Here at the museum the wildlife staff does a variety of different training and enrichment activities to keep our animals active and mentally stimulated. Enrichment can be an object, scent, or new environment that stimulates and excites the animal. In the past we have done paintings with our snakes and groundhog, which stimulates their senses of touch and sight. Recently we found out we have another artist in our wildlife department, an 11-year-old bobcat named Bob!
We incorporated training that Bob already knew in order for him to create the painting. We train many of our animals behaviors that make it easier and safer for the keepers to interact with them and also that keep them mentally and physically fit. "Target" is a trained behavior that many of our animals know. It involves an animal touching a ball that is on the end of a stick with their snout or paws. This allows us to direct where we want our animals to go in the exhibit. When we hold out the target pole and give the command, the animal comes over and, in Bob’s case, places both front paws on the target ball. Since Bob had never seen or touched canvas or paint before, it was a great enrichment for him and reinforced his training in a completely different way than had been done before.
Bob targeting:
Targeting Bob to the canvas and paint:
Heather Bowman
CMNH Wildlife Specialist
