Effect of early outdoor experience on the activity of wild and semi‐domestic deermice

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Abstract
The gross activity of wild and semi‐domestic strains of prairie deermice was measured in two kinds of novel test apparatus (tilt‐cage and activity wheel). Differences in strain activity were not obtained in either apparatus. Activity was significantly decreased in both strains by early experience in the field and by rearing wild genotype subjects in large laboratory cages. It was suggested that differential early sensory experience associated with both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the early rearing environment may be responsible for the treatment effect. Whereas no daily changes in activity were noted in the tilt‐cages, activity in the wheels was sipnificantly higher on day 1 for all groups. In contrast to recent literature, wheel running activity did not change with total water deprivation.

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