Behind the Scenes

Behavioral Enrichment
Enrichment is a management tool through which animal caretakers can provide their animals with mental and physical stimulation using both natural and artificial objects. The goal of the enrichment program at The Children’s Museum is to increase activity and stimulation levels, which will decrease boredom and stereotypic behaviors.

Some of the enrichment is as simple as animal/human interaction and outdoor exercise. Some objects used are food puzzles, enclosure scenting, prey items (skin, feathers), catnip boxes and many others.

This is our Canada lynx smelling a box of hay used by our domestic rats. The lynx spent time smelling, licking, pawing and biting the box. Once he had spilled all of the hay out, he spent time rolling in it.

Sanctuary Director Cindy is throwing snowballs to the bobcat. The bobcat was able to get some human interaction and some exercise as he batted at the snowballs.

Veterinary Care
Medical care for the animals at The Children’s Museum is provided by Advanced Veterinary Care in Farmington and the Avon Veterinary Clinic. In this section you can see pictures of what we regularly do to monitor and maintain the health of our animals as well view some of our veterinarians in action performing complete physicals that are given to our animals yearly.

The Canada lynx, caracal, bobcat and Jungle Cat all received their annual checkups this May. They were all weighed, had blood drawn and were all given vaccinations.