Meerkats
Suricata suricatta
Our meerkats live in a large, hilly sand enclosure. Here they can dig to their hearts' content, something meerkats particularly enjoy, as they live in burrows they dig themselves. In their natural habitat, they create these underground dens to spend the cold desert nights. Since the young are born altricial (nest-bound), they are also well cared for in the birthing burrow during their first few weeks.
Our group also has an attached heated house. This can be viewed through a large window. When a litter is expected, the expectant mother remains inside so that the pups are not born unattended outdoors. The outdoor enclosure is also equipped with heat lamps. This allows the animals to go outside even in inclement weather and warm up if needed.
