Traditionally, mice are picked up by the base of the tail to be moved for cage change, exams, or procedures. Now, evidence shows that picking mice up with tunnels, huts or cupped hands is an important, impactful 3Rs refinement.
Tunnel Handling: Requires equipment, but minimal habituation is required. Best for less experienced handlers, wild/jumpy/aggressive mice, naïve mice, or biosecurity concerns.
Cupping: No additional equipment is required, but habituation is essential. Best for more experienced handlers, outbred or older mice, habituated mice, pups and young weanlings, mice with delicate implants, and large mice that can’t fit in tunnels.
Hut handling: Requires equipment (mouse hut/shelter), which may already be present in cages as environmental enrichment in some facilities. Hut handling is well-suited for handlers of all experience levels, as well as for use with jumpy, aggressive, or naïve mice, and in situations with biosecurity concerns.
*Different strains may also be better suited for tunnel handling vs. cupping vs. hut handling.
These videos from University of Liverpool show how to use a tunnel or cupped hands to pick up mice prior to conducting normal procedures (e.g., restraint, injection).
*Additional considerations when hut handling jumpy mice: Once the mouse is in the hut, you may use one hand to gently cover the top (exposed part) of the hut.
For more detailed instructions please see NC3Rs Mouse Handling Video Clips.
or their full mouse handling tutorial.