The Purpose of an Acclimation Habitat
Finneas the fox, Wild Paws’ first official rescue, is making himself at home in his acclimation habitat. Because of his vision impairment, the acclimation habitat was purposefully built for easy navigation to ensure he has a safe space. His habitat was created with concern and understanding of Finneas’ individual needs and will help him get used to his surroundings while still allowing him enough space to be the wild animal he is.
With safety and security at the forefront, our volunteers worked hard to create Finneas’ first home.
These first months at Wild Paws are important for both Finneas and his caretakers. This acclimation habitat allows Finneas to build confidence while finding his food, water, and shelter right away with limited vision. Wisconsin winters can be quite brutal and this year was no exception. This smaller space allows his caretakers to get several visual checks throughout the day to ensure his safety and a smooth transition to life at Wild Paws.
Building trust and associating his caretakers with positive interaction is very important to his success in the transition phase. By adding trees, dens, and bedding to the habitat, Finneas can tuck away and hide if he needs to as he gains confidence in his surroundings. It also gives him a safe space to watch us provide fun things like toys for enrichment or food treats. His caretakers will monitor his abilities with his vision impairment to determine when he should be moved to a larger, permanent habitat.
Through our cameras we have discovered that Finneas likes to climb.
As we observe Finneas in his habitat, it appears he can most likely see shadows at the very least. This will be further determined with a complete eye exam soon with a veterinary ophthalmologist. His other senses are likely heightened due to his lessened vision and relies heavily on both scent and touch. These senses help him create a sort of map to help him maneuver in his space. He has even been seen on camera climbing in the trees!
Finneas has already been “rearranging” his space to make it his own. To watch this and other fun enrichment videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel here.
Another benefit of this acclimation space is we can learn about and more deeply understand Finneas’ personality. We can determine if he would benefit from a friend prior to his permanent habitat being completed. We have been contacted about another fox in need of a home that could be compatible for Finneas to bond with while in this transition phase. After a successful introduction and bonding, this second fox could help Finneas navigate when they move to a larger, more complex habitat.