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Meet The “Werewolf Mouse,” A Tiny Rodent That Howls Like A Wolf

Image shows a tiny werewolf mouse howling at the moon.

The grasshopper mouse is a teeny-tiny little critter that lives in the desert. He is a nocturnal predator that eats snakes, scorpions, other mice, and insects. What sets him apart is his howl. Yes, you read that right. This little animal howls like a wolf, which is how it earned the nickname “werewolf mouse.”

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The werewolf mouse primarily lives in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Scorpions are a large part of the werewolf mouse diet. The little animals experience almost no effect from the venom. They will bite off a scorpion’s tail to disable them. Their bodies can shut down the signal to the brain when a scorpion hits them. Although not entirely understood, this ability “numbs” them to the pain.

Howling at the moon before a hunt is the main reason for their nickname. The tiny mice stand on their hind legs and howl like wolves. Although the high-pitched howl is more of a squeal, it is audible for quite a distance. They howl before a hunt and also to mark the grasshopper mouse’s territory.

Left image shows a grasshopper mouse sitting calmly in the opening to its burrow. Right image shows the same mouse howling like a werewolf.
Image from YouTube.

This ferocious little animal is also a very aggressive predator. Although it won’t go after things much larger than itself, it will attack almost anything that moves. When food is scarce, it will resort to cannibalism and eat members of its own species. The primary method of delivering the killing blow is a bite to the head.

The werewolf mouse is a solitary animal. Although a male and female may sometimes burrow together, they are often incompatible and tend to devour their mates. They occupy burrows deserted by other rodents. They will forcefully “claim” a burrow if the occupant isn’t gone yet.

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You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.

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