When meeting someone new, a person might have a few go-to tricks to help the conversation go smoothly. Maybe they make eye contact, ask questions, or give compliments. What they’re (probably) unlikely to do is carry around a pocket full of treats and have enough people nearby to close doors and separate them if needed.
Yet that’s exactly what the Museum’s Wildlife staff had ready last month when they first introduced two new pairs of animals to each other at the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank. Within the next week, George Clooney or “Clooney,” a 6-month-old male red fox, will move in with Scarlet, a 12-year-old female red fox. And in a handful of weeks, Remi, a female raccoon born in 2023, will begin living with Meeko, a 9-year-old albino male raccoon.
While introducing two critters of the same species to each other might sound straightforward, the Perkins Wildlife Center staff take great care to guarantee all animals involved are comfortable and safe. Though introductions have their moments of stress, Jim Nemet, the Museum’s Director of Wildlife, is optimistic these pairings will work out.
“Things don’t always go perfect, but we are prepared for that,” Nemet said.
The Perkins Wildlife Center was founded over 50 years ago, and in total, the Museum is home to 135 animals—almost all of which are native to Ohio. These animals are unfit to be released into the wild due to untreatable illnesses or dependence on humans, and they typically find their way to Perkins by way of a wildlife rehabilitation center or state agency.
Take Scarlet, for example. She was an orphan and became too reliant on humans as a kit, so she moved from a rehabilitation center to the Museum in 2012. Meeko has a similar background: He was found alone in a factory, got too accustomed to humans, and then came to live at the Museum in 2015.
The two newcomers joined Perkins Wildlife Center for similar reasons. Clooney developed a bone disease when he was very young, and even though his bones have strengthened, he still isn’t as strong or agile as wild foxes. Meanwhile, Remi had also been raised as a pet and thus became too tame to live independently.
When new animals like Remi and Clooney arrive at Perkins, Wildlife staff develop a meticulous plan to integrate them into the center. “We have to pre-plan for every scenario before, during, and after the introductions,” said Nemet.
First, the new animals underwent 30-day quarantine periods starting in late summer to ensure they wouldn’t transmit unknown illnesses to their older counterparts. Then, staff began to introduce the animals to each other’s scents before the two pairs ever came face-to-face.
The pairs finally met in late September. Staff came prepared with plenty of food, a plan to break up any troublesome interactions, and escape routes for the animals. The introductions started at about five minutes each, during which staff showered the animals with attention and treats. Then, once the interaction wrapped up, so did the fun.
Nemet explained that the concentration of treats and attention helps the animals view their time together as a positive experience: “An introduction actually becomes a trained behavior.”
As the animals became more accustomed to each other, they started spending more time together. Each pair is currently spending up to a full day together.
However, one of the pairs has had a smoother road than the other.
Nemet explained that he had been confident the red foxes would cohabit peacefully. Scarlet had lived with another fox until his death about six years ago, so she already knew how to coexist with a roommate. Plus, Clooney had lived at a rehab center and was still very impressionable, so their pairing seemed promising.
“He was following her like a puppy dog right behind her,” Nemet recalled of the foxes’ early introductions. “He just wanted to be a part of whatever was going on with her.”
The raccoons, though, weren’t so immediately compatible: “It’s pretty much all business,” Nemet said.
Meeko had never lived with another raccoon before, so he wasn’t accustomed to a young and playful raccoon like Remi. Nemet explained that Remi developed a habit of vocalizing to Meeko and trying to convey that she’s in charge. Still, Nemet believed the pair could overcome this hiccup and eventually live together—and so far, that has proven to be true.
Recently, the two animal pairs have just been spending full days with each other, returning to their own habitats once Perkins closes for the day. But for the last week, Clooney and Scarlet have been living together both day and night—and Remi and Meeko successfully spent their first night together just a few days ago. Although the pair might need a few more weeks until they’re ready to live together full time, it’s a positive sign for the introductions.
“We kind of take it for granted, but each one is different,” Nemet said of the animal pairs.
Despite these different behaviors, Nemet and the rest of the Wildlife staff at Perkins continue to prepare for and support all new animals who arrive here to ensure that they can live safe, healthy, and happy lives.
Curious about seeing Ohio’s native wildlife in-person? Plan a visit to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and stop by Perkins Wildlife Center! Learn more about visiting the Museum.
