Mice

Introduction:
A mouse is a rodent that belongs to one of numerous species of small mammals. They usually have pointed snouts and small ears. The body is typically elongated with slender, usually hairless tails, but different types of mice show large variations.

Location:
Mice live in nearly all countries. Their natural habitat is very diverse, as they can be found in forests, savannahs, grasslands and rocky habitats. In Africa they tend to like the forest edge, savannah, and agricultural areas. Mice build nests for protection and warmth, mostly from grass, fibres, and shredded material, but species differ in their preferences.

Size:
Body dimensions vary considerably by species, although some approximate values are a length of 1" - 5" (28 - 130 mm) and weight of 2.5 to 34 grams.

Food:
Mice eat grains, fruits, and seeds for a regular diet. They will also eat meat, including the dead bodies of other mice. They have also been observed to eat their own tails during starvation. Grasshopper mice are an exception to the rule, being the only fully carnivorous mice.

Life Cycle:
Breeding onset is at about 50 days of age in both females and males. Mice breed year round, usually at night. The average gestation period is 20 days, and the average litter size is 10 - 12 during optimum production. The young are called pups and weigh 0.5 - 1.5 grams at birth, are hairless, and have closed eyelids and ears. Pups are weaned at 3 weeks of age. Due to heavy predation, the average mouse in the wild lives only about 5 months.

Predators:
Cats, wild dogs, foxes, birds of prey, snakes and even certain kinds of insects have been known to prey heavily upon mice. Nevertheless, due to its remarkable adaptability to almost any environment, and its ability to live commensally with humans, the mouse is regarded to be the third most successful mammalian species living on Earth today, after humans and the rat.

Interesting Facts:
· Mice do not like cheese due to its fatty texture, instead they like food that contains high sugar, although chocolate is toxic to them.
· Mice are colour blind - they cannot detect red pigment.
· Mouse-like species are among the oldest mammals. It has been proposed that higher mammals evolved from rodent-like species many millions of years ago.
· Mice are social animals, preferring to live in groups.
· Mice hibernate.

Help Protect Their Environment:
· Help preserve and encourage the protection of all areas that mice inhabit, including forests, savannahs, grasslands and rocky habitats. Even though they are sometimes regarded by humans as a major pest, due to the fact that they can cause damage to crops, mice are an important part of maintaining a balanced eco-system.