ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Behavioral enrichment

Behavioral enrichment means making an animal's life more fun and interesting!

Imagine you are a hamster living in a cage. You have some food, water, and a wheel to run on. This is okay, but it could be better! Behavioral enrichment means giving you more things to do and explore, so you don't get bored or sad.

For example, your owner might give you some toys to play with, like a ball to push around, or a tube to crawl through. They could also add some items to your cage for you to investigate, like a rock or a piece of wood.

Sometimes, your owner might hide some treats or food for you to find and eat. This is called "foraging," and it's a fun challenge for animals! It makes them use their sense of smell and problem-solving skills to find the food.

Another thing your owner might do is change your environment from time to time. They might move your toys around or add new things, like a different type of bedding or a cardboard box to explore. This keeps things interesting and helps avoid boredom or stress.

In short, behavioral enrichment is all about making an animal's life more fun and stimulating, so they can be happy and healthy.