Noah's Landing planning special Mother's Day event

On May 7 and May 8, the public is invited to explore the farm and participate in some special activities such as ZooToo parlor and craft tables. The fee for all visitors is the normal children's admission rate of $8. And moms are free with a paying child.

Kids will get to feed carrots to the zoo's llamas, donkeys and zebra or touch some of, what they call the zoo's most "kid-tested animals," including the fennec fox, American alligator, armadillo, ball python and giant Flemish rabbit. A family play zone will include outdoor toys, a dino dig station where kids can make fossil replicas and a station where they can plant their own flower or seed for mom.

There will be pony rides on Saturday and wagon rides on Sunday (additional fees required for those). The Wildlife Rescue Center in Sanford also will bring out some raptors on Sunday.

And this year, Noah's Landing is celebrating some moms of their own. One of its African serval cats recently gave birth to two kittens. They also have a baby donkey and just uncovered a nest of tortoise shells. I'm told you'll be able to see the serval kittens and watch them eat, though you won't be able to touch them.

Noah’s Landing is home to more than 60 species of animals, including kinkajou, African crested porcupines, wallaby, and African crowned crane. The zoo also offers field trips, family tours, birthday parties, and a hands‐on summer Junior Zookeeper camp for kids from 6 to 14 years old.

Hours for the Mother's Day event are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 8.

Noah's Landing is at 1489 Live Oak Rd. in Coats and off Exit 319 from Interstate 40. It sits at the crossroads of Johnston and Harnett counties and is about an hour or so from the Triangle.