Dear Miss Behavin’: I’ve seen columns about enrichment for cats and dogs, but I have some unusual pets that I think would benefit from mental stimulation too. Any suggestions for enrichment for reptiles or birds?
Absolutely, every animal could have a more enriched life! Some of the changes you can make are incredibly simple, as well.
For environmental enrichment, think about adding different materials to your pets’ enclosure. Is it an animal that likes to dig? Perhaps some different substrates would be interesting for them. Is it an animal that likes to climb? Try finding some branches that you know are pest and disease free to put in their space. Is it an animal that needs access to water? Consider offering water sources that vary in depth, width or shape.
Some animals simply love to smell something different, and will enjoy something like bedding taken from another animal’s enclosure and offered inside of a cardboard tube so they can smell it but not ingest it.
Foraging for food is a very natural behavior for all animals, and the options are endless for different species. For some animals, hanging food from a rope or string can make a regular meal a much more enticing one. Treat-dispensing balls advertised for cats and dogs can also be used for lizards, rabbits, guinea pigs or even aquatic turtles. Parrots with strong beaks will be naturally disposed to chewing and shredding things since they would often be breaking open seeds and nuts in the wild. These birds often love chewing through homemade puzzles to get to their meals for the day. Some people even offer enrichment for their snakes, in the form of a maze, where the prize at the end is their meal for the week. The possibilities truly are endless, and you’re limited only by your own creativity!