Prey animals including sheep, rabbits and deer have evolved hypervigilance and fear responses that create specific welfare challenges in agricultural and captive settings.
Understanding that prey animals have evolved fundamentally different fear responses than predator species is essential for their welfare assessment and management. These animals mask pain and injury as a survival strategy — revealing weakness attracts predators. Their stress responses are triggered by subtle cues that humans often do not recognize: novel sounds, unfamiliar smells, loss of visual contact with companions, or sudden movements. Managing these species well requires knowledge of their ethology, patience, and facilities designed around their behavioral needs. The tendency to judge prey animal welfare by the absence of obvious distress misses significant suffering that these animals are physiologically motivated to conceal.