No Eggnog, But Rescued Animals Enjoy Holiday Celebrations, Too

Enlarge this image toggle caption Allegra Boverman/Courtesy of VINS Allegra Boverman/Courtesy of VINS

In my house, we celebrate Christmas.

In preparation, we selected a beautiful, aromatic Fraser fir tree for our den. This means that our five indoor rescued cats get to enjoy their annual holiday enrichment activity — climbing partway up through the branches, batting down ornaments, and attempting to shred the wrapping and ribbon from presents under the tree.

Some chaos definitely ensues, but it's fun to see the cats so excited — and we've never yet had an outright tree crash like this one.

toggle caption Crystal Alba/Courtesy of Project Chimps

Rescued animals are often given special holiday treats or activities at sanctuaries and nature centers, too. I sent email messages to three of my favorite places to find out what they're doing this holiday season.

At the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee, the resident raptors are a focus of attention. Environmental educator Anna Autilio told me:

"Some 45 hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons who are non-releasable education ambassadors get the day off from seeing our inquisitive visitors, and are treated to heaping helpings of their favorite treats," which might include chicken, quail, duck, rabbit, rat, mouse, or fish."

Staff members also construct a "Giving Tree" for wild songbirds and decorate the forest with high-fat and high-protein foods like peanuts, peanut butter, black oil sunflower seeds and mealworms.

At the Farm Sanctuary properties in New York and California, hundreds of farm animals are invited to celebrate. National Shelter Director Susie Coston explained to me how it works:

"We enjoy setting up and serving the animals holiday food platters. But instead of sugar cookies and candies, the treats include dried fruits, berries, and carrots for the goats and sheep; apples and pumpkins for the pigs; apples for the cows; and soft melons or other fruits for the birds. And there's gift-giving, too! Any of our goats or turkeys who need a new winter coat gets one, as this is also the start of our colder winter season. And, of course, as we do at every holiday, we give thanks for the most amazing beings in the world and realize how lucky we all are to have a secure and safe place to be. In reality, every day is a holiday for rescued farm animals — and they seem to notice."

Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Farm Sanctuary Courtesy of Farm Sanctuary

At Project Chimps sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, chimpanzees relocated from invasive biomedical research labs experience a kinder world than what they knew before. Thirty-one apes reside there now (though a total of 200 are expected over time). Executive Director Ali Crumpacker described the holiday process for me:

"Enrichment for animals living in captivity is important on a daily basis, but it's also important to enrich the lives of our staff and volunteers who provide such loving care to these creatures. To meet the needs of both our humans and our chimps during the holidays, we go all out! Our enrichment committee has dreamed up a winter wonderland enrichment day to be set up for the chimpanzees to enjoy. This will include pine cones rolled in peanut butter and coconut flakes, pomegranates, pine boughs, paper snowflakes, and even a papier-mache snowman!"

Animals may suffer from boredom just like people can. At nature centers and sanctuaries like these three, strategic housing of individuals and year-round enrichment combats that possibility.

It's just that at the holidays, all of us may be invited to indulge ourselves just a little more.

Barbara J. King is an anthropology professor emerita at the College of William and Mary. She often writes about the cognition, emotion and welfare of animals and about biological anthropology, human evolution and gender issues. Barbara's new book is Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat. You can keep up with what she is thinking on Twitter: @bjkingape