Benefits of providing nesting material as a form of environmental enrichment for mice.
Husbandry conditions in a laboratory environment can be barren and monotonous. Improving those conditions by providing opportunities for laboratory mice to engage in species-specific behavior can improve their mental and physical well-being. Giving the animals choices and control over their environment is key to reducing stress. Nesting is a normal behavior of mice, and giving mice nesting opportunities allows them to choose how and where to create their nest and provides them a means of thermoregulation in their microenvironment.
Froberg-Fejko
Karen M
KM
Bio-Serv, Frenchtown, NJ, USA. kfroberg@bio-serv.com
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D009425:Nesting Behavior; D010209:Paper