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That reminds us of an old joke... Q: Why are elephants scared of mice?
A: Because, like my grandmother, they don't like mice in their trunks. Actually, we found that one while we were looking for your answer. A search on "elephants scared mice" turned up that bit of humor along with a more relevant page from the web site from Scotland's Glasgow Zoopark. According to Richard O'Grady, Director-Secretary of Glasgow Zoopark: My practical experience is that elephants are not frightened of mice or rats. In fact, if there is an infestation of hundreds of rats, as I once saw in an old
zoo down in England, the rats will even nibble at the elephant's feet when it is lying down sleeping, causing significant injuries. He goes on to say that this commonly held belief probably stems from the fact that elephants are frightened by sudden, unexpected movements. And, as we all know, "A bolting rat moves like greased lightning, and this would make anything rear up." Also, as one astute observer points out, the great disparity in size between an elephant and a mouse makes it unlikely that an elephant would even notice a nearby mouse. For a list of real facts about these pachyderms, check out this FAQ of elephantine proportions. Normally,
we advise you to always believe your wife, but in this instance, it looks like you were right to doubt her. Just don't tell her, "I told you so."
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