Leeway Corucia Research Center (LCRC)
Subject: Beware of potential death traps in items used
for enrichment.
Hello,
Enrichment ideas using man-made products can be wonderful things but also death traps in the wrong situation. The animal that gets stuck, in addition to stress, can die from trauma trying to force her/his way out.
Things to look out for:
PVC pipes and hides for tortoises. Unlike a natural burrow that a tortoise can excavate to make larger, a prefabricated hide cannot.
If these are used, one must make sure the opening is larger than the largest tortoise so one does not get stuck. Also growth must be taken into account, and these hides must be periodically modified or replaced. We periodically check all such enrichments with the size of the animals in question to make sure nothing has changed.
Along the same lines as above, artificial logs and hides can be death traps for lizards if size issues are not periodically addressed. Sometimes, a lizard will try to wedge itself through a smaller hole that one would think would never be attempted. One might have used a particular hide for years but a tragedy can spring up if one is not prepared.
On this note, also check your enclosures for ramps that an animal might get it's head stuck at the base end (especially if the bottom is solid or fenced in that the animal cannot dig it's head out). Also pipes and branches that might follow together in a V shape. An animal may slip and hang itself. This has happened and can happen again.
Look at higher levels. Are there loose items that may fall, be blown, or be knocked down on an animal down below?
Daily Observation is the key to spotting trouble before it occurs. I hope the above proves beneficial in preventing an untimely death.
Thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
Brian
LCRC
