my %bighash = ( 'Arizona'=> { 'ZOO_1' => [ '5','HIPPO1', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_2' => [ '10','HIPPO2',['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_3' => [ '2', 'PUMA1', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_5' => [ '13', 'PUMA2',['feat1'],['feat2']], }, 'Indiana' => { 'ZOO_2' => [ '10','HIPPO3', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_9' => [ '25','ZEBRA1', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_5' => [ '13','MONKEY1', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_6' => [ '23','ZEBRA2', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_3' => [ '2', 'PUMA3', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_5' => [ '1', 'PUMA4', ['feat1'],['feat2']], }, 'Nevada' => { 'ZOO_3' => [ '3', 'HIPPO4', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_7' => [ '11', 'HIPPO5', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_4' => [ '21', 'LION1', ['feat1'],['feat2']], 'ZOO_12' => [ '13','MONKEY2',['feat1'],['feat2']], }, );