Environmental Enrichment for Rats
By Dr. Emily Patterson-Kane, University of British Columbia

These contented rats observe a camera for the first time. They enjoy riding to the maze in this open cage and the reward they receive at the end of the maze. (Greg Morton/Media Group, UBC)

Most scientists strive to maintain research animals under hygienic conditions. Recently, some scientists' concern with animal behaviour and well-being has increased. Discussions about the role of animals in science have broadened, including topics such as scientist-animal relationships and people's emotional reaction to the killing of research animals.

Old pigeon cages with shelves and nestboxes make ideal group cages for rats. (Greg Morton/Media Group, UBC)

One outcome is that many researchers provide more stimulating living conditions for their animals, "environmental enrichment." Research is being conducted to determine which environmental features are important to animals, by measuring their behaviour and preferences. This approach helps us design habitats that allow animals to satisfy their needs and perform their natural behaviours.

My personal research has shown that as colony-dwelling animals, rats require contact with their own kind; as small burrowing animals they want a secure nest-box more than a novel object to investigate; as a prey species they prefer cages that don't leave them stranded out in the open.

While a number of organizations globally promote effective environmental enrichment, many factors slow the implementation of enriched conditions in our laboratories. Traditional husbandry methods are relatively slow to change. Meanwhile, the increasing use of small, individually ventilated cages limits the amount of beneficial space, social contact, handling, and other enrichment that can be provided easily.

Providing high-quality care for research animals is sometimes difficult, requiring one to attain new information, weigh various options, and make changes that may seem inconvenient. Nevertheless, the momentum for improved animal welfare in animal-centred science is building. Animal sciences must honour the ethical values of our society...including the valuable opinions of our rats.

References

AALAS (2001) Cost of Caring: Recognising Human Emotions in the Care of Laboratory Animals. Memphis: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.

Birke, L & Michael, M. (1992). The researchers’ dilemma. New Scientist, 4 April, 25-8.

Davis, H & Balfour, D (1992). The Inevitable Bond: Examining Scientist-Animal Interactions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Iliff, S. A. & Davis, H. (2001). Remembering the Animals: North American Success Stories and Struggles. 52nd AALAS National Meeting, October 21-25, 2001.

Lynch, M. E. (1988). Sacrifice and the transformation of the animal body into a scientific object: laboratory culture and ritual practice in the neurosciences. Social Studies of Science, 18, 265-89.

Patterson-Kane, E. G. (2001). Cage size preferences of laboratory rats. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, in press.

Poole, T. (1997). Happy animals make good science. Laboratory Animals, 31, 116-124.

Wemelsfelder, F. (1997), Animal boredom – a model of chronic suffering in captive animals and its consequences for environmental enrichment, Humane Innovations and Alternatives, 8,