Of mice and men

[cyborg]

Or just mice.

Well, we have a mouse running about our house at the moment and it got me thinking about the old adage that a mouse can fit through a hole the size of a biro.

True or woo?

[AgeGap]

How are you looking at the biro? End on or side on? I think the size of the mouse's skull plus a mm or two would determine the size of the minimum gap it could squeeze through. You could get it through a smaller gap but what comes out the other end may display fewer mouselike qualities.

[Math Maniac]

What's a biro?

[cyborg]

I believe this will answer your question:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A1szl%C3%B3_B%C3%ADr%C3%B3

End on I believe AgeGap - I think mice are supposed to be able to fit through very small gaps because their bones are considerably more flexible.

[RSLancastr]

I believe this will answer your question:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A1szl%C3%B3_B%C3%ADr%C3%B3
Well, unless Laszlo Biro was exceedingly tiny, I would imagine that a mouse would easily fit through a hole his size.

What a silly question!

[cyborg]

Ho ho, RS, you tease you. I of course refer to his invention.

[Math Maniac]

I believe this will answer your question:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A1szl%C3%B3_B%C3%ADr%C3%B3

End on I believe AgeGap - I think mice are supposed to be able to fit through very small gaps because their bones are considerably more flexible.

I can honestly say that I've never heard the ballpoint pen referred to as a "biro." Where is that common?

Re the mice: I have no clue but it seems too unlikely to be true. I've dealt with mice a couple of times and can say that they easily fit inside of a normal vacuum tube, however.

[Carnivore]

I can honestly say that I've never heard the ballpoint pen referred to as a "biro." Where is that common?

Re the mice: I have no clue but it seems too unlikely to be true. I've dealt with mice a couple of times and can say that they easily fit inside of a normal vacuum tube, however.

Biro is common usuage in UK and NZ at least. How do you get mice into a vacuum tube? Do you mean you seal them inside the glass when the tube is manufactured?

[Math Maniac]

Biro is common usuage in UK and NZ at least. How do you get mice into a vacuum tube? Do you mean you seal them inside the glass when the tube is manufactured?

By normal vacuum tube, I mean the wand attached to a regular household vacuum cleaner. In no way did I intend to suggest a laboratory vacuum tube.

[arthwollipot]

Biro is common usuage in UK and NZ at least.

And Australia. In fact I was under the impression it was a trademark, like using the term "hoover" to refer to a vacuum cleaner, or "xerox" for a photocopier.

[Amapola]

Or just mice.

Well, we have a mouse running about our house at the moment and it got me thinking about the old adage that a mouse can fit through a hole the size of a biro.

True or woo?

I don't have an original, genuine Biro but I do have a Bic...... and based on the Bic, I would have to say "Not true".

I determined this in the following totally scientific experiment: I took the Bic and attempted to pass it through the bars of a cage I have used in the past to house mice. The bars are wide enough to allow the Bic to pass through freely (although there is no extra room) and yet I successfully kept mice *IN* this cage many times.

It is possible a Biro is thicker, and would give enough space for a mouse to crawl through. Someone who actually has a Biro can perform that experiment.

[kerikiwi]

I have never heard anyone in NZ refer to a 'biro', apart from certain immigrants.
As for the mice: yes their bones are very flexible. My cat showed me how it works.

[zombiebex]

Mice are very capable at flattening themselves to fit under doors and other spaces... but make themselves small enough to fit into a ballpoint pen is impossible. Trying to remember the size of my mice when I had them as pets... their heads are much bigger than my girly thumb.. which cannot fit into a pen.

[quixotecoyote]

Has anyone mentioned that it depends on the size of the mouse?

[Azrael 5]

I've yet to see a mouse that could fit in said sized hole! Id say most definitely woo.

How do you catch a mouse with a vacuum hose?! Tricky bleeders that they are.

[Giraffe107]

Cats and mice are definitely flexible, but the one thing they can't crush is their skull. If my cat an squeeze his head through something, he can get the rest through easily.

[Amapola]

Has anyone mentioned that it depends on the size of the mouse?

I am guessing house mouse, which is a sort of world-wide pest. (They can make cute pets too. :)) They are all pretty much about the same size, as far as the adults go.

Here in NM I have to deal with the deer mouse, which is a pretty similar size to the house mouse. I've never tried to keep one of them in that cage I spoke of (deer mice can carry Hanta virus, which I am not excited to experience) but they seem to be a similar size going by the 200 or so individuals I have trapped...... so far...... and I think that cage would easily keep one in.