PRINEVILLE — As I entered the enclosure, I was surrounded by curious kangaroos waving their noses at me and gently placing their front paws on my legs. The animals were smaller than I expected kangaroos to be — even when standing on their hind legs, none of them were taller than my hip.

“These are the females,” said Linda Rose Forney, who founded Gramma Roses Petting Zoo with her husband in 2017.

Forney handed me a bottle of milk, which I held out for one of the kangaroos. One marsupial wrapped its dexterous forepaws around the bottle as it sucked, holding it securely in place.

Then I met Charlotte, the first kangaroo to join the petting zoo at seven months old in 2018. She was carrying a joey (a baby kangaroo) inside her pouch, which Forney stretched open. I peered inside to see a hairless pink baby kangaroo lying on its back, extending its tiny paws back and forth, its eyes closed.

“They are pretty enchanting. They are magical creatures,” Forney said.

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Forney’s love for the animals on her farm is readily apparent. As we toured the property, she continuously shared details about the personalities, medical histories and names of the creatures, while stopping to dole out hugs, pets, kisses and sometimes snacks.

“I know every single little mark and mannerism,” she said of the kangaroos.

Gramma Roses Petting Zoo is home to more animals, birds and insects than Forney can count. In addition to macropods such as kangaroos and wallabies, there’s a porcupine named Lucinda, a Chinese Meisha pig named Daisy and an emu that wanders around the property. There are also reptiles, birds, insects and one of the farm’s most recent additions — an armadillo.

The operation is a true mom-and-pop shop, with Forney fielding reservations while keeping an eye on the animals and hosting tours all at the same time.

It’s a highly unusual experience for Central Oregon, with an opportunity to get up close and personal with the nonnative and exotic animals.

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Tours help to keep the operation up and running and are held at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and reservations are required. To book, call or text 503-460-7908.

If You Go

What: Gramma Roses Petting Zoo tours

When: 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday

Where: 13737 SE Shawnee Road, Prineville

Cost: $15 per person, 2 and younger free

Contact: grammaroseszoo.com, 503-460-7908