Which of the following is a form of structural enrichment?

Which of the following is a form of structural enrichment?

• A. Puzzle feeder
• B. Resting board
• C. Balls
• D. Forage mixes

Answer: (B)

Structural enrichment involves changes to the animal’s living environment that create new surfaces, spaces, or opportunities for interaction with the habitat itself. A resting board adds a horizontal platform in the enclosure, giving the animal a new place to lie down, stretch, or perch. This directly changes the structure of the cage and supports natural resting behaviors, which is exactly what structural enrichment aims to provide. The other options focus on activities or feeding challenges: a puzzle feeder promotes cognitive problem-solving and foraging behavior, forage mixes increase foraging opportunities through diet, and balls are movable toys for interaction but do not alter the habitat’s structure. So the resting board is the form of structural enrichment.

Structural enrichment involves changes to the animal’s living environment that create new surfaces, spaces, or opportunities for interaction with the habitat itself. A resting board adds a horizontal platform in the enclosure, giving the animal a new place to lie down, stretch, or perch. This directly changes the structure of the cage and supports natural resting behaviors, which is exactly what structural enrichment aims to provide. The other options focus on activities or feeding challenges: a puzzle feeder promotes cognitive problem-solving and foraging behavior, forage mixes increase foraging opportunities through diet, and balls are movable toys for interaction but do not alter the habitat’s structure. So the resting board is the form of structural enrichment.