citation_inspection: 4263

The following feeding non-compliances were identified during this inspection. 1) Direct non-compliance: The 2 bears did not have any food in their enclosure. The facility owner informed the APHIS officials that the bears were not provided water or food from the first of December until March to encourage hibernation and not leaving the den. One of the bears walked out of the den and was observed in its enclosure by two of the APHIS officials. Bears periodically leave their den during winter months and eat or drink. The bears could become distressed if hungry and they do not have access to any food. The bears must have access to some wholesome food to provide for their health and comfort. The facility owner was informed on Wednesday late afternoon by the APHIS officials to have this corrected by noon on Friday, 9 January 2015. 2) The 2 tigers, 2 puma and 5 servals are fed meat stored in the walk-in freezer. Animal livestock carcasses for feeding were piled on the floor, uncovered and dirty. This food shows signs of desiccation, freezer burn, and general contamination. Some of the whole deer (intended for feeding) show signs of scanvenging on the carcass. Deteriorated meat (such as that with freezer burn) may have decreased nutritional content and feeding contaminated meat may result in illness. These carcasses must not be fed for the health of the animals. Correct by ensuring that frozen meat is properly stored when frozen and properly thawed at refrigerator temperatures in a clean environment to prevent bacterial contamination and deterioration of the meat. Meat fed to the animals must be wholesome, palatable and free from contamination and of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to maintain the animal is good health. Correct from this day forward. 3) According to the licensee the hoof stock is fed hay from the hayloft above the stalls by the keeper building. This hay is contaminated with bird feces, feathers and dead pigeons. Bird feces, feathers and pigeon carcasses may contain bacteria and parasites and cause the animals receiving the hay to become ill. Contaminated hay must not be fed for the health of the animals. Hay fed to the animals must be free from contamination and of sufficient nutritive value to maintain all animals in good health. Correct from this day forward. 4) There were 10 dead guinea pigs in the refrigerator in the keeper building that the owner informed the APHIS officials that were going to be used to feed the felids: 2 tigers, 2 puma and 5 servals. At least two of these guinea pigs had patches of hair loss. There were also several live guinea pigs that were identified with hair loss which appeared similar to these lesions and were cited under veterinary care. The attending veterinarian examined the live guinea pigs on 9 January 2015 and said the hair loss was suspicious for ringworm. Ringworm is contagious and animals with suspicious lesions are not considered wholesome to be offered as food and must not be fed. Correct from this day forward. 5) The facility has a felid feeding plan. The original plan was written with a different vitamin supplement added to the meat than is currently used. The new supplement was written onto the margin of the plan, but the directions on the supplement container are different than what is directed by the plan and how the facility personnel are applying the supplement to the meat. Both the plan and facility personnel have informed APHIS personnel that the meat is dusted with the supplement. The directions on the supplement container are per weight of the animal and range from 1/4 of a scoop for a 1-3 pound animal to 8 scoops for a 500 pound animal. Feeding the animals meat with the wrong amount of vitamin/mineral supplement may cause preventable health problems. Also the facility hand raises tiger cubs. There is no written guidance in the felid feeding plan for the hand rearing of tiger cubs. The licensee stated that he really wasn't sure how or what cubs were fed, that his daughter was responsible for all aspects of cub rearing. Proper nutrition is very important for tiger cubs. Cubs fed an imbalanced or nutritionally incomplete diet can develop metabolic bone disease resulting in fractures or deformed bones. The feline feeding plan must be updated under the direction of the attending veterinarian to provide a diet with the nutritive value to maintain all the felids in good health. Correct by February 10, 2015.