Evaluation of Baseline Behavioral Tests in Ferrets

As the smallest mammal with a gyrencephalic cerebral cortex, ferrets are becoming increasingly important animal models to study neurological disorders. In order for them to be optimally used, typical behavioral measurements are highly desirable. To ascertain a baseline level of behavior, we conducted a battery of tests assessing motor, social, memory, headache, and aspects of depressive-like behavior. Adult male ferrets participated in open field, beam walk, sucrose preference, eye contact, light/dark box, socialization, and novel object recognition tests. The animals were assessed in three cohorts, which differed in age, with the youngest group being approximately 1 year younger than the oldest. Small, but significant, differences occurred between the youngest cohort and the older groups in several areas, suggesting that age may be an important factor when evaluating ferret behavior. Ferrets showed a high level of sociability in the eye contact tests and with novel animal preference. These experiments represent an important baseline of expected normative results that can provide a reference for normal ferret behavior and expected variability.