St. Patrick's Day at the Small Mammal House
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, keepers at the Zoo's Small Mammal House created animal-enrichment activities and objects full of treats for many of the small mammals. These enrichment activities provide physical and mental stimulation for the animals, giving them opportunities to use their natural abilities and behaviors. The Zoo’s keeper staff often use holidays as an opportunity to give variety to both visitors and the animals in their care.
The red-ruffed lemurs and other animals enjoyed frozen treats made of apples, pears, cucumbers, honeydew, and diluted fruit juice—a healthy supplement to their diet. Other animals, such as the Prevost’s squirrel, were given environmental enrichment in the form of decorations and novel items such as paintings on the glass outside their enclosure and a plush clover.
Help the keepers give the Zoo's animals more enrichment.
