Keeper Tessa Stripes Blog Post 1/23/2023
With the cooler weather in full swing, I wanted to stop in and let you all know how some of our residents stay warm in the colder winter months. Many of our cats, like the tigers and cougars, enjoy the colder weather and are more active this time of year. The tigers can be seen rolling in the snow, making tiger snow angels, or chasing their enclosure mates through their enclosure. When they are done playing in the snow, they can take a nice long nap in their cozy den box, bedded down with straw to keep them warm.
Our African species, like the lions and servals, are not as fond of the snow and cooler temperatures and require a few extra things to help keep them warm all winter long. Just like the tigers, the lions and servals also have den boxes with straw so they can keep warm and stay out of the snow if they prefer. The small cats that live in the sanctuary, like the servals and caracals, also have a heat source in their den boxes to add a little extra warmth during the winter months.
A few of our non-feline species, like the coatimundis and kinkajous, who are native to South America, are even less equipped to handle the colder months at the sanctuary. These species are moved to indoor housing this time of year, where myself and the other keepers are able to regulate the temperature and humidity of their environment in order to make sure they stay warm and comfortable throughout the cooler months.
