Banded Mongoose

Winter Wonderland in Small Mammal House at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
 
The weather outside is frightful – but the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Small Mammal House is delightful!
 
Indeed the temperatures in the DC area continue to drop, while residents plan accordingly as conditions turn even more brutal this New Year’s Eve. However, the residents of the Small Mammal House are learning to enjoy winter.
 
As an extension of their regular enrichment activities, animal keepers carved away some pint-sized snowmen and snowflakes out of actual snow and adorned the pieces with apples, carrots and mealworms. The result was a “kid-like” reaction to the snow – a bit of curiosity and a lot of excitement!
 
A diverse array of animals reside in the Small Mammal House, ranging from primates to armadillos – all with individual personalities and abilities. These animals occupy various niches in the wild and have highly specialized behaviors to adapt to their native environments. Designing these “treat –enriched” snowmen and snowflakes encourages natural behaviors from these incredible animals.