Mouse: In order to make a living, what kind of environment have I not lived in?

I am Dong Dong Meow

Talking animals are so fun!

This issue of Animal Science

We get closer to the talking mouse in 60 seconds!

Late at night, Dongdongmiao was squatting beside a granary in the village when he saw a mouse quietly poking its head out.

Dongdongmeow: "Hey, little guy, you're running pretty fast!"

The mouse stopped alertly and asked, "Who? Who's there?"

Dongdongmeow: "Don't pretend, I'm Dongdongmeow, catching mice is my specialty."

The mouse shrank back into the hole a little and said hesitantly: "I... I'm just passing by, not here to steal food!"

Dongdongmeow: "Passing by? What's in your mouth?"

The mouse opened his mouth and spat out a grain of rice: "Ahem, I brought it back for the children to taste."

Dongdongmeow: "Okay, since you are so smart, I won't chase you."

The mouse tilted its head and smiled, "But Master Meow, you look quite strange. From a distance, you look like a fox."

Dongdongmiao rolled his eyes: "Don't talk nonsense, or I'll catch you."

Rats are active in rural areas at night all year round, especially in granaries, fields and kitchens.

They are agile and can move through extremely narrow gaps, and survive by stealing food and grains.

Dongdong Miao asked curiously: "Are you tired of running around so nervously every day?"

Mouse: "I'm tired, but if I don't run I won't get any food."

Dongdongmeow: "Why don't you eat something else, like the fruit peels on the ground?"

The mouse sighed: "That's too hard to chew. Grain is still more delicious."

Although mice are often annoying, we have to admit that they have strong survival abilities.

Common species in rural areas, such as the brown rat and the house mouse, can reproduce and thrive in simple environments in astonishing numbers, becoming elusive thieves that farmers cannot guard against.

Once, Dongdong Miao was "patrolling" and saw a little mouse bump into a basin full of water and couldn't climb out.

Dongdong Meow: "Hahaha, let's see if you can still run away?"

Little mouse: "Master Meow, I admit my mistake, please let me go."

Dongdongmeow said proudly: "That won't do. You were just laughing at me for not catching you."

The little mouse struggled: "Laugh as much as you can, you're laughing at me for being fat!"

Dongdongmiao sneered: "It seems that you are a master of talking nonsense in the mouse world."

The little mouse continued to laugh: "Oh, this is not a joke."

Dongdongmeow: "Okay, let's see how long you can jump around."

Popular science knowledge here

1. Rats are good at surviving in cracks and can escape when being chased.

Rats (such as Rattus norvegicus and Rattus houseus) are active mainly at night and live in human living areas such as granaries, fields, and kitchens. They are good at getting in and out through narrow gaps. They are highly adaptable and can survive in complex environments. They are good at avoiding natural enemies and human pursuit.

2. Rats are picky eaters and are not very interested in things like fruit peels.

Rats mainly feed on high-energy carbohydrates such as grains and cereals. They prefer easy-to-chew, nutritious foods (such as grains), as well as seeds and nuts such as sunflower seeds and peanuts. They are less interested in foods high in fiber, such as fruit peels. Rats make their living by stealing crops and stored food, which is one of the reasons why they often become a nuisance to humans. In addition, insects and small animals, as well as human food waste, are sometimes also food for rats.

3. Rats have amazing reproduction and survival abilities.

Rats can reproduce rapidly in simple environments and have a large population. Their amazing reproductive capacity allows them to quickly occupy territory, and their super strong adaptability (such as flexible movement and hidden habits) makes them a stubborn pest that is difficult to prevent in rural areas.

Review expert: Zhang Niya, associate professor of the Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Huazhong Agricultural University

Produced by: Dongdongmeow