USDA Inspection

On March 3, the Life Sciences staff meeting was interrupted by a walkie-talkie call from the receptionist. A government inspector was here to see the naked mole-rats.


Pacific Science Center’s Animal Care program maintains permits from two completely unrelated branches of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Our butterflies and some arthropods are permitted by the Plant Pest and Pathogen department. These animals are seen as possible threats to agricultural crops, and are monitored to prevent escapes.


Mammals, on the other hand, are under the jurisdiction of the Animal Care branch, which inspects mammal care facilities to make sure that animals live under adequate and humane conditions. This day, a USDA mammal care inspector arrived for an unannounced inspection of our naked mole-rat colony.


The mammal inspector looks at the animal’s housing. She is looking for signs that they have proper ventilation. Is food available to them at all times, or according to their species feeding habits? Is there water? In the case of the naked mole-rats, the answer is no. Our inspector needs to see evidence that we do not provide water because these animals are able to use the moisture in their food. Otherwise we can be cited for not providing for their needs.


Animals must be housed on surfaces that can be kept clean, and in enclosures that are safe from pests such as mice and ants. Our USDA inspector may ask for a closer look to see what measures we have in place to keep our animal’s housing clean – what disinfectants we use and our schedule for using them.


She checks the animals’ records. We monitor humidity and temperature twice daily and record weights, births, deaths and medical conditions of all the animals. The Avian and Exotic Veterinary Hospital provides a program of regular veterinary care and the invoices to prove it.


Inspectors want to see how food is stored and may ask how it is prepared. Our roots and veggies are kept in the refrigerator, and are peeled and diced before feeding. We mix nutritionally dense dough of baby cereal and ground rodent chow as a supplement.

At the end of the inspection, the USDA inspector sent us notification that we passed. “No non-compliance” was the complete text of our rating – the highest possible score!