather, expires on May 30th,” says MacPherson.
“There is the possibility that the order might be renewed. If that happens, then we might delay still further, or restrict the number of people coming into the farm.”
If they are able to open at the end of the month, she says they won’t have to limit their capacity to 50 people, but they will self-regulate.
“The number of people allowed in will be based on effective social distancing,” she explained. “If we think it's getting too crowded, then we'll have to start an in-out system. As people leave, other people will be allowed in.”
One other change includes the handling of some animals.
The farm usually allows people to hold the birds, sugar gliders and reptiles, but this season they will be on display only.
MacPherson says that the risk to the animals is low, as transmission from people to animals is very rare. Still, people will be required to wash their hands prior to entering the pasture, and will have the opportunity to wash their hands at intervals while they are in the pasture.
The farm is working on a safe operating plan for WorkSafe BC in regards to keeping their employees as safe as possible, as well as their visitors.
MacPherson says there’s plenty of room for people to physically distance at the farm, and people waiting at admissions, washrooms or at pastures will be made to keep their distance from other families.
There will also be a plexiglass screen between the person accepting payment at the entrance and guests. And, the farm is now accepting debit and credit.
MacPherson says they expect people to behave in the same way they would when they are out and about in the community – They should assume that everything they touch is contaminated, and not touch their face.
Since gloves are a potential choking hazard to the animals, people will not be allowed to wear gloves at the farm. Face masks, however, will be optional for visitors and mandatory for staff members that cannot effectively maintain proper distancing.
MacPherson also says that visitors should expect playground equipment to be off-limits. Picnic tables will still be available and will be wiped down regularly.
It’s also important to note that people who have travelled in the past two weeks, or people who are sick will be denied entry.
“It's really up to the visiting public to decide whether or not the farm meets their personal safety parameters, and whether or not they can effectively keep their children by their side,” adds MacPherson.
“Personally, I think it's obvious that those who are vulnerable to infection such as the elderly or immunocompromised should avoid gatherings of any kind. People who live with someone vulnerable, or who work with the vulnerable, should also avoid gatherings.”
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