Can You Hold a Sloth in
Florida?
It is one of the most searched questions about animal experiences: can you hold a sloth in Florida? The honest answer, at least at Chase Sanctuary in Webster, FL, is that the question is slightly beside the point.
Genuinely Wild
Chase Sanctuary follows World Association of Zoos and Aquariums welfare standards, which means interactions with sloths are always on the animals' terms. Sloths are sensitive to handling and are not animals that particularly enjoy being held by strangers.
What you do get at Chase Sanctuary is up-close access in a habitat environment -- a sloth moving through its space while you are nearby, occasionally choosing to investigate, occasionally ignoring you completely. That authentic, unforced encounter is genuinely more memorable than a forced photo op at a facility that cares more about your Instagram than the animal's wellbeing.
Book Your Experience →"That authentic, unforced encounter is genuinely more memorable than a forced photo op at a facility that cares more about your Instagram than the animal's wellbeing."— Location Details
Address: 6127 SE 122nd Blvd, Webster, FL 33597
Signature Experiences
Discover the encounters that make Chase Sanctuary unforgettable.
$125/person | Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays at 11AM
An intimate private tour centered on the lemur troop. Get up close, learn about their endangered status, and experience these remarkable primates firsthand. Chase Sanctuary's most popular experience.
Book Lemur & Friends Private Tour$75/person | Saturdays at 12:30PM
A guided group tour through the sanctuary with interactive animal encounters. The most accessible experience -- ideal for families, birthday parties, and first-time visitors.
Book Interactive Group Tour$250/person | By appointment, private
Chase Sanctuary's most comprehensive experience. A private, guided deep-dive with multiple animal interactions, behind-the-scenes access, and connections with the sanctuary's most beloved residents.
Book The Ultimate VIP ExperienceAdd-On Encounters
Add-On Encounters (+$75 each)
Sloth / Anteater Add-On
Up-close time with gentle sloths or anteaters -- always on the animal's own terms.
Otter Feeding Add-On
Hand-feed Chase Sanctuary's playful otters and watch them at their most energetic.
About Chase Sanctuary
Chase Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife sanctuary in Webster, FL dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation of endangered primates and exotic animals.
The sanctuary operates on WAZA welfare standards. Animal interactions are never forced.
Every dollar from your booking goes directly to animal care and conservation. No animals from Chase Sanctuary have ever been sold as pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can you hold a sloth at Chase Sanctuary in Florida?
A: Chase Sanctuary follows WAZA welfare standards and does not offer forced holding interactions with sloths. Interactions are on the animals' own terms. Guests get close, up-close access to sloths in their habitat environment.
Q2: Is there a place in Florida where you can hold a sloth?
A: Most reputable wildlife sanctuaries in Florida, including Chase Sanctuary, follow welfare-first standards that do not include forced holding. Chase Sanctuary's Sloth / Anteater Add-On provides genuine up-close access without compromising the animals' wellbeing.
Q3: Why doesn't Chase Sanctuary allow holding sloths?
A: Chase Sanctuary follows World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) guidelines, which prioritize animal welfare above guest preferences. Sloths are sensitive animals for whom handling is stressful. Interactions at Chase are designed to be positive for the animal and the guest.
Q4: What does the Sloth / Anteater Add-On at Chase Sanctuary include?
A: The Sloth / Anteater Add-On ($50) provides dedicated up-close time with the sanctuary's resident sloths or anteaters. The interaction is on the animals' own terms. It is available as an add-on to most base experiences at Chase Sanctuary.
Q5: How do I book a sloth encounter at Chase Sanctuary in Florida?
A: Book any base experience at chasesanctuary.org/chase-animal-experiences and add the Sloth / Anteater Add-On during booking. The Lemur & Friends Private Tour and Interactive Group Tour are both strong base experiences to pair with it.