Under the Animal Welfare Act, which commonly used laboratory species are typically not covered and thus not subject to USDA licensing?

• A. Rats and Mice Only
• B. Rats, Mice, and Birds bred for research
• C. Dogs, Cats, and Primates
• D. Rabbits, Hamsters, and Ferrets

Answer: (B)

Not all animals used in laboratories fall under USDA licensing. The Animal Welfare Act explicitly excludes certain species from its coverage, even though they are commonly used in research. The animals that are not covered are rats, mice, and birds bred for research. That’s why facilities working with these species aren’t subject to USDA licensing for them, though they may still be governed by other oversight like IACUC review and, when applicable, the Public Health Service policy. In contrast, animals such as dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs are included under the AWA and do require USDA licensing and inspections.