IACUC Policy 001: Laboratory Animal Environmental Enrichment

1. Purpose: To ensure all laboratory animals housed at Ohio University are provided with adequate and appropriate environmental enrichment.

2. Scope: All laboratory animals housed at Ohio University will be evaluated by LAR for appropriate forms of environmental enrichment. Some form of enrichment (social or physical) will be provided to all animals, unless specifically contraindicated by an approved IACUC protocol.

3. Frequency: LAR animal care staff will review all new species and IACUC protocol limitations, to ensure appropriate environmental enrichment is met.

4. Policy:

• Group housing for all social species will be the default unless not appropriate for the individual animal or contraindicated by IACUC approved protocol design or veterinary consideration.
• Methods of environmental enrichment may include, but not limited to:
  • social housing
  • manipulata
  • naturalistic caging or bedding materials
  • food stuffs
  • human contact/training
• For rodents, all mice will be provided nestlets and group housing will be provided whenever possible. Rats will be group housed when possible, unless contraindicated by protocol design.
• Small mammals will be evaluated by species and protocol limitations and provided appropriate caging and caging furniture to allow for species specific behaviors when possible (such as foraging, climbing, nesting, hide boxes, etc.).
• Fish, reptiles and amphibians will be provided naturalistic environments when possible, as well as foraging opportunities with natural feeds, basking areas, and hiding areas, when not limited by protocol design.

5.    Change History: