The animals that are used for classes and programs are kept in cages in the indoor portion of the wildlife center, located in one of the museum's lower levels. These areas are not as roomy as the exhibits outside in the Perkins Wildlife Center and Woods Garden.
The wildlife staff must therefore work hard to give all of the animals housed indoors a chance to stretch their legs by allowing them access to one of the large "enrichment cages." The wildlife specialists custom design the spaces for each individual species. For example, an enrichment cage (e-cage for short) for a groundhog may have numerous tubs of mulch and dirt in which to dig and tunnels made out of PVC pipes. An e-cage for a turtle might have water tubs, rocks, branches and other greenery, and interesting scents.
The above video shows Willow and Lilac, the baby skunks, enjoying the extra space of a toy-filled e-cage by running and playing. The video below showcases an e-cage set up for Dora the opossum, complete with plenty of high branches to climb and a rope-and-log swing!
There is also an outdoor e-cage for the animals to get sunlight and fresh air. The snakes and turtles particularly enjoy basking in the sunshine on warm days. Eddie the groundhog is pictured below having a ball in the outdoor enrichment cage.
The wildlife staff must therefore work hard to give all of the animals housed indoors a chance to stretch their legs by allowing them access to one of the large "enrichment cages." The wildlife specialists custom design the spaces for each individual species. For example, an enrichment cage (e-cage for short) for a groundhog may have numerous tubs of mulch and dirt in which to dig and tunnels made out of PVC pipes. An e-cage for a turtle might have water tubs, rocks, branches and other greenery, and interesting scents.
The above video shows Willow and Lilac, the baby skunks, enjoying the extra space of a toy-filled e-cage by running and playing. The video below showcases an e-cage set up for Dora the opossum, complete with plenty of high branches to climb and a rope-and-log swing!
There is also an outdoor e-cage for the animals to get sunlight and fresh air. The snakes and turtles particularly enjoy basking in the sunshine on warm days. Eddie the groundhog is pictured below having a ball in the outdoor enrichment cage.
Michelle Leighty
Perkins Wildlife Center Co-Manager
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