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365 Urban Species. #067: House Mouse
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cottonmanifestoUrban species #067: House mouse Mus musculus
The house mouse may have had a longer continuous association with humans than any other mammal. The origins of this rodent are shrouded in history, but it is thought to have been native to central Asia. Humans spread into mouse territory thousands of years ago, and the mice have come along as humans spread elsewhere, for the rest of prehistory and into history. It seems likely that the mouse will be the first mammal inadvertently introduced to other planets, should humans continue to expand in that direction.
Cat lovers have cause to thank the house mouse for following humans on trade routes and migrations. The appearance of the house mouse in the stores of grain in Egypt led to the domestication of the house cat. A cat is still the best way to keep mice out of a house, though they aren't perfect. The pursuit of technological improvement is summed up as the search for "a better mousetrap." One modern version of the mousetrap is the "hav-a-hart," which captures the mouse alive, to be released elsewhere. Unfortunately, the natural habitat of the house mouse is indoors, so a mouse "set free" will either find its way back into a house or be preyed upon.
The house mouse is found, like the Indian meal moth and sawtooth grain beetle, anywhere in the world there is grain in storage. But they aren't limited to infesting the human food supply. Nearly any kind of building, structure, or shelter is an invitation to the house mice. If food is provided--and house mice define food much more broadly than we do--the lure of man-made structures becomes irresistable. Nearly everyone has a story about finding mice in an unexpected location. They nest in car heating vents, cupboards and basements, and even, as the picture below shows, under the tracks of the subway.
Mus musculus has transformed itself from a scavenger and a pest, into one of the most significant and valuable species alive. Due to its rapid rate of reproduction, ease of care, and similarity (from a medical point of view) to humans, the house mouse has been domesticated into the lab mouse. Mice are the most useful animal for medical experiments, and breeding them has become a mutli-million dollar specialty industry. Whether we approve of this use of mice or not, we all have benefitted from the research, and have mice to thank for countless treatments and medicines.
Mice are also bred for the pet trade, as pets themselves, or as food for reptiles. Mice make charming, surprisingly intelligent, and sociable pets, their main drawback being a short life span, and a propensity to escape and contribute to the wild mouse population. Captive mice come in a variety of colors, from familiar white to black, as well as tan or pale gray partial albinos, natural grayish brown, and fancy spotted varieties. There are even "nude" mice, bred to have no fur at all.
Other species of mice can be urban, as well. In the Boston area, the white-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus comes into houses and other buildings when the weather gets cold or abundant food is supplied. There are different species of mice present all over the world, but house mice outcompete them in the household and urban niches.
The mouse is in the upper right-hand corner of this photograph. The mouse had a series of burrows along the tracks and under some of the railroad ties. These are the Red Line tracks at Park Street Station.
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It's also funny that you mention abortion. There was just a long, heated discussion about how vegans can even support the idea of abortions. And it is somewhat inexplicable that someone who goes out of her way to avoid harming others (of any animalia species) would find it ok to kill a heman fetus. I really had to think about that one, since I do support the right to choose, and would even be very likely to have an abortion if I accidentally got pregnant. What I came up with for an explanation for my own views was that I believe that my rights stop at the end of my skin. Everyone outside my skin has a right to live its life, while everyone inside my skin is under my rule.
Clearly these kinds of decisions that we make as rational and emotional beings are very difficult for many of us and I respect anyone who puts thought into their choices, even if I don't share their beliefs.
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Research on animals as it applies to humans is a necessary evil at this point in time. I think the majority of scientists would prefer to not use non-human animal models.
Abortions are a necessary evil at this point in time. I would much prefer if unwanted pregnancies could be avoided completely.
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I really do understand your viewpoint, really I do, and I think you are really a very good hearted soul!
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