This article is from the Spring 1999 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

Lori Ann DeLaneey, age 12, Waco, TX
QMy name is Lori Ann. I am 12 years old and I own two mice, a black one and a white one. I have some questions. Does a mouse colony mean different colors or different sexes? I love mice! Cute little loyal furballs. My white mouse will allow itself to be petted, but it will run a little bit. My black mouse will sniff you for ten seconds and take off for his exercise wheel. I’ve tried taming my black one, but he’s stubborn. My sister tried to hold my white mouse yesterday, and she sat there acting good, then the next minute, she leaped off! We lost her three times but we finally caught her. The author of my book, Horst Bielfeld, said mice won’t jump from a height more than 2 feet. Oh boy, was he wrong! Are all mice so active?

AA mouse colony simply means a group of mice living together. They can be any color or sex. Some mice are calmer than others, and some are really hyper. Most American pet shop mice are kind of wild, while mice bred for shows are much calmer. When holding a jumpy mouse or one you aren’t sure if it is tame, hold it by the base of the tail while it is your hand. Do this every time you handle it until it is much calmer and more comfortable in your hands. Most baby mice will be very jumpy and you must keep hold of their tail until they are much older and calmer.