By Kate
By Kate
Introduction: The mouse is one of the smallest mammals. Its scientific name is the Microtus Pennsylvanicus. It is a very interesting mammal. There are many different kinds of mice. This report is about field mice. I hope you enjoy it and learn a lot.
Habitat: Field mice live in fields, meadows, gardens and swamps. In fact, they have such a big family that you can find them anywhere except Antarctica. They do not live in Antarctica because it is too cold for them.
Physical Description: Some of the most noticed features of mice are their small pointed noses, their whiskers, their small black eyes, their round ears and their long scaly tails. Mice weigh about one ounce (twenty-eight grams). Their heads and bodies are three to four inches long not including their tails. A mouse's tail is almost as long as its body. They have five toes on each of their four feet and each toe has a sharp claw. Their claws help them grip onto things when they climb. Mice have two kinds of teeth. They have incisors which are their front teeth and cheeks which are their back teeth. Incisors are the teeth with sharp edges used to gnaw on things. Cheeks are flat teeth which are used for eating.
Niche and Service to Humanity: Mice are herbivores. They keep the weed and plant population down. This is great service to humans and other animals. Mice help people a lot. Some scientists study mice. Other people keep mice as pets but not house mice or field mice. Pet mice are very easy to care for and they do not need much attention. They are very playful and active. They will run and jump all over their cages. If you have more than one mouse they will probably groom each other. Some mice will eat out of their owner's hands if they are trained properly. They can also be trained to sit on their owner's shoulder.
Books and Movies: One of the most famous cartoon characters -- Mickey Mouse -- is based on a mouse (of course!). Just think about Disney: "it all started with a mouse!". Another famous mouse is found in the book Stuart Little by E. B. White.
Feeding Habits: Mice eat a lot of things such as food crumbs, corn, grain, fruit, nuts, seeds and insects. Actually mice will eat almost anything that won't eat them first! Some mice eat their own weight in food everyday. They need to be active night and day so they can get enough food. Instead of sleeping at night they take short naps throughout the day. Mice eat more food in the fall. They store their food in burrows and other hiding places.
Predators: Mice are prey so they have a lot of enemies. Some animals that eat mice include weasels, birds, foxes, snakes and owls; basically anything that is bigger than them will eat them. Mice do not have easy lives. They always have to be aware of what's going on or else they might end up in another animal's stomach!
Reproduction: Mice mate up to seventeen times each year. A female mouse can become pregnant in forty-eight hours. A mother mouse has four to nine baby mice in each litter. Young mice are called kittens. When they are born they have no hair and most of them are pink but some come in darker colors. It takes thirty-five days for a mouse to mature.
Homes: Mice choose safe places for their nests. After they pick a nesting place they begin to make paths. The paths connect their nests with food sources. They make nests from soft material. They use whatever they find but most commonly leaves, paper and grass. Mice stay in one place for their entire life. They only move if food runs out or if their home gets too hot or cold.
Defense: Mice are very little so if they see an enemy coming they might have a chance of hiding in a tree, burrow or some other kind of hiding place. They can't run in a straight pattern if they are trying to get away from the animal that is chasing them but they can run in a zigzag pattern.
Books
Holmes, Kevin J.. Mice, Bridgestone Books, Minnesota: 1998
Encyclopedias
Anonymous, Mice, Microsoft Encarta '95
Website
http://www.weneedyou.com/clark_bugs/mouse. html