Monday, April 16, 2012

Toy Time!

One of the most commonly asked questions we hear on tours is "what do the big cats do all day?" Well, for the most part, this can be answered with one word - SLEEP! The big cats living here at IEAS are just like your domestic house cats (who we're sure you often find snoozing on a sunny windowsill or tucked up in a small, cozy spot fast asleep), and they sleep up to 18 hours a day! That is a whole lot of sleeping, but you can bet that those waking hours, however brief they may be, are spent having FUN!

At IEAS, we provide lots of behavioral enrichment items, or toys, to the big cats. These toys allow them to practice their natural behaviors such as stalking, pouncing, hunting, and much more! From giant boomer balls, to fire hose balls, to tires, to spools, to giant pickles (yup, that's right - pickles), the IEAS residents have plenty to keep them occupied when they want to play! Here are some of our favorite pictures of the felines (and a few bears!) enjoying their toys!


Then, of course, we provide SEASONAL enrichment items, such as pumpkins, Christmas trees, and fruit-filled ice blocks. Keep an eye out for more about this type of enrichment!

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