Megan Nigro

Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Rycyk, Athena

Area of Concentration

Zoology

Abstract

This study examines the effects of simple enrichment on the behaviors of animals at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Wildlife Park. Animals included are all non-releasable for various reasons and consist of a Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus), two red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), two gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), two Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi), and a bobcat (Felidae rufus Floridanus). The behaviors of these animals were observed with and without a box. Following a randomized schedule, instantaneous sampling occurred every minute for one hour in the morning and one hour in the a��ernoon over eight days in February 2024. Inac��ve, ac��ve, and stereotypic behaviors were recorded with a box as enrichment and without a box (control) and behavioral changes analyzed. Using a Chi-squared test to analyze changes, ac��vity, inac��vity, and stereotypical behaviors showed no sta��s��cally significant difference between the enrichment and control condi��ons when pooled across species. Each species presented a different response, sugges��ng species-specific needs and preferences for enrichment. For the Florida black bear, the frequency of inac��vity decreased by 13%, the frequency of ac��vity increased by 0.83%, and the frequency of stereotypical behaviors increased by 12%. For the red foxes, the frequency of inac��vity decreased by 9.4%, the frequency of ac��vity increased by 9.4% and the frequency of stereotypical behaviors did not change. For the gray foxes, the frequency of inac��vity increased by 9.6%, the frequency of ac��vity decreased by 10%, and the frequency of stereotypical behaviors increased by 0.42%. For the Florida panthers, the frequency of inac��vity increased by 5%, no change in the frequency of ac��vity, and the frequency of stereotypical behaviors decreased by 5%. For the bobcat, the frequency of inac��vity decreased by 3.0%, the frequency of ac��vity increased by 2.5%, and the frequency of stereotypical behavior decreased by 0.42%.

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