Have you ever wondered what food different pests eat? While some bugs and pests are known to feed on things like plants and even wood, many pests prefer to eat foods that people also enjoy, such as meat, sweets, and grains. This is why some animals, such as rodents and raccoons, are attracted to our homes in search of food. Believe it or not, leftover food in the trash can can be a tasty feast for some of these animals. When it comes to animal eating habits, one of the most common beliefs is that mice especially love to eat cheese. It's hard to say where the idea came from that mice love cheese and prefer it to all other foods. Perhaps watching decades of cartoons has convinced us that cheese is the favorite food of rodents around the world.
However, you may be surprised to learn that this is not entirely true.
Do mice eat cheese? The answer to this question is: yes. Mice actually eat cheese if it is available, but their supposed love for this food is a bit exaggerated. Instead of chewing on a big piece of Swiss or cheddar cheese, mice actually prefer other foods. This means that if a mouse enters your home, it may first look for items such as cookies, crackers, candy, cereal, and even peanut butter.
In general, mice eat a wide variety of foods and are not very picky about their diet. Although they may prefer sweets, if given access they will eat almost any human food they can find around the house. In the wild, they are known to eat seeds, nuts, small fruits and insects such as beetles and caterpillars. Believe it or not, house mice also eat their own droppings to get some of the nutrients produced by the bacteria in their gut! This is disgusting!
Mice are also very creative creatures and eat much more than just cheese. The animal is known to feed on human food, which is why it is important to keep the house clean and beware of potential intruders.