Recent studies have indicated that the method choice in handling laboratory mice is important to animal welfare. Hurst & West 20101, showed that handling mice via their tail induces aversion and high anxiety, whereas using alternatives such as a tunnel or the open hand leads to voluntary approach to the handler, low anxiety and readily accepting some physical restraint. Hurst and West's findings were consistent across strains and sex of laboratory mice, handlers with differing levels of experience and different light periods (light/dark).
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