A water valve hole coverplate for reducing traumatic death in mice

Mice often attempted to escape through the opening for an automatic water valve when hanging wire cages were opened. Traumatic death or injury resulted when the cage was closed. To minimize these deaths and injuries, a coverplate was designed and tested. The coverplate prevented mice from escaping through the water valve hole during times when the cage was open and eliminated traumatic deaths or injury from being crushed by the valve as the cage was closed.