Top 10 Facts About Mice and Rats
Many people see rats and mice as pests and annoying little street animals whose only purpose is to take over your pantry. However, there are stories behind these little rodents: smart, agile, and hardy creatures that deserve a better reputation than that of a dirty street rodent. I'm happy to share more about these fascinating little animals.Mice and rats are both rodents, and both have long tails. They also share a love for cheese and food. Which one is your favorite?
Mice have a remarkable ability to fit through tiny openings that are much smaller than themselves. Some mice can make it through gaps as small as 6 millimeters, which is smaller than half of a dime!
Mice are among the four mammals that can sing. Joining mice on the list are whales, bats, and of course, humans. Male mice will serenade the females they are courting with an ultrasonic song.
This is true for all rodents; their teeth never stop growing and continue to grow throughout their lifetime. They usually need something to chew on to keep their incisors trimmed.
From the Latin word "mus," meaning "mouse." It is also known as "murophobia," from the word "murine." This word comes from "Muridae," the scientific term for the family of animals that includes mice and rats.
According to the CDC, these diseases include salmonellosis, hantavirus, and rat-bite fever. The infections may be spread through droppings, urine, saliva, rodent bites, or through fleas or ticks that have fed on an infected rodent (like the bubonic plague!).
For one mouse, the average litter size is 10-12. They can start to reproduce at only six weeks of age, so it doesn't take long for a few mice to create an infestation.
Scientists found that rats will force themselves to eat food they don't like if they know that some of their fellow rats have eaten it.
Often ranked in the company of dolphins and chimpanzees! They can memorize routes and solve puzzles, which means they can often find their way back into a shelter if their "usual" entrance has been blocked off.
They can hold their breath for a long time and tread water for as long as three days.
