Environmental Enrichment

Effects of a running wheel-igloo enrichment on aggression, hierarchy linearity, and stereotypy in group-housed male CD-1 (ICR) mice

Environmental enrichment is an important strategy to improve the welfare of laboratory animals. Running wheels might serve as enrichment devices for laboratory mice, since mice use them extensively when they are provided. However, competition among group-housed mice for such highly...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Howerton, C. L., Garner, J. P., Mench, J. A. 2008. Effects of a running wheel-igloo enrichment on aggression, hierarchy linearity, and stereotypy in group-housed male CD-1 (ICR) mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 115, 90-103.

Home Improvement: C57BL/6J Mice Given More Naturalistic Nesting Materials Build Better Nests

Environmental enrichment of laboratory mice can improve the quality of research, but debate arises over the means of enrichment and its ability to be used in a sterile environment. One important form of enrichment is nesting material. Mice in the...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hess, S. E., Rohr, S., Dufour, B. D. et al. 2008. Home Improvement: C57BL/6J Mice Given More Naturalistic Nesting Materials Build Better Nests . Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science] 47(6), 25-32.

Refining Rabbit Care: A Resource for Those Working With Rabbits in Research

The report sets out how to provide: optimal enclosure characteristicsand size; social housing; solid flooring and substrate; raised areas; refuges; gnawing objects and dietary enrichment; positive interaction with humans; toys and objects to manipulate; for the special needs of breeding...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Relocation & Transport, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Hawkins, P., Hubrecht, R., Buckwell, A. et al. 2008. Refining Rabbit Care: A Resource for Those Working With Rabbits in Research. UFAW/RSPCA: Southwater, UK, 27 pp.

A study of the impact of environmental enrichment on Xenopus Leavis oocytes

Frogs appeared to prefer having places to hide, since they were frequently observed in the cave or under the rock of plants. Frogs exposed to an enriched environment also released more eggs, with a significant increase in membrane potential compared...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad

Citation: Harr, J., Coyne, L., Chaudhry, A. et al. 2008. A study of the impact of environmental enrichment on Xenopus Leavis oocytes. Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) Quarterly 57 (3), 25.

Rabbit Enrichment and Exercise Program

Enrichment options for single-caged rabbits are described.

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Griese, C. 2008. Rabbit Enrichment and Exercise Program. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 13(4), 8.

The influence of visual stimulation on the behaviour of cats housed in a rescue shelter

This study explored the influence of 5 types of visual stimulation (1 control condition [no visual stimulation] and 4 experimental conditions [blank television screen; and, televised images depicting humans, inanimate movement, animate movement]) on the behaviour of 125 cats housed...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Ellis, S. L. H., Wells, D. L. 2008. The influence of visual stimulation on the behaviour of cats housed in a rescue shelter . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 113, 166-174.

The influence of age on the use of potential enrichment objects and synchronisation of behaviour of pigs

This experiment aimed to identify how a pig's age affected the extent and synchrony of use of different environmental enrichment materials, and how this use changed over time. Ten diverse novel objects were each presented to three replicate litters of...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Docking, C. M., Van de Weerd, H. A., Day, J. E. L. et al. 2008. The influence of age on the use of potential enrichment objects and synchronisation of behaviour of pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 110(3-4), 244-257.

A targeted approach to developing environmental enrichment for two strains of laboratory mice

Previous studies on environmental enrichment have generally placed a purported enrichment in the cage and observed changes in behavioural and physiological indicators of welfare. However, many of these enrichments are not purposely designed, or appear to be designed with anthropomorphic...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Nicol, C. J., Brocklebank, S., Mendl, M. et al. 2008. A targeted approach to developing environmental enrichment for two strains of laboratory mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 110(3-4), 341-353.

Study of environmental enrichment for mice using a Nestpak?

The use of Nestpaks proved to be a useful environmental enrichment for our mice, causing them to work in nest construction from start to finish rather than having a nest pre-constructed.

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Rustell, L. 2008. Study of environmental enrichment for mice using a Nestpak?. Animal Technology and Welfare 7(1), 21-23.

An investigation in the use of forage grains for laboratory rats

Small grains were scattered on the bedding rather than placed in food hopper. This added enrichment whilst maintaining the integrity of the study.

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Rownetree, M. 2008. An investigation in the use of forage grains for laboratory rats. AATEX (Alternatives to Animal Testing and Experimentation) 14(Special Issue), 65-67.