Damon Mcknight
Australia has been facing a mouse plague in recent years, with rodents destroying crops, damaging stored hay and grain, and even spreading diseases like leptospirosis. To combat this, the New South Wales government has considered using poison, but this method poses a risk to native animals that eat mice, such as the yellow-footed antechinus, a small carnivorous marsupial that resembles a mouse. Aside from the antechinus, other animals that eat mice in Australia include birds of prey, snakes, cats, dogs, and interestingly, some species of catfish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birds | Eagles, hawks, owls, herons, crows, blue jays |
| Reptiles | Snakes, lizards |
| Mammals | Cats, dogs, wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, ferrets, big cats (lions, tigers, jaguars), antechinus |
| Fish | Catfish |
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Australian catfish
Catfish are far from picky eaters, and they are usually opportunistic hunters. In most cases, they eat whatever happens to be floating around. A study published in the Journal of Arid Environments found that lesser salmon catfish in the Ashburton River in Western Australia had been eating Spinifex hopping mice in large amounts. Of the fish sampled, 44% were found to have mice in their stomachs, and of those, mice composed about 95% of their stomach contents. This is the first report of Spinifex hopping mice being eaten by any fish, as well as the first report of Australian catfish eating land-based mammals at a high rate.
The Ashburton River catfish were significantly larger than those of the same species throughout other areas in its northern Australian distribution—reaching 75 cm as opposed to 50 cm—and their bloated appearance gave them away. Omnivorous in nature, the lesser salmon catfish's diet is known to consist of crustaceans, fruit, insects, and plants. However, they have been able to access terrestrial mammals. The mice are found throughout central and western Australian arid zones and are known to experience dramatic population booms after winter rains and build nests on river banks, which may predispose them to opportunistic predation.
The researchers suspect that the underground burrows of the mice are collapsing in heavy rains, sending them into the river and the mouths of hungry catfish. While there have been reports of European catfish deliberately beaching themselves to catch pigeons, these Australian catfish appear to keep to the water, and their rodent prey appears to keep to the land. Researchers are not sure how the catfish are catching the mice, but they suspect that the catfish may have learned new hunting skills.
The discovery of catfish eating mice was made by researchers from Murdoch University in Perth, who were analysing the stomach contents of the fish, looking for an introduced parasite. The population of catfish in Western Australia's Pilbara region has been found to eat mice, but researchers are unsure how they are doing it. This unique feeding habit is an avenue they would like to investigate further.
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Antechinus (native Australian animal)
Antechinus, also known as 'broad-footed marsupial mice', 'pouched mice', or 'Antechinus shrews', are small native carnivorous marsupials found in Australia. They are mostly nocturnal, preying on insects, spiders, centipedes, and sometimes small reptiles and frogs. Antechinus have short fur, generally greyish or brownish in colour, with thin tails that are shorter than their body length. Their heads are conical with small to medium-sized ears, and some species have long, narrow snouts resembling those of shrews.
Antechinus are small mammals with a high surface-to-volume ratio, resulting in significant heat loss. They have high metabolic rates and normothermic temperatures of around 35 °C (95 °F). To conserve energy, Antechinus enter a state of torpor, significantly reducing their metabolic rate and lowering their body temperature. This is more common in females, especially during their second year, as they are more experienced foragers and can meet their energy requirements more efficiently. Torpor typically occurs during rest periods, helping Antechinus reduce their food and water requirements.
The breeding cycle of Antechinus is short, lasting only about two weeks in winter. Males live for approximately 11 months and die after the breeding season due to stress and exhaustion. Females give birth to underdeveloped young that latch onto teats in their pouch for up to 50 days. Male Antechinus have an extremely short lifespan, rarely surviving beyond one year.
Antechinus are sometimes mistaken for house mice, but they have pointier, longer snouts and are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. They are commonly found in stringy bark forests in regions like the Fleurieu Peninsula and Central Mount Lofty Ranges in Australia. To encourage Antechinus to take shelter away from human habitats, nest boxes with specific dimensions can be provided.
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Birds of prey
Red-tailed hawks are also known to hunt mice in the wild. They are mostly found in open areas like parks or meadows, but they will also inhabit forested places. They feed on a wide variety of prey, including mice, rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs, insects, earthworms, and birds. Unlike owls, hawks are diurnal, hunting during the day.
Falcons, the world's fastest birds, also prey on mice and small mammals. The American Kestrel is the smallest of the falcon family and is widespread in North America.
Eagles primarily hunt fish, but they also eat small mammals such as squirrels, rabbits, and mice. They have incredible hunting abilities, including sharp talons and the ability to spot prey from around two miles away.
Other birds of prey that eat mice include ravens, crows, and shrikes.
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Snakes
Garter snakes, for example, are often too small to eat adult mice, but they have been known to eat baby mice. Garter snakes are also known for their excellent appetites and are not picky eaters. They can feed on any creature they can overpower, including fish, insects, and earthworms.
In Australia, Eastern Brown Snakes are widespread over most of the mainland and are known to eat mice. They are particularly abundant in rural areas that have been heavily modified for agricultural purposes. They are also commonly found on farms and in the suburban periphery of many large towns and cities. Eastern Brown Snakes are responsible for more deaths from snake bites than any other species of snake in Australia. Their venom is ranked as the second most toxic of any land snake in the world based on tests on mice.
Mainland tiger snakes are also found in Australia and are known to hunt mice nocturnally. They inhabit highly populated areas along the east coast, including some metropolitan areas of Melbourne. Their bites are fatal if untreated, causing pain, tingling, numbness, sweating, breathing difficulties, and paralysis.
Red-bellied black snakes are another example of snakes in Australia that eat mice. They are one of the few large venomous snakes still found in the Sydney region and are capable of eating other snakes. They are not particularly aggressive and will escape from humans if possible. Their bites are also rarely deadly.
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Cats
In Australia, cats are a threat to the antechinus, a small, mouse-like marsupial native to the country. The yellow-footed antechinus, for example, is classified as vulnerable in South Australia, and cats are among the species' predators.
In addition to the antechinus, cats in Australia also prey on the Spinifex hopping mouse. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Arid Environments found that 44% of lesser salmon catfish in the Ashburton River had been eating these mice, with mice making up about 95% of their stomach content. This was the first report of Australian catfish consuming land-based mammals at a high rate.
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Frequently asked questions
Some native animals that eat mice in Australia include the yellow-footed antechinus, lesser salmon catfish, eagles, hawks, owls, herons, crows, blue jays, large lizards, snakes, cats, foxes, and wolves.
Antechinus are small marsupials that resemble mice with bristly fur. They are also called 'broad-footed marsupial mice', 'pouched mice', or 'antechinus shrews'. They have short, dense fur that is generally greyish or brownish in colour. Their tails are thin and taper towards the end, ranging from slightly shorter to slightly longer than their body length.
Antechinus primarily eat insects but have been known to snack on flowers, nectar, spiders, cockroaches, lizards, small birds, and even mice.
Lesser salmon catfish are a species of catfish found in the Ashburton River in Australia. They have been known to feed on Spinifex hopping mice, which are native to the region.
Yes, birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, and owls commonly eat mice. In addition, non-raptor birds like herons, crows, and blue jays will also prey on mice when given the opportunity.
