By: Aileen Thai

The Field Mouse is a cousin to the rat and the two share certain attributes. The Field Mouse and the rat have similar colored fur. Their fur can be black, brown, and white, although more often mice will be more white or grey than others. Field Mice do not have large front teeth like rats and their claws are much smaller. A full grown Field Mouse is between 10 to 20 nails breadth across, including its tail. The tail is usually as long as the body and is completely hairless. It has extremely small, though sharp claws attached to its stubby legs.

Unlike the rat, the Field Mouse is unusually intelligent. It has been proven by researchers that Field Mice will, if given the time, to think out a strategy before doing something. A Field Mouse is also unusually fast for its size. It can move its legs incredibly fast and go at a speed of almost ten strals per hour. Its sense of smell is much better than a man’s.

Field Mice are found in all places of moderate temperature. There are very few in cities but many more live out in the open fields or forests.

Field Mice are scavengers. They will eat anything they think they can. They occasionally dig through homes to find food and stay there for shelter inside the walls. Most buildings are home to at least one Mouse which quietly eats whatever it can before running back to its home. Field Mice have many enemies, more than any other creature. These mice are eaten by snakes, cats, dogs, hawks, owls, bears, wolves, rabbits, and almost any other animal it gets too close to. This is probably why the Field Mouse is nocturnal, to avoid many predators. Field Mice assess situations before doing anything and if they judge it to be too risky, or impossible, or useless, they will not do it. They are often assumed to act like a coward but more are cautious, and they consciously look out for themselves and their family. Mice unfortunately are prone to carry disease, and virulent things all the same. In defense from predators, like owls or snakes or a plant Field Mice blend in with their surroundings. Their small, solid colored coat, make them appear to be a rock of sorts. They dart under bushes or other things to avoid being sighted by birds, and they often run into nooks and crannies to avoid being caught if they’re chased. Even with all these defenses the Field Mouse is going to be eaten. Wild Field Mice have an unknown life expectancy due to the fact that all the tracked ones were eaten before they were two years of age.

Mice mate very often. It is said that once a month the female is pregnant. During this time the male will bring extra food and take extra risks for its mate. After two weeks of pregnancy the mother births three to five baby mice. When the mice are born all of them are temporarily blind, as well as deaf and bald. Almost instantly their hair starts growing slowly. After approximately three days they're able to hear, one week later their eyes open. A mouse is usually fully grown in about three weeks and leaves its mother with ways on how to survive.

I think that this mouse is a very smart and cute little rodent. I think these mice play an important role in life because it is always eaten by an animal so that animal could survive. These little critters mate very often and the female gets pregnant every month. I think these mammals are the best I’ve ever done a report on! That’s all I’ll tell you about these cute and courageous animals!!