Comparison of the Effects Produced by Fasting on Gross Bodily Activity of Wild and Domesticated Norway Rats

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Abstract
Comparable groups of domesticated and wild Norway rats were approximately equally active during a.10-day control period. During fasting the domesticated rats became only 32% more active, the wild rats 142% more active. Thus, even without considering the various other disadvantages of a domesticated animal in the free state, its lower level of activity in response to starvation would provide fewer opportunities of finding food and so decrease its chances of survival.