What Is a Mouse Glue Board and How Does It Work?

A mouse glue board is a flat substrate—typically corrugated cardboard or plastic—coated on one or both faces with a high-tack, pressure-sensitive adhesive. When a mouse walks across the surface, its feet, fur, and body become entrapped by the adhesive, immobilising the animal without the use of mechanical snap mechanisms or chemical rodenticides.

The adhesive is formulated to maintain tackiness across a wide temperature range encountered in laboratory environments (typically 4 °C to 37 °C) and is resistant to dust accumulation over short deployment periods. Because no toxicants are involved, glue boards present minimal chemical risk to surrounding research materials, cage-rack systems, or non-target species when used as directed.

Glue boards function as both a capture device and a monitoring tool: the pattern and frequency of captures provide facility managers with actionable data on rodent pressure and entry points, supporting evidence-based pest management decisions.

Placement Guidelines for Laboratory and Animal Facility Use

Effective deployment of mouse glue boards requires strategic placement informed by rodent behavioural biology. Mice are thigmotactic—they preferentially travel along walls and in corners rather than across open spaces. Boards should therefore be positioned flush against walls, in corners, behind equipment, and along known or suspected runways.

Key placement recommendations include:

• Orientation: Place boards with the adhesive face up and the long axis parallel to the wall.
• Spacing: In areas of high rodent pressure, position boards every 3–5 m along active runways; in monitoring mode, 6–10 m intervals are acceptable.
• Environment: Avoid placement in areas of standing water, extreme humidity, or direct airflow from HVAC vents, as these conditions reduce adhesive performance.
• Labelling: Mark each board with a unique identifier, deployment date, and responsible personnel name to support audit trails.
• Inspection frequency: Check boards at least every 24 hours in active infestation scenarios, and at least weekly during routine monitoring.

In registered animal research facilities, placement must not interfere with the welfare of research animals housed in the facility. Boards should never be placed inside animal housing rooms where accidental contact by research subjects could occur, unless specifically authorised by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or equivalent body.

Handling, Disposal, and Humane Considerations

Personnel handling deployed glue boards must follow standard biosafety precautions applicable to wild or facility-escaped rodents, including the use of chemical-resistant gloves and, where indicated, respiratory protection. Rodents captured on glue boards may harbour zoonotic pathogens; treat all captured animals as potentially infectious.

Humane handling: Institutions operating under animal welfare regulations (e.g., the US Animal Welfare Act, EU Directive 2010/63/EU, or equivalent national legislation) should consult their veterinary or IACUC team before deploying glue traps. Captured animals that are alive must be attended to promptly to minimise suffering. Recommended humane endpoints include cervical dislocation or CO₂ asphyxiation performed by trained personnel, in accordance with institutional guidelines and applicable regulations.

Removal of captured animals: Vegetable oil or similar food-grade release agents can be used to gently free animals from the adhesive if live release is required under a specific protocol. Do not pull animals free by force, as this causes injury.

Disposal: Used glue boards with captured animals should be placed in a sealed biohazard bag and disposed of according to the institution's solid biological waste policy. Do not attempt to reuse boards that have captured animals.

Integration into an Institutional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program

Mouse glue boards are most effective when used as a component of a broader Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy rather than as a standalone solution. IPM combines proactive exclusion, sanitation, monitoring, and targeted intervention to minimise rodent pressure with the least possible risk to human health, research integrity, and the environment.

Within an IPM framework, glue boards serve primarily as a monitoring and detection tool. Capture data should be logged systematically—recording board ID, location, date, number and species of animals captured, and any other observations—to generate trend data that informs decision-making.

Complementary IPM measures that enhance the effectiveness of glue board programs include:

• Sealing entry points (gaps around pipes, doors, and utility penetrations) to reduce rodent ingress.
• Eliminating harborage by maintaining tidy storage areas and removing clutter.
• Proper storage of food and bedding materials in sealed containers.
• Staff training on early signs of rodent activity (droppings, gnaw marks, grease trails).
• Regular facility inspections by a qualified pest management professional.

Documentation of all IPM activities, including glue board deployment maps and capture logs, supports regulatory compliance (e.g., AAALAC accreditation, GLP compliance) and facilitates rapid response to emerging infestations.