The Welfare of Laboratory Rodents

Mice and rats make up over 95% of research animals but have fewer legal protections than other species.

Key Facts

Mice and rats are excluded from the US Animal Welfare Act
Over 100 million mice are used in research annually worldwide
Enriched housing significantly improves rodent welfare without compromising research quality
Rodents demonstrate empathy, play, and ultrasonic communication indicating rich inner lives

Welfare Considerations

Laboratory mice and rats experience significant suffering from research procedures, yet receive the least legal protection of any commonly used research species. Enriched housing — with nesting material, tunnels, and social companions — dramatically improves rodent welfare and has been shown to improve research quality and reproducibility. Extending legal protections to mice and rats would require ethical review of their use and incentivize welfare improvements without eliminating necessary research.

What You Can Do

Support extending Animal Welfare Act protections to mice and rats
Advocate for mandatory enrichment in laboratory rodent housing
Support the 3Rs framework in research that uses mice and rats
Choose products from companies that require humane rodent research standards