Foraging cost and meal patterns in ferrets

The response of ferrets to changes in the cost of obtaining food was studied by systematically increasing the number of responses necessary to gain access to a feeder, consistent with an ecological analysis of feeding.

Abstract

The response of ferrets to changes in the cost of obtaining food was studied by systematically increasing the number of responses necessary to gain access to a feeder. The results obtained were consistent with an ecological analysis of feeding. As cost increased, meal frequency declined and meal size increased. These changes in feeding allowed the ferrets to obtain sufficient food intake to maintain growth, while conserving total time and energy spent procuring food.