In Indiana, when Bud was a young boy of about 8 years old, he had a "sort of zoo" in the backyard. His mother Rosemary tells me that he'd bring kids home from school to see his little zoo. His sister Lee Anne says that when Bud was 15 he traded the family beagle for a monkey. When asked if they got the beagle back, his mom said "It was a mean bitey critter and they didn't know how he even managed to trade it"!! Aunt June just laughed and nodded her head to confirm the beagle's temperament.

In 1971-72 Bud worked at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. He was a caretaker learning hands-on knowledge, requirements for animal care, various habitats, and nutritional specifications.

In 1974 Bud moved to Wallace, Michigan and began what is now the DeYoung Family Zoo.

Working with the Michigan Natural Resources, Bud started taking white tail deer, black bears, orphaned raccoons, and other critters. If they became too human oriented, they could not be released back into the wild. His backyard once again became a "sort of zoo".

In 1984 Bud's first big cat arrived from the Humane Society, a 6 month old mountain lion. He had, by then, obtained a license for rehab services through the DNR. In 1985, Bud obtained USDA requirement license for carnivores. In 1998 the U.S. Department of the Interior recognized him. Prerequisites of licensing proved genetics of 3 species of his big cats.

He currently has Siberian and Bengal Tigers (one white), African Lions, Leopards, Cougars, and a Bobcat and those are just the cats!!!

The DeYoung Family Zoo is inspected regularly. Four unannounced visits yearly are expected. Compliance inspection includes checking the programs of veterinary care, safety precautions, food storage methods, enclosures are inspected, acquisitioms and depositions checked {selling, trading, or getting a new animal}. As of 2004, the last seven visits proved absolutely no infractions.

Currently there are 10 acres developed, out of a possible 80. In addition to the big cats, other areas and enclosures include the Wolves, Bears, Camel, Z-Donk, Emus, horses, goats, Pot Bellied Pigs, Pecocks, Swan, Geese, Bennetts Wallabies {and a Joey peeking out of mama's pouch!}, Coyotes, baby Coatimundi {named Tuesday and Wednesday}, a baby camel Carson who dotes over the baby Yak {sometimes you think Carson has 8 legs the way they stick together!!} and other animals in the various petting zoo areas. These are always changing and new babies are arriving all the time.

Michigan University has had students doing internship work at DeYoung's. Several volunteers from various areas help weekly during summer hours to maintain the Zoo and give guided tours to the visitors.
Bud makes no profit on the Zoo, with all the proceeds going into feeding and caring for the animals. It is only run by the donations of benefactors, admission paid by visitors, and the assistance of the volunteers.

Cost to feed the animals is estimated to be over $1000.00 weekly. New enclosures are always needed, as are supplies to build them, and supplies for the animals.

His current major project is heating the building for the reptiles {those gators are getting way too big to keep in the house in the winter!!}. For more details on how you can help out with this project, please visit our "Wish List" page on the links below.