Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: What this Zoo Does RIGHT!
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sets the stage for revolutionary small animal care- a stunning model for zoos and aquariums and small exotic pet owners alike.
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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo nests in the mountains of Colorado Springs, CO, USA. The altitude of the location alone makes a zoo an ambitious endeavor, but this establishment succeeds in meeting the rigorous standards of care from both AZA and WAZA regardless. If that isn’t impressive enough, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has also shown excellence in an area often overlooked by guests and zoo professionals alike: the finest care of the small animals we often take for granted.
I have worked alongside many zoos and aquariums since 2019, and I can say from experience that small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians are often overshadowed by their megafauna counterparts. When the general public finds bears and tigers much more awe-inspiring than an anole lizard, the funding and research is swayed with popularity.
But despite the presence of tigers and bears (and oh so much more) at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the small animal collections found in the Loft and the Scutes Family Gallery boast some of the best small animal care and enrichment in the zoo industry today.
What is enrichment and why is it important for small animals?
Enrichment in a managed care setting generally means adding something new to an animal’s daily life to promote behaviors healthy for that animal- behaviors we may not see if enrichment is not given. This can mean foraging, hunting, problem-solving, play, or social behaviors depending on the animal. This also means enrichment can apply to any animal that shows varied behavior. This is why you often see orangutans and lions with “toys”. But if enrichment applies to any animal that shows varied behavior, why is it not popular to see a Komodo dragon or kangaroo rat with their own versions of “toys”?
A study published in the Animal Behavior and Cognition journal by Gobel et al., 20241, looked into offering different types of enrichment to various small mammals in a zoo setting. This study found that all of the animals participating in the study engaged with at least one enrichment object offered, and none exhibited any abnormal stress. Simply put, the researchers saw every small mammal in the study interact with new things placed in their environment in ways that showed healthy natural behaviors, no different than the goal of introducing new things to large mammals. A study published in the Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens by Waterman et al., 20212 looked at a similar case involving large lizards. Enrichment offered to the large lizards in the study were met with problem-solving, playful, and exploratory behaviors, and no abnormal stress. This study is among those emerging studies that debunk the idea that reptiles simply aren’t “cognitive enough” to need new items and tasks while in human-ran habitats.
While there is certainly more research to be done, it appears that we need to call for updated expectations for facilities with small animals.
This is what Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is doing about it.
You can find signs like this one throughout the Loft and the Scutes Family Gallery exhibits. They indicate enclosures that have been designed not for a specific animal, but as a temporary enrichment habitat for many animals. One day you find a spiny-tailed lizard, and the next, a hognose snake. This system takes enrichment of small animals to a whole new level: they aren’t just offering a new item, but a whole new territory to explore.
The designated permanent homes of each animal retains naturalistic materials catered to each different species needs, but even then it is possible to see objects such as old recyclables in use as enrichment.
A highlight of the Loft is the wooden bars, ropes, and hammocks weaving between the airducts of the ceiling that serve as a cleaver way to maximize the room’s space for none other than a sloth playground. Under the supervision of keepers within the Loft, a sloth may roam almost the entire stretch of the building safely. The jungle gym even stretches to an outdoor viewing area where the sloth might see guests as they enter the building, or simply enjoy the sun.
Additionally, the Loft offers experiences to guests that go beyond simply allowing you to touch your favorite member of the ton. These experiences involve caring for the animals in some way, serving as an unique and kid friendly strategy that implements guest satisfaction into daily animal care.
The Scutes Family Gallery puts an artistic twist on small animal habitats with the goal to “diminish reptile fears” and “compliment their natural beauty”, according to the official website. Here, you can find snakes and lizards resting along exquisite glass and stone pieces, making the location appealing to art enthusiasts and animal lovers alike. Not only does the artwork compliment the reptile inhabitants in an almost ethereal way, but the bright colors and novel textures also serve as enrichment in its classiest form.
The Bigger Picture
While I can highly recommend the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for many reasons beyond just their small animal exhibits (see here for a full list of animals they have), the demonstrated dedication to animal care of the smallest residents of the zoo can teach us things even if you can’t make your way to Colorado anytime soon.
We often wish to see animals cared for in zoos and aquariums, and it comes more naturally to sympathize with the animals we understand more. We understand gorillas and chimps need toys because we need toys- we understand that they get board. We understand why tigers enjoy a giant ball in their enclosure because our beloved housecat at home enjoys the same thing. A lizard or a mouse is generally much harder to understand without some practice. As science uncovers the extent that enrichment benefits small animals in zoos, we too need to adapt what we believe good animal care looks like, and raise our expectations for zoos around the world to rise to the challenge and example set by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s dedicated model.
Resources and Further Readings
- Göbel, M., Kaiser, S., Richter, H., Wagner, P., & Wehrenberg, G. (2024). Specifically unspecific – Simple devices as feasible and effective enrichment for small mammals. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 11(3), 305-329. https://doi.org/10.26451/abc.11.03.05.2024
- Waterman, J. O., McNally, R., Harrold, D., Cook, M., Garcia, G., Fidgett, A. L., & Holmes, L. (2021). Evaluating Environmental Enrichment Methods in Three Zoo-Housed Varanidae Lizard Species. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 2(4), 716-727. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg2040051
