Animals, Volume 12, Issue 9
2022 May-1 - 174 articles
Cover Story: How ferrets are housed and the environmental enrichment provided can directly impact their health and wellbeing. Through an online survey reaching ferret caretakers from pet, laboratory, zoo, rescue, and working sectors, we describe ferret housing, enrichment, the enrichments ferrets most enjoy and those which may be problematic. From 754 responses, most ferrets were housed socially, and housing varied from single-level cages to free-range housing. Environmental enrichments ferrets reportedly enjoyed most were digging, tunnels, human interaction, and exploration. Scent trails were reported to be among the most enjoyable enrichments but were rarely provided. Problematic enrichment included rubber items, which could be chewed and swallowed, and narrow tunnels and fabrics trapping ferrets. Our results suggest all sectors have room to improve housing and enrichment to better ferret welfare. View this paper - Issues are regarded as officially published after their release is announced to the table of contents alert mailing list .
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