Animals that eat mice include lizards, birds, bobcats, crocodiles, and eagles.
There are many different animals that eat mice. Some of these animals include snakes, owls, and cats. Mice are common prey for these animals because they are small and easy to catch.
Snakes often eat mice as part of their regular diet, while owls and cats will typically only eat them if they are hungry. All of these animals are predators and use their sharp teeth and claws to catch and kill mice.
Examples of Animals that Eat Mice
1. Bearded Dragons
Scientific Name | Pogona |
Type of Animal | Reptile |
Range | Australia |
Diet | Omnivore |
Bearded dragons are a type of lizard that is found in Australia. They are omnivorous, meaning that they eat both plant and animal matter. Bearded dragons typically eat insects, but they will also eat small rodents, including mice. They hunt mice by stalking them until they are close enough to pounce on them.
2. Blue Jay
Scientific Name | Cyanocitta cristata |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Eastern and central North America |
Diet | Herbivores |
The blue jay is a common bird that can be found in North America. These birds are typically about 12 inches long and have a blue and white plumage. Blue jays are omnivorous and eat a variety of things, including insects, fruits, and seeds. However, they also prey on small animals, such as mice.
Related Article: Do Blue Jays Play Dead?
3. Bobcats
Scientific Name | Lynx rufus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | North America, southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico |
Diet | Carnivore |
Bobcats are predators that live in North America. They are the smallest wildcat in the United States and eat a variety of animals, including mice. Bobcats typically kill their prey by biting it in the neck.
4. Canid
Scientific Name | Canidae |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Omnivore |
Mice are also prey for many different species of canids, which include dogs, wolves, and foxes. These animals have sharp teeth and powerful jaws that allow them to quickly kill and eat mice. In addition, they have keen senses of smell and hearing that help them find prey even in dark or hidden places.
5. Coyotes
Scientific Name | Canis latrans |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | North America, Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America |
Diet | Omnivore |
Coyotes are another animal that eats mice. They are the size of a small dog and live in North America. Coyotes usually eat small animals like mice, rabbits, and birds, but they will also eat larger prey like deer if they can catch them.
6. Crocodiles
Scientific Name | Crocodylidae |
Type of Animal | Reptile |
Range | Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas |
Diet | Carnivore |
Crocodiles are a type of reptile that eat a variety of different animals, including mice. They have sharp teeth and claws that allow them to catch and kill their prey. Crocodiles typically live in rivers and lakes, where they can easily find mice to eat.
7. Crows
Scientific Name | Corvus |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Carnivore |
Crows are not typically considered predators, but they will eat mice if they come across them. Crows are scavengers and will eat anything that is edible, including mice. They are known to steal food from other animals, so they can be a nuisance for people who live near them.
8. Domestic Cats
Scientific Name | Felis catus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Areas of human habitation |
Diet | Carnivore |
Cats are probably one of the most well-known predators of mice. They are excellent hunters and can easily catch prey that is much larger than them. Domestic cats usually eat small rodents such as mice, but they will also eat other small animals like birds or lizards.
9. Eagles
Scientific Name | Accipitridae |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Carnivore |
Eagles are another predator that eats mice. These birds of prey have very sharp talons which they use to catch their prey. Eagles typically eat small animals such as rabbits, squirrels, and mice. They sometimes also eat fish or carrion (dead animals).
10. Falcons
Scientific Name | Falco |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Carnivore |
Falcons are a type of bird that eat mice. They have sharp talons which they use to catch their prey. Falcons typically eat small animals like mice, birds, and insects. Mice are a great source of protein for falcons.
11. Ferrets
Scientific Name | Mustela putorius furo |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | North America, North Africa, and Western Europe |
Diet | Carnivore |
Ferrets are a type of weasel that eat mice. They are carnivores and their diet consists mostly of small animals like mice, rabbits, and birds. Ferrets are great predators and can easily catch mice.
12. Geckos
Scientific Name | Gekkonidae |
Type of Animal | Reptile |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Carnivore |
Geckos are a type of lizard that eats mice. They have sharp teeth which they use to catch and kill their prey. Geckos typically eat insects, but will also eat small animals like mice. Mice are a great source of protein for geckos.
Related Article: Do Geckos Eat Ants?
13. Hawks
Scientific Name | Buteo |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Central America, the West Indies, and Jamaica |
Diet | Carnivore |
Hawks are another predator that sometimes eats mice. They usually only eat them if they are very hungry and can’t find any other prey. Hawks have very good eyesight and can spot a mouse from a long way away. They also have sharp talons which they use to catch and kill their prey.
14. Heron
Scientific Name | Ardeidae |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Marshes, dams, lakes, lagoons, rivers, and reservoirs |
Diet | Carnivore |
The heron is a large, wading bird that can be found in many different parts of the world. They are known for their long, thin neck and legs, as well as their sharp beak. Herons eat a variety of different things, including fish, frogs, and mice. They hunt for food by stalking their prey in the water or in the grass and then striking with their beak.
15. Humans
Scientific Name | Homo sapiens |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Omnivore |
While humans are not typically considered predators, there are some people who eat mice. In some parts of the world, mice are considered a delicacy and are eaten as part of traditional dishes. They are also used as ingredients in other dishes, such as soups or stews.
16. Iguanas
Scientific Name | Iguana |
Type of Animal | Reptile |
Range | Mexico, Central and South America, the Galápagos Islands, on some of the Caribbean islands, Fiji and Madagascar |
Diet | Omnivore |
Iguanas are a common predator of mice. They will often stalk their prey before attacking and can consume up to four mice in a single feeding. Iguanas have sharp teeth and powerful jaws that allow them to quickly kill and eat their prey.
Related Article: What Eats Iguanas?
17. Jackals
Scientific Name | Canis aureus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Africa |
Diet | Omnivore |
Jackals are a type of canine that is found in Africa and Asia. They are opportunistic predators that will eat anything they can catch, including mice.
Read Also: Do Jackal Have Fur?
18. Jaguars
Scientific Name | Panthera onca |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | South and Central America, Mexico, and northern Argentina |
Diet | Carnivore |
The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas and a powerful predator. These big cats typically prey on deer, but will also eat smaller animals such as mice. Jaguars are found in Central and South America.
19. Lions
Scientific Name | Panthera leo |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Africa, |
Diet | Carnivore |
African lions are the top predators of the African savanna and can take down prey as large as zebras and buffaloes. While they will eat just about anything, mice do not make up a significant portion of their diet.
20. Lynx
Scientific Name | Lynx |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Europe, Asia, and North America |
Diet | Carnivore |
Lynx is a type of wildcat that is found in North America, Europe, and Asia. They are well known for their ability to hunt and kill prey that is much larger than themselves, including deer and boar. Lynx preys mainly on small mammals such as rabbits, hares, and mice.
21. Minks
Scientific Name | Neovison vison |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | North America |
Diet | Carnivore |
Minks are predatory mammal that is native to North America. They are the only member of the weasel family that inhabits the United States and Canada. Minks are solitary animals and hunt at night. They eat a variety of prey, including small rodents like mice.
22. Mongooses
Scientific Name | Herpestidae |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Africa, southern Asia, and the Iberian Peninsula |
Diet | Omnivore |
Mongooses are a member of the weasel family and are found in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. They are predatory animal that feeds on small mammals, including mice.
23. Monitor Lizards
Scientific Name | Varanus |
Type of Animal | Reptile |
Range | Africa, Asia, and Australasia |
Diet | Carnivore |
Monitor lizards are a type of lizard that is found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. These lizards eat a variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, and reptiles. They have sharp teeth that are perfect for catching and eating mice. Monitor lizards can grow to be quite large, up to 6 feet long, so they can easily take down a mouse.
24. Owls
Scientific Name | Strigiformes |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Carnivore |
Owls are a common predator of mice and can easily catch them in the open. They primarily eat mice as prey, but will also consume other small animals, such as rats, birds, and reptiles.
25. Pythons
Scientific Name | Python |
Type of Animal | Reptile |
Range | Rainforests, grasslands and savannas, woodlands, swamps, rocky outcrops, desert sand hills, and shrub lands |
Diet | Carnivore |
Pythons are a type of snake that eats mice. They are found in Africa, Asia, and North America. Pythons have powerful jaws that can crush bones, and they have sharp teeth that can puncture the skin. They kill their prey by constricting them until they die.
26. Rats
Scientific Name | Rattus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Omnivore |
Rats are probably one of the most common predators of mice. They live in many different environments and can be found pretty much anywhere there is food to be scavenged. Rats are opportunistic feeders and will eat just about anything, including other small animals like mice.
27. Red Fox
Scientific Name | Vulpes vulpes |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Forests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts |
Diet | Omnivore |
The red fox is a common predator of mice. They are often found in rural and suburban areas where they hunt for small prey like mice and rabbits. Foxes have sharp teeth and claws that help them kill their prey quickly.
28. Shrikes
Scientific Name | Laniidae |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Grassland, semi-arid desert, savanna, and open forest |
Diet | Carnivore |
A shrike is a small, passerine bird that preys on small vertebrates such as mice. They have a hooked beak and sharp claws which they use to catch prey.
29. Skinks
Scientific Name | Scincidae |
Type of Animal | Reptile |
Range | Australia, and North America |
Diet | Omnivore |
Skinks are a type of lizard that is common in North America. These reptiles eat a variety of prey, including mice.
30. Skunks
Scientific Name | Mephitidae |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Forest edges, woodlands, grasslands and deserts |
Diet | Omnivore |
Skunks are predators of mice and will eat them whenever they can. They are opportunistic hunters and will take advantage of any opportunity to catch a mouse.
31. Snakes
Scientific Name | Serpentes |
Type of Animal | Reptile |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Carnivore |
There are many different types of snakes that prey on mice. Some, like the king snake, can eat prey up to twice their own size. Others, like the garter snake, specialize in eating small prey like mice.
32. Tigers
Scientific Name | Panthera tigris |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Russian Far East, North Korea, China, India, and Southwest Asia to the Indonesian island of Sumatra |
Diet | Carnivore |
Tigers are big cat that is found in many parts of the world. They are predators and eat a variety of things, including mice.
33. Weasels
Scientific Name | Mustela |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | North America, South America, and Japan |
Diet | Carnivore |
Weasels are small, carnivorous mammals that feed on a variety of prey, including mice. They are proficient hunters and can kill prey much larger than themselves.
34. Wolves
Scientific Name | Canis lupus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa |
Diet | Carnivore |
Wolves are the primary predator of mice in North America. They hunt them in packs, using their keen sense of smell to track them down. Wolves typically eat the head, spine, and entrails of their prey, leaving the rest for scavengers.
Conclusion
Animals that eat mice are very diverse and range from birds of prey to small mammals. The animals listed in this article all have a special trait or skill that helps them catch their prey; whether it’s sharp talons, keen senses, powerful jaws, or the ability to fly.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.