Transcervical artificial insemination in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1998)17:53.3.CO;2-0 The research was undertaken to develop a successful nonsurgical procedure for artificially inseminating ferrets. A fiberoptic endoscope used in conjunction with a specially designed speculum and catheter permitted cervical catheterization and intrauterine insemination. Sperm were collected from the cauda epididymides of 10 discarded breeder males; the number of sperm in diluted samples used […]
The influence of handling and exposure to a ferret on body temperature and running wheel activity of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)
In order to determine a stress response, two groups of twenty male golden hamsters were either exposed to a ferret or handled by a human. The hamsters’ body temperature and running wheel activity were measured as stress correlates. Half of the hamsters’ cages were equipped with a functional running wheel to determine whether the presence […]
Social play or the development of social behavior in ferrets (Mustela putorius)
Ferrets are the domesticated form of the European polecat. Changes in ferret kit, face to face orientation (en face) were described for littermate dyads at 46, 62, and 94 days after birth. En face characteristics were discussed in terms of their appropriateness for reported burrow attachment and subsequent dispersal of polecat kits to illustrate both […]
Ferrets’ (Mustela putorius furo) enrichment priorities and preferences as determined in a seven-chamber consumer demand study
Knowledge of species-specific motivation and preferences for enrichment options is necessary to put in place an appropriate enrichment plan. This knowledge is currently lacking for ferrets. Therefore, seven female ferrets were consecutively housed in a seven-chamber closed economy consumer demand set-up consisting of a corridor that was connected to six enrichment chambers (EC) and an […]