Wilson-theVolleyball t1_itoleyp wrote on October 25, 2022 at 4:06 AM

Reply to comment by Ocean_Spice in TIFU by taking care of a mouse problem by coolneatrad

Eh I mean at a glance, especially in the heat of the moment, they do look pretty similar (both small rodent creatures).

RudeSprinkles1240 t1_itorwml wrote on October 25, 2022 at 5:13 AM

OP described a prolonged encounter, complete with eye contact.

Wilson-theVolleyball t1_itoz957 wrote on October 25, 2022 at 6:45 AM

Maybe he just thought it was a different kind of mouse especially since he didn’t know there were gerbils in the house? Like if someone doesn’t have a mouse side by side to compare, I can understand mistaking a gerbil for a mouse.

I dunno. Maybe the story is made up, maybe it’s not.

pax_penguina t1_itql8mh wrote on October 25, 2022 at 4:09 PM

Hi, former gerbil owner here. I’d say most gerbils can’t pass for the average mouse on a good day, but if you don’t really know what you’re looking at it’s easy to be confused. Plus some country mice do have slightly varied coloration that makes it not un-possible to confuse the two species.

Honestly though, gerbils don’t usually give a fuck. Mice are usually pretty skittish. I can totally imagine a domesticated gerbil coming up to a human and going “Hey.”