Puncture versus capture: which stresses animals the most?

We examined the validity of the needle-threshold using the stre ss response of free-ranging snakes. Our results based on physiological markers show that blood sampling does not add any stress to that triggered by capture, and thus questions the usefulness of the needle-threshold to gauge welfare in wild animals. The specificities of studying wild species should be considered to redress captivity biased animal welfare policy.
Source: Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology - Category: Physiology Source Type: research