EFFECTS OF EARLY HANDLING ON LATER BEHAVIOR AND STRESS RESPONSES IN THE SILVER FOX (VULPES-VULPES)

The effects of handling from 2 to 8 weeks of age were studied in 32 silver fox cubs up to 6 months of age and compared with the behaviour and stress parameters of 46 control cubs, raised under normal rearing conditions. Differences in fear of humans and novel stimuli measured by three different behavioural tests, differences in exploratory behaviour measured in a open field test and differences in levels of plasma cortisol were revealed and attributed to the handling of the experimental group. The behavioural and physiological results showed that handled animals were less stressed, whereas control animals showed signs of long-term stress. © 1990.