Our lemurs are housed in a variety of ways at various times of the year, depending on the species, the weather, and the animals in question. This housing allows us to both provide enriching environments for our animals, and facilitate research that can be carried out directly in animal enclosures. Most of our diurnal animals live in caged enclosures with indoor/outdoor access. Typically, a group will have one cell per animal, so that a group of four lemurs, for example, will have access to four connecting indoor cells with four connecting outdoor yards. Thus they are set up for both research trials that require access to any animal singly or any combination of animals from that group as they can be easily shifted to accommodate the needs of the researcher. During the warm weather (approximately mid-April to mid-October) over half of our diurnal colony has access to free-range enclosures ranging in size from 1.6 to 14.3 acres. Most of these enclosures contain multiple species and are ideal for observation studies that focus on more naturalistic behaviors. Free-ranging animals are locked up briefly twice a week for conditioning, and also during inclement weather. During the colder months (mid-October to mid-April) animals are allowed access to their outdoor yards when daytime temperatures are above 40 degrees, and are allowed to free-range when the low temperature is above 40 degrees for 48 hours or more.
Projects requiring more elaborate equipment set-up can be conducted in a designated research area, where researchers prepare for data collection and an animal is brought from its enclosure into the room for the duration of the trial. Except in unusual circumstances, any trials conducted outside of an animal’s regular enclosure must be conducted in the presence of a DLC staff member to ensure the safety of the animal outside if its regular environment.
Our nocturnal animals are housed in either small animal caging or in free-range nocturnal housing, and may be set up in single or mixed species groups. They are on a reverse light cycle so that they are up and active (with lights out) during the day while DLC staff members are here to observe them. In order to minimally disrupt their sleep cycles, any research conducted on the nocturnal animals must be conducted during their wake cycle (after 12:00 pm) under nocturnal lighting (low, red lights) and we have had very good success using night vision video recording in experimental set ups.
Laboratory space, including access to fume hoods, microscopes, centrifuges, etc., is located in multiple buildings on site. This space can be used for data collection or analysis, equipment storage, or sample processing. The DLC is outfitted with wireless internet access in all main areas of the center.
The DLC is able to provide limited housing to visiting researchers in a historic 100 year old cabin located on site for a nominal fee. There are four separate bedrooms and common kitchen, bath, and living areas. Because it is remotely located, we require that any visiting researchers have access to a car and a cell phone when staying at the cabin. The cabin has heat, a/c, hot water, and laundry facilities, and the kitchen is stocked with pots, pans, plates, kitchen utensils, small appliances, etc. The DLC does not provide bed or bath linens. We unfortunately cannot allow children or pets to stay in the cabin. Please contact the Research Manager for cabin availability.