I have 8 pet rats (all female), we occasionally let them out to run free in the house & chase the cats. So, I have had quite the opportunity to watch them in action. I feel that rats are quite a bit smarter than mice, but the behaviors are similar. So I thought I would post what I have learned about the little guys:
If you think: “I have outsmarted them” Nah, they let you have your way OR they haven’t quite figured it out yet, but your “Trick” will be unraveled by time the next hiker gets there.
They are not necessarily steeling your food because they are hungry, or that they are out of food. Our rats are FAT, Penelope is even morbidly overweight, their cages have “tons” of food stashes and at least 5 piles hidden throughout the house. Yet just a few hours ago I had 3 of them out, the main activity was to “steal” food from their jar of snacks & scurry off to hide them (yes, they have a 2 gallon jar of snacks in our living room). The only time they stopped to eat was when they were given chocolate, YUM! So need does not determine aggressiveness when it comes to foraging for food.
They can jump UP at least 2x their body length. They can jump for distance 3 - 4 times as long as they are. I have seen Elizabeth drop 7’ onto a concrete floor & run over to climb the shelves again. A fall for me of similar height would be about 58 feet, I am reasonably sure I would not survive.
While mice are a bit more skittish, they are almost totally fearless under certain circumstances (10 Oz rat terrorizing a 16 Lb cat, no he isn’t de-clawed, yes he hunts)
They (Rats at least) can eat ANYTHING, and can chew through almost anything. Poison may work on a few, but the rest will soon learn what is killing their friends and avoid the bait.
We have taught them that food is readily available in/near the shelters, along with fantastic bedding material (wool, poly pro, fleece, etc) and mental challenges (food suspended from tuna cans, etc). From watching the girls, their priorities are: Food, hiding places, water, fun, sleep, companions.
Don’t know if this helps or what. Thought it may be interesting.
Doctari.