Cash for mouse tails – what’s behind this Swiss tradition?

This content was published on January 30, 2026 - 17:22

1 minute

I focus on service journalism and am responsible for our page "Moving abroad made easy, as well as for marketing projects and editorial tasks. I also produce and host video and audio content. Originally from French-speaking Switzerland, I now live in Zurich and am a ZHAW graduate. Previously, I worked as an editor and anchor for outlets such as SonntagsBlick, BlickTV and Watson.

Alexandra Gföhler

Deutsch

Bargeld für Mäuseschwänze – Was hat es mit dieser Schweizer Tradition auf sich? Original
Français

Argent contre queues de souris – quelle est cette tradition suisse?
Italiano

Denaro per le code di topo – cosa è questa tradizione svizzera?
Português

Dinheiro em troca de caudas de ratos – que tradição suíça é essa?
Русский

Оплата наличными за мышиные хвосты – что за странная швейцарская традиция?

You can make money from mouse tails in Switzerland. It might sound like a joke, but it’s a real Swiss tradition. Find out why it was introduced and how much money you can earn from it in the video.

Read our article to learn more:

Swiss oddities

Cash for mouse tails: a dying Swiss tradition?

This content was published on Jan 31, 2026 Paying hunters – usually children – about a franc per tail remains an official strategy in some regions of Switzerland.

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Cash for mouse tails – what’s behind this Swiss tradition?

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