Calhoun’s experiments have since been lauded as being allegorical to the potential rise and fall of mankind. The rodents had driven themselves to extinction. By the end of the experiment, the population was all but gone. Over a two-year period, in this utopia, a small population of rodents lived, flourished, and reproduced to grow to a huge colony of 2,200.Īfter this milestone was reached, however, Calhoun noticed that the colony began exhibiting strange and self-destructive behaviors. Calhoun in the late 1960’s, Calhoun created a rodent utopia where food and water were in endless supply and living space allowed for increasing growth.
#Mouse miles series
In a famous series of experiments conducted by John B. Although their reproductive rates are alarming, rest assured nature has found a way to prevent overpopulation even if we can’t. Their ability to adapt to harsh conditions coupled with reproduction in large numbers make mice one of the most successful mammals at survival. In a safe environment where there is no shortage of males, a female mouse can produce anywhere from 7-8 litters a year, with each litter averaging around 10-14 pups. Mice are polyestrous, which means they can breed year round if living conditions are ideal. We can’t have a list of facts about mice and not include their reproductive habits. That certainly explains why they can be so difficult to catch. However, to put things in perspective, that’s the speed equivalent of an average sized human being running up to 160 mph.
In a world where we’re frightened of mice as much as they are of us, mice can also run up to 8 mph, which may not seem like much.
Mice can also travel across telephone or power lines, as well as wires like skilled tightrope walkers. If necessary, mice can also survive a fall of 10 – 12 feet. In addition, mice can use their whiskers to sense whether a surface is smooth or rough and suitable to climb. Their small claws allow them to latch onto most surfaces and climb quickly. There are not many mammals that can scale rough surfaces such as tree trunks or brick walls vertically like mice. In short, mice are exploratory by nature and can find their way in and around a home easily. Mice also use their urine as a way of leaving breadcrumbs to mark where they have previously explored. Their fur certainly makes them appear bigger than they are, but this feat is impressive nonetheless. While they don’t have collapsible skeletons like many believe, in most cases, they are able to fit through a hole as small as the size of a dime. Mice are burrowing animals and thus have an uncanny ability to squeeze through tight spaces. Their courage for exploration is only heightened by their agility and flexibility. From the cargo holds of merchant ships to surviving in deep forests, and finding refuge in houses and barns, they are practically unafraid of new surroundings or the presence of new objects (neophobia), unlike many animals. Mice have an incredible ability to adapt to changing surroundings and environments. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of 5 amazing and noteworthy facts we think you should know about the common mouse. It turns out that mice in real life share many of the same attributes as their fictional counterparts.
In many of these characters, the mouse is portrayed as being a crafty creature, quick on its feet, and proof that size doesn’t always matter so long as you are quick-witted and can easily adapt to your surroundings. Mice have also been featured in many literary works, oftentimes becoming the subject of fantasy and folklore, such as in Aesop’s Fables or Brian Jacques’s Redwall series.
With bygone cartoon shows like Mighty Mouse or Speedy Gonzalez to timeless characters such as Mickey Mouse, Ratatouille, and Jerry, their presence in television and movies is unmistakable. Although mice are often seen as a nuisance, it’s difficult to ignore the prolific role they play in popular culture.
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