Every day, in laboratories across Switzerland, mice are picked up, moved, weighed or examined. These small actions happen thousands of times, and for a long time, hardly anyone questioned how they were done.
But how a mouse is handled matters more than it might seem. Researchers have shown that lifting mice by the tail causes stress and anxiety (1). This affects animal welfare, but it also affects science: stressed animals behave differently, making experimental results less reliable (2). Gentler methods, such as guiding mice into a small tunnel or lifting them in cupped hands, significantly reduce these effects (3).
Examples of mouse handling techniques used in laboratory research: (a) tunnel handling; (b) cup handling; (c) tail handling.
These approaches differ in their impact on animal stress and welfare. Both tunnel and cup handling are considered to be gentle handling techniques.
The good news? Swiss scientists are using the gentler methods in their daily work.
A recent report from the Swiss 3R Competence Centre shows that mouse handling practices in Switzerland have changed rapidly. Nation-wide surveys carried out in 2020 and 2024 reveal a clear shift towards gentle handling techniques.
By 2024, more than 85% of respondents had tried gentle handling, with tunnel handling leading the way. The change can be seen among scientists in different roles and universities, and is especially strong among people who entered the field more recently (yes, the young ones). Satisfaction has risen too: users rate gentle handling methods more positively now than they did just four years ago.
What is driving this shift? First and foremost, concern for animal welfare. Many professionals also point to better research quality as a key motivation. Training and information efforts (in Switzerland and internationally) appear to be paying off. Gentle handling is increasingly seen not as an idealistic recommendation, but as a practical improvement that makes daily work better for both animals and researchers.
The picture is not entirely friction-free. Respondents still report that gentle handling can take more time and lead to spending more. These practical constraints help explain why adoption is not yet universal, and they remain important when planning wider implementation.
Since February 2025, Swiss law has made one thing explicit: animals must be handled with care, and stressful methods such as tail handling must be replaced by gentler alternatives. This clear legal signal is likely to accelerate implementation rapidly across laboratories.
Law is the strongest driver of change we have, but it cannot do everything. Most progress on the 3Rs will never come from legislation alone. The story of mouse handling shows what else works: collecting data, sharing evidence, and making better practices visible. These efforts can shift mentalities, and in turn, change daily routines for the better.
Sometimes, refinement doesn’t come from new technology or complex innovation. It starts with something as basic as how you pick up a mouse.
References
- Hurst, J.L. & West, R.S. (2010). Taming anxiety in laboratory mice. Nature Methods, 7, 825–826.
- Gouveia, K. & Hurst, J.L. (2017). Optimising reliability of mouse performance in behavioural testing: the major role of non-aversive handling. Scientific Reports, 7: 44999.
- Gouveia, K. & Hurst, J.L. (2013). Reducing mouse anxiety during handling: effect of experience with handling tunnels. PLoS ONE, 8(6): e66401.