Looking for a fun, meaningful way to treat your pet this holiday season? At Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, enrichment is part of everyday care, and something you can bring home to your own animals.
“Enrichment encourages natural behaviors, keeps animals mentally and physically active, and helps them thrive,” explains Lacey Zeno, Curator of Ambassador Animals, who oversees the Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater. “It’s one of the best gifts you can give an animal, whether it’s a zoo resident or your pet at home.”
Around the zoo, animals get all types of enrichment. No matter the species, the same three guiding principles apply:
- What is a natural behavior you hope to see your animal doing more often?
- Can the opportunity be safely offered?
- Is the opportunity beneficial to the animal?
- Encourage Natural Behaviors
Enrichment works best when it taps into an animal’s natural behaviors, like chewing, sniffing, digging, climbing, and shredding.
At the zoo, meerkats get bags or tubs filled with dried bugs, crinkly paper and lightweight items they can dig through. Beavers enjoy fresh browse or big blocks of wood that encourage gnawing and exploration. Rocket the dog works on puzzle feeders stuffed with small treats or frozen broth to encourage him to use his nose to get to his food. Clouded leopards or other feline ambassadors may receive various scents, feathers, or scratchable surfaces to allow them to do natural behaviors like smelling or scratching.
For pets, Lacey recommends:
- Raw bones or sturdy chew toys to encourage natural chewing behavior
- Shreddable cardboard to encourage shredding or scratching behavior
- Simple puzzle feeders for pets learning to use their noses
- Homemade options like fleece braids or rice paper “treat balls” to teach animals to interact with items in new ways
“Start easy and build up as your pet gains confidence,” Lacey says. “You want them to feel successful and get lots of chances to try using new parts of their bodies or their environment.”
- Is it Safe?
“Safety is always something we consider when offering any enrichment item,” says Lacey. Every enrichment item at the zoo is reviewed by a staff biologist and curator before animals ever lay paws, claws or noses on it.
For pet owners, Lacey recommends asking yourself a few key questions before offering anything new:
- Could this item be swallowed or cause choking?
- Are there holes where paws or snouts could get stuck?
- Can pieces be chewed off too easily?
- Will your pet need supervision the first few times?
“Even simple things can become unsafe if a pet gets overly excited or doesn’t know how to use them yet,” she adds.
- How does this new opportunity benefit my pet?
Holiday treats are fun, but Lacey emphasizes that quality matters, both for the enrichment item and whatever goes inside it.
“Remember that you’re trying to encourage your animal to learn or do natural behaviors,” Lacey adds. “Make sure you’re creating opportunities for your pet to do things their bodies were made to do.”
Puzzle feeders remain a favorite for many Wild Wonders animals, from Rocket the dog to Gonzo the tamandua.
“It helps encourage the animals in our care to use their noses, their paws and their natural behavior to find smells, treats or even their normal diet.”
For your own pet, the classic sturdy rubber toys are a great starting point. Even the way you present your pet’s regular food can be enriching.
“Try freezing some kibble in an ice tray or scattering it in a cardboard box so they have to forage for it. It adds both mental and physical activity to a routine moment.”
A Gift That Truly Enriches
While you’re decking the halls and wrapping gifts this season, consider making or buying an enrichment item for your four-legged (or furry, scaly, or feathery) family members, too. Happy holidays and happy enriching!