CARE OF CAPTIVE ANIMALS — WALKER 315 



sometimes desirable to put both animals into a new cage so that 

 neither will feel that it is the owner. 



Sometimes animals will get along well together for some time, 

 and later begin fighting. Males should usually be removed from a 

 cage before a female is to give birth. 



If captive animals are to he successful in rearing their young, it 

 is generally essential that the female should have a nest, den, or 

 secluded quarters of some kind during the earlier life of the little 

 ones. 



Many nocturnal animals are attractive and can become interesting 

 pets. Their habit of sleeping during tlie day and being active at 

 night is a disadvantage in some instances, and in others, an ad- 

 vantage. Some animals can be induced to reverse their days and 

 nights by keeping them under a very subdued light during the day- 

 time and at night giving them a nest box and flooding their cage 

 with bright lights. The daylight can be reduced by filtering it 

 through one of the celluloidlike materials sprayed with a blue-black 

 lacquer, or blue cellophane. Special arrangements must be provided 

 for properly cooling and ventilating the cage. 



The toenails and hoofs of many animals grow rapidly in order to 

 be adequate for their function in the wild. It is well to provide 

 facilities for such animals to wear down their hoofs or claws. If 

 this cannot be accomplished, it is often necessary to trim the nails or 

 hoofs. 



Many animals that would normally hibernate ' do not if kept under 

 unfavorable conditions. In order to hibernate they must become fat 

 and have cool quarters so well insulated against winter weather that 

 they will not be subject to freezing. There should be little fluctua- 

 tion in temperature and the atmosphere should be definitely moist. 

 Animals appear to have a remarkable instinct in this matter, and 

 with a few exceptions will refuse to hibernate as long as they do not 

 have a snug nest in a well-insulated den; but if supplied with such 

 facilities they will promptly go to sleep. Apparently such a period 

 of rest is required by many animals if they are to thrive. 



Hibernation appears to be essential to female bears if they are to 

 be successful in rearing their young, which are born while the mother 

 is in hibernation. Rodents that normally hibernate rarely survive 

 the second summer, if not allowed to sleep during the winter. 



Dry leaves, grass, straw, hay, paper, cloth, and many other ma- 

 terials may be used for nest material and bedding. While soft tissue 

 paper is excellent for small mammals, it sometimes sticks to the wet 



^ The ninth, tenth, and eleventh editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica contain good 

 articles on hibernation. 



