Zoo's Mongooses Rolled In Vicks VapoRub To Throw Off Scent

The mongooses at the Fort Worth Children's Zoo sometimes have trouble getting along when there’s a change in scent. Staffer Nancee Hutchinson came up with the idea to utilize Vicks VapoRub to basically confuse the creatures’ senses.

The mongooses at the Fort Worth Children's Zoo are adorable and curious creatures. However, the animals sometimes have trouble getting along when there’s a change in scent. A zoo keeper used an unusual approach to keeping the peace among banded mongooses.

Staffer Nancee Hutchinson came up with the idea to utilize Vicks VapoRub to basically confuse the creatures’ senses. The problem first started when a banded mongoose at the facility went in for a veterinary exam.

He later returned to his enclosure, but the fellow mongooses didn’t want to interact with him. The reason for the rudeness is because the mongoose came back smelling different, just from being out of his enclosure for a short period of time.

Hutchinson became aware of a technique used by a zoo in Europe to throw off animal scents. She brought the mongooses indoors and sprayed Vicks on the floor.

Hutchinson explained “The whole troop comes running and rolls all around in it. Then they all smell the same, even the one who spent some time away.” The end result is a group of mongooses that are all getting along.