MURRAY FARM FIELD GUIDE
Spiky & Snuggly: A Close-Up Hour with Capybara and Porcupine at Scatter Joy Acres
A one-hour, staff-led encounter in Murray, Nebraska offering up-close time with a capybara and a porcupine — plus access to other animal ambassadors — for guests ages 5 and up.
Spiky & Snuggly: A Close-Up Hour with Capybara and Porcupine at Scatter Joy Acres.
On a tidy acre in Murray, Nebraska, Scatter Joy Acres stages intimate, educational encounters that pair the calm sociality of a capybara with the surprising quiet of a porcupine. The program is framed as a private, guided experience where small groups meet animal ambassadors, learn about behavior and care from trained staff, and then continue to explore the property on their own.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Meet the capybara and porcupine — and other ambassadors
The encounter centers on a close, guided introduction to a capybara and a porcupine, with the opportunity to see other resident ambassadors such as sloths, kangaroos, otters, and a bushbaby as part of the experience.
Small-group, keeper-led walkthrough
Each tour is led by a knowledgeable zookeeper who provides an overview, guided tour of the property, hands-on or observational time with animals, and a closing Q&A — all delivered to a private group setting.
Calm, educational, family-friendly setting
The program emphasizes respectful interaction and learning in a peaceful environment, designed to create lasting memories while supporting animal care and wellbeing.
What the day feels like
What the hour feels like
The hour unfolds like a compact, carefully paced classroom in the field: arrive and check in, meet your guide for a brief orientation, then move through curated stops where keepers introduce individual animals and the stories behind their care. Guests spend scheduled, supervised time up close with the capybara and porcupine, have chances to ask questions during a closing Q&A, and leave with time to explore the rest of the property at their leisure.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this encounter suits — and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The encounter is scheduled for one hour; please arrive 10–15 minutes early to check in.
Wear closed-toe shoes (no open-toe shoes or Crocs). Feed buckets for barnyard animals are available for purchase on-site for $10 per bucket.
Meet at Scatter Joy Acres — 4107 Waverly Rd, Murray, NE 68409 — and check in at the designated arrival area.
Bookings can be rescheduled up to 24 hours before your scheduled tour without penalty; rescheduling after that incurs a $25 fee. Cancellations are not eligible for refunds, and encounters may be changed or cancelled due to weather.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What is the minimum age to participate?
Children must be at least 5 years old to take part in the encounter; anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult and each child requires their own paid admission.
How long is the encounter?
The guided encounter lasts one hour.
Where do I meet the group?
The meeting location is 4107 Waverly Rd, Murray, NE 68409.
Are there group size limits?
Yes. Group size is limited to six people to keep the experience private and manageable for staff and animals.
What is the footwear policy?
Closed-toe shoes are required; open-toe shoes and Crocs are not permitted.
What is the cancellation and rescheduling policy?
Bookings can be rescheduled up to 24 hours before your scheduled tour. After that time a $25 rescheduling fee applies. The operator does not offer refunds for cancelled bookings. Encounters may be changed or cancelled due to weather.