Why Do Rats Eat Mice?
WouterIf you’ve ever wondered why rats eat mice, you’re not alone. Most mice are nocturnal, which means they are most active after sunset, when most large predators are sleeping or occupied. Rats and mice leave droppings that are easy to spot – a mouse’s droppings are a quarter of an inch long with a pointy end. Rats, however, leave more brick-like droppings that are longer and more numerous than those of mice.
Rats kill mice by biting their necks with their teeth, rendering them unconscious within minutes. Rats can also swallow their victims whole, and are known for their powerful jaws, which allow them to crush smaller animals. In fact, their jaws are so strong, they can break bones without chewing them.
Rats are natural predators, so they will hunt down mice when they’re in need of food. Because of their large teeth, they can attack small animals and birds. Mice cannot fight back, so they will easily attack and eat them. Mice are also opportunists, and they will feed on dead mice if they can.
Although house mice can transmit disease and infect food, they’re not as vicious as rats and are not bite hazards. They are ranked as one of the world’s 100 worst intruders, but despite this, many people believe rats are better. Pixar’s movie Ratatouille changed this perception by portraying a cute rat in a positive light.
