Environmental Enrichment

Modification of a dog cage for use as an exercise unit for rabbits

The Guide for the Care and Use of Animals and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (AWR) outline minimum space requirements for laboratory animals, including rabbits. These documents encourage housing of animals in enclosures that allow adequate freedom of movement and...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Williams-Fritze, M. J., Altieri, J. A., Clough, C. et al. 2010. Modification of a dog cage for use as an exercise unit for rabbits. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 703 (Abstract #P70).

Visual aid for creating enrichment items

Enrichment devices are administered to laboratory animals to reduce abnormal behaviors and to promote species typical behaviors (for example, foraging and nest building). With a diverse collection of species that require numerous enrichment options, a laboratory enrichment schedule can become...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Vyas, D., Mayfield, K. L. 2010. Visual aid for creating enrichment items. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 705 (Abstract #P76).

Preference of Syrian hamsters to nest in old versus new bedding

This study tested whether Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) have an aversion to old bedding (up to 14 days) by offering them the option to nest in a new cage. A secondary goal was to assess the relative value of shelters...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Veillette, M., Reebs, S. G. 2010. Preference of Syrian hamsters to nest in old versus new bedding. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 125(3-4), 189-194.

Designing environments for aged primates

In order to prevent physical and psychological deterioration in older animals, it is important to apply the same principles of environmental enrichment and housing as are applied to younger animals. As we have discussed above, the needs of aged individuals...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Waitt, C. D., Bushmitz, M., Honess, P. E. 2010. Designing environments for aged primates. Laboratory Primate Newsletter, 49(3), 5-9.

Preventing boredom in NHPs using fleece fabric and food treats

Recently, I devised yet another way to use this fleece material to enhance the environments of our animals. To this end, I sought out a way to present food enrichment to our animals so that they would have to solve...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Lozano, A., West, A., Leland, S. et al. 2010. Preventing boredom in NHPs using fleece fabric and food treats. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 15(5), page numbers missing.

The effect of environmental enrichment on the behavior of captive tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)

The authors provided different forms of environmental enrichment to six old laboratory male tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) and studied the behavior of the monkeys during a baseline period and during three enrichment periods. Each observation period lasted 5 d,...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Capuchin, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Jacobsen, K. R. 2010. The effect of environmental enrichment on the behavior of captive tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Lab Animal 39(9), 269-277.

Primate foraging ice blocks: Cool treats and interactive eats

The [ice] blocks provide a stimulating foraging experience for the NHPs. The blocks last up to an hour fully melting; however, most NHPs have them broken apart and are eating them within 15 minutes. Some primates pick up the ice...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Buck, C., Pittman, P., Coburn, A. et al. 2011. Primate foraging ice blocks: Cool treats and interactive eats. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 16(3), 2.

Factors affecting aggression among females in captive groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Captive groups of primates often exhibit higher rates of aggression than wild, free-ranging groups. It is important to determine which factors influence aggression in captivity because aggression, particularly intense aggression, can be harmful to animal health and well-being. In this...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Beisner, B. A., Isbell, L. A. 2011. Factors affecting aggression among females in captive groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 73(11), 1152-1159.

Environmental enrichment induces optimistic cognitive bias in rats

People's affective or emotional state can alter their cognitive processing, biasing interpretation of ambiguous stimuli. Those in a more positive state interpret such stimuli in a more optimistic manner than those in a negative state. Recently this research has extended...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Brydges, N. M., Leach, M., Nicol, K. et al. 2011. Environmental enrichment induces optimistic cognitive bias in rats. Animal Behaviour 81(1), 169-175.

Evaluation of nesting materials for use in nude mouse colonies

Nesting material has been reported to be beneficial to mice by providing environmental enrichment as well as a means of thermoregulation. Cotton nesting material has been reported to cause conjunctivitis in athymic nude mice. We evaluated 3 different paper-based nesting...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Breegi, S. 2011. Evaluation of nesting materials for use in nude mouse colonies. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 782 (Abstract #P171).