Nest building is observed in a wide variety of rodents to provide shelter and as a means to thermoregulate in changing environmental conditions. Motivation and ability to build a functioning nest are therefore critical to health and survival and monitoring nesting can illuminate problems in normal functioning. Tests to quantify nesting are quick, easy, and capture behaviors inherent to an animal's day-to-day routine. Better understanding the specific nest building behaviors of prairie voles may provide an early or more subtle indication of impaired functional outcomes, for example in routine post-operative procedures, and that interventions may be needed to prevent the progression of disease.