A basic understanding of mouse behavior is essential to properly care for these animals, to provide an adequate environment and to efficiently and effectively manage GEM colonies. A basic understanding of species-specific behavior will allow you to:

• Provide mice with an environment to enhance their well-being

• Recognize abnormal behaviors

• Minimize the influence of undesired behaviors in experimental results and animal welfare

This short course compiles basic knowledge on normal mouse behavior (mouse ethogram), along with a description of aberrant behaviors that can be observed in the laboratory mouse. It also provides hints on how to avoid or reduce these behaviors.