Creating Safe and Engaging Enrichment

Keeping animals healthy is one of our top priorities at Wild Paws. This doesn’t just include things like physical exams, shots (vaccinations) and checking blood. Enrichment is what we do to keep the minds of the animals at Wild Paws alert, active and healthy. There are a variety of enrichment options we can offer, and we look forward to your help in making new and exciting items to challenge the residents' brains while also providing some fun activities for them.

Larger enrichment items are offered in the habitat of all Wild Paws residents that mimic or copy what their life in nature would be like. Things like climbing areas (trees, platforms), perches, dens, and digging areas (culverts and tubs) give our residents opportunities to stimulate their minds in ways they would already be doing if they lived in nature. Smaller enrichment items are things we make or offer that encourage them to search for food and snacks and solve puzzles. We can provide already made toys like puzzle feeders as well as make/decorate things like piñatas, boxes, and signs that Wild Paws residents have to manipulate and destroy to get a reward. The rewards we like to offer include treats, herbs, spices, and unique scents (perfume sprays, etc.).

Wild Paws enjoys making videos and taking pictures of the residents enjoying their smaller enrichment that volunteers make. Especially when those items are holiday themed such as birthdays, Earth Day, etc. Here are some pictures and a video of past enrichment items offered:

 
 
 
 

Handcrafted Enrichment Materials

Using safe materials for handmade enrichment is important for the health and safety of our resident animals. We made a list of Approved and Not Acceptable materials that you can use if you want to create and donate enrichment items for our residents. If you have any questions regarding useable materials, please email us at contact@wildpaws.org.

Not Acceptable

  • Strings of any kind

  • Plastic adhesive tape such as packing or regular gift wrap tape (including those on preassembled boxes)

  • Rubberbands

  • Staples (including those on preassembled boxes)

  • Smaller toys such as golfball-sized balls

  • Smaller plastic objects

Approved

  • Cardboard boxes

  • Non-toxic tempera paints

  • Magic markers, sharpies, crayons, colored pencils

  • Construction Paper

  • Tagboard

  • Elmer’s kid-safe non-toxic glue

  • Paper tape

  • Paper streamers

  • Crinkle paper confetti

  • Paper grocery bags

  • Gift wrap

  • Paper Mache

Paper Mache Recipe

  • Newspaper – torn into strips and pieces

  • Paste mixture = 1 part flour (white NOT wheat or other; can use bread flour) to 2 parts water; this mixture can be used as is or put in microwave for 30-40 seconds and stirred until best consistency is reached (like soup, but not too thick and not too runny)

  • Strips can be placed on objects until dried, i.e. balloons, however, you must remove the balloons or other form-shaping materials before giving as enrichment

  • Several layers can be added, however, expect some drying time in between layers

  • Objects can be painted with non-toxic tempera paint

Fun for all ages!