How did she die?

Question
Dear Natasha,

You might not know but I am just curious. When I had Haru, I also had another mouse with her. They were both girls. Haru was the one who I picked up all of the time. She showed no sign of medical problems and she had no blood on her so Rin didn't kill her. When I found her she was on her back (sorta) and she was hard. The day before she seemed perfectly fine. She wasn't showing any signs of sickness. When I found her it was in the morning so I don't think she had much time to get hard. She was also under the wheel that I have for them in there. I was just so surprised that she had died. Can you help me and tell me how she died?

                       Love,
                            Juniper

Answer
Dear Juniper,

I'm so sorry about little Haru.  

Haru could have died from something like a stroke or heart attack.  Mice are delicate little creatures, and things can happen very quickly.

Haru was on her side/back and under the wheel because she knew that she was going to die, and mice who are going to die always get as far away from the nest as possible-- to avoid contamination of the other mice-- and they lie down on their side/back, a position mice are never in when they are alive.  This might make it easier for the other mice to know a mouse is dying and to keep away.

I make it sound like they are planning this on purpose, but really it's just the way evolution works:  The mice survive whose ancestors had the smartest actions, on purpose or not.  

Haru was hard because she had been dead for a few hours.  Mice are so little that a process that takes a long time in a large body can take a very short time in mice.  

It sounds to me like Haru didn't suffer.  She wasn't sick, and she was able to peacefully find a place to die.  

Rin needs a new girlfriend or two as soon as possible.  She will get depressed, lose weight, and be less healthy from losing her companion.  She will be even more unhappy living as a single mouse, though a person can make it better by spending over an hour a day of quality mouse time.  (That can include her hanging out on your shoulder while you do other things).  I am careful never to have fewer than three mice because then when one dies, the other still has a friend.  If somebody dies I get a new girl or two as soon as I can.

I'd like to think Haru is in 'Mousie Heaven,' which is full of cheese, popcorn and already shelled sunflower seeds, and there is a wheel for every mouse!  Best of luck with Rin and any friends she may acquire.

squeaks,

Natasha