GRAY — The Maine Wildlife Park on Route 26 in Gray will open for the 2011 season on Friday, April 15, just in time for school vacation week.

There still is some deep snow in shaded areas, the parking lot may be a bit soft, and all of the nature trails may not be open, but for the most part the park is ready to start the season.

Visitors will be enjoying the six new small mammal exhibits featuring porcupines, fisher, woodchuck, raccoon, skunk and opossum. Under construction this year is a new mountain lion exhibit, funded by the Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park.

The free, guided audio tour of the park’s exhibits accessible via visitors’  personal cell phones has been updated for 2011. Last year, more than 7,100 people dialed in to hear more about our wildlife. After dialing the access number, 228-1700, a short recording gives fun wildlife facts, information and history about the individual animals visitors are watching.

The kick-off day for our summer event schedule is May 7, with a Bear Bonanza. Full-size mounts of a black bear and grizzly bear will be exhibited, and there will even a polar bear rug and other polar artifacts. Bear mascots Kennebago Bear and Smokey Bear will be available for photos. A Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife bear biologist will have the tools used to manage Maine’s black bear population, and chainsaw artist Tim Picket will be carving a bear from a 10-foot tall standing white pine tree trunk in the picnic area.

The Maine Wildlife Park is owned and operated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The park has more than 30 species of native wildlife on display, plus wildlife gardens, nature trails, a fish hatchery and other interactive exhibits and displays. The park is open daily through Nov. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors must leave the premises by 6 p.m.

Admission to the park is free for ages 3 and under; $5 for ages 5-12; $7 for adults, and $5 for seniors. Groups of 15 or more are $3.50 per person. Family and community season passes are available.

For more information, call the Maine Wildlife Park at 657-4977 or visit www.mainewildlifepark.com, www.mefishwildlife.com or on Facebook.