Abstract
An artificial burrow was developed which fits into standard laboratory
cages and significantly reduces stereotypic digging in
gerbils. Also, the causes of bar-chewing were assessed experimentally.
Neither the lack of gnawing material, nor the spatial
proximity of cage-lid bars and food in the hopper, nor the routine
husbandry procedure of transferring juvenile gerbils to a
fresh cage, but premature separation of juvenile gerbils from
their parents before the birth of younger siblings significantly
increased bar-chewing.
Waiblinger, E