Weighing animals isn’t always as easy as it looks. They move around. They don’t always want to stay on the scale. There’s actually a lot involved in just getting them to stay still for two seconds.
However, to balance out all of that chaos, animal workers have become creative.
Here are forty unique ways they have found to weigh animals without all the fuss:
#1 So tiny
How do you measure a creature so tiny that he will fit into a spoon? With the spoon, of course!
Source:
Reddit
#2 This works
Baby owls need to be swaddled. They also need to be weighed. This is where both worlds meet.
Source:
The Raptor Center
#3 Better with a friend
Seeing the vet can be scary. Thankfully, having a friend to hide behind can make it a much less stressful experience.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#4 Snuggly puppy
Some puppies are just too active to sit on a scale. This is one solution for weighing an active pup.
Source:
Winters_Aspen via Reddit
#5 Aquatic life
Even a baby stingray occasionally needs to be weighed. This is how they do it (after weighing the water).
Source:
calacademy via Twitter
#6 On a much larger scale
Weighing an orca is no easy task. This had to be specially built for the job.
Source:
Purdue
#7 Just hanging around
How do you weigh an animal that likes to hang on things? With a hanging scale, of course!
Source:
Bored Panda
#8 Well, it looked like ice
Penguins like things that look like they might be from a watery or icy cold habitat. We hope the animal care workers chilled the bowl to perfection before use.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#9 Weighing the regal hedgehog
He’s fluffy enough to sit on the top of the cup. He kind of reminds us of a floating Frappuccino.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#10 A turtle on his back
They realized that a turtle balanced on his back could be weighed much more easily. It seems a little mean, but it will all be over in less than a minute.
Source:
amyngyn via Twitter
#11 A bowl of lemur
Sometimes, the best solutions are the easiest ones. Both lemurs and rice can be measured by this kitchen scale. We just don’t recommend weighing both at the same time.
Source:
National Zoo via Twitter
#12 Duck in a Solo cup
If it fits, it gets weighed. Those are the rules. This duckling doesn’t seem to mind too much.
Source:
biologistimo via Twitter
#13 The basket case
Scales are uncomfortable. This basket does not seem to suffer the same fate.
Source:
liya_v7 via Reddit
#14 A little extra comfort
No one wants to sit in an uncomfortable empty bowl. They found an easy solution for this red panda. He got to bring his bath time towel with him.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#15 The cub bucket
When he’s larger, he’ll barely fit on the scale. Until then, this will do perfectly.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#16 A peach
The solution doesn’t always have to be super professional. As in the cat world, if it fits, they sit.
Source:
Reddit
#17 Holding onto you
This technique works for most rambunctious animals. The downside? You’re going to have to find out what you weigh too.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#18 A little batty
As long as an animal feels comfortable, they’ll usually stay still enough to weigh. This little guy just needed something to hang onto.
Source:
Reddit
#19 Into the box we go
Finding what they are naturally curious about is one easy way to get an otherwise evasive animal onto a scale. Now, they just need to figure out how to keep the number of animals on that scale down to one.
Source:
Sat_GW via Twitter
#20 The savage bowl beast
Nothing says, “I am top of the jungle,” quite like fitting in a bowl. He may have to wait until he grows up a little before his aspirations are reached.
Source:
San Diego Zoo via Twitter
#21 His own perch
It looks like a perch like any other perch. He doesn’t even know he’s being measured. Not that he needs to be measured. He already knows the scale will say he’s #1.
Source:
Bored Panda
#22 A tasty treat
Sure, this might look like an animal who just hopped on the scale without any bribing. Look in his paws.
Source:
ZoopkeeperCasi via Twitter
#23 Just another day
He’s already accustomed to getting up onto a wooden platform. However, we still think he knows what is going on. He seems self-conscious about what the scale might say.
Source:
ramko169 via Reddit
#24 Pup in a cup
Puppies are known for being too active to stay still. Plopping them into a small space where they can’t really move around is one quick solution.
Source:
carsteli via Twitter
#25 Hello, Cupcake
When dealing with tiny birds, you need tiny solutions. They even included a pad to make sure he doesn’t injure himself.
Source:
prettypeevish via Reddit
#26 Better together
The little koala wasn’t quite ready to be weighed on his own. Luckily, if you already know mom’s weight, then weighing him with her is nothing more than one very small math problem.
Source:
San Diego Zoo via Twitter
#27 Always safe
Keeping a baby swaddled is important. A stuffed animal helps too.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#28 Food
There is one thing that will keep a penguin still. It’s food. We just wonder if they weighed the meal first.
Source:
London Zoo via Twitter
#29 Getting innovative
When you have an animal that refuses to stay still, there’s still a solution. This is that solution.
Source:
Reddit
#30 Koala weighing
Koalas do not like leaving their trees. This brings some of the comforts of home to the rather tedious task of seeing the vet.
Source:
Kangaroo Island Koala na d Wildlife Rescue Centre via Facebook
#31 So fierce
When handling fierce tiny creatures, precautions must be taken. This one has been securely confined in a bowl.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#32 Weighing in the penguins
There is a perfect container for everything. This one is the ideal shape and size for an upright penguin.
Source:
EmWritesScience via Twitter
#33 Strength in numbers
When an animal won’t fit on the scale, there are other ways to go about it. We just hope they don’t break the scale with their combined weight.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#34 Above it all
This little sheep has a lot of growing to do. They’ll be measuring it along the way.
Source:
motherfarm via Twitter
#35 Finding the sunny side of life
Animal care workers are the best. This baby otter agrees.
Source:
”erinruberry
#36 Someone to guide the way
Getting koalas to go along with anything is actually surprisingly tricky. It’s a good thing that they are social creatures.
Source:
ZooBorns
#37 In you go
All types of cats will put up with sitting in a bowl. In fact, if you give them anything small, they’re likely to crawl right in.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#38 In her natural habitat
You don’t always have to bring the animal to the scale. Sometimes, you can bring the scale to the animal. It all measures the same.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
#39 Rest and relaxation
Not everyone minds being fussed over. This guy doesn’t seem to mind the attention he is getting.
Source:
amivitale via Instagram
#40 A little big to be held
Not all methods are perfect. We hope his back is okay after holding that giraffe.
Source:
erinruberry via Twitter
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