What can we learn from animals? The answer to this question is vast—from little life lessons to the biggest moments of clarity and enlightenment, our wise animal friends have so much to teach us.
And sometimes the biggest lessons can come from the smallest teachers of all! The following story perfectly illustrates how communication with animals can result in the most surprising revelations.
What can we learn from animals: The brave mouse who changed my life forever.
Years ago, when I was beginning my journey as an animal communicator, I was working as staff at a Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation organization. It was incredibly hard work; mentally, physically, and emotionally, I was challenged every day to reach beyond my limits of what I thought I was capable of as an animal caretaker and communicator.
I encountered all sorts of animals, big and small, friendly, and ferocious. They all showed me what we can learn from animals in their own way.
But it turned out to be a tiny mouse whose bravery changed my life forever…
Late one night as I was working the overnight shift alone, caring for the hundreds of ill and injured creatures of all species, I got a call from Tim, the director. He told me it was time to feed a five-foot python who was very ill and had not eaten in several weeks. I was dismayed to hear that what I was going to feed it was, a live mouse.
I loved all of the animals at the shelter, even the mice! It left me heartbroken. How could I possibly choose a mouse to be fed to the snake, and then give it to him? But there was no way out—I was alone on staff and it had to be done.
The responsibility fell to me. I felt absolutely dismayed, heartsick.
The snake was resting in a large dog kennel that had a heating pad beneath it. The reptile was so big it filled the bottom six inches of the kennel with its huge, scaled coils. He would occasionally poke his head out of the kennel bars, but his body was too large to escape or to go very far.
He was getting weaker and weaker with every hour that passed by.
It was up to me to feed him and ultimately help him on the road to recovery. But I was terrified. How could I possibly choose another living creature to doom to death?
The most noble mouse.
The facility kept a large terrarium with at least fifty mice, for the sole purpose of feeding the various predator animals who would only eat live animals. It was a necessity as these animals needed to eat to get their strength back.
I’d never had to do this task before. I was in such conflict about it, it was agonizing.
The mouse community was a joyful one. They happily played all day long in their environment that was built just for them, with tunnels, mice-sized playground equipment, things to climb and explore, and plenty of food and water. It was a happy place, with older mice, boys, and girls, aunts and uncles, parents, and babies.
If you looked in at the terrarium at any given time, you always saw lots of mice out and running around all over the place, enjoying their home to the fullest.
But as I hung up the phone and looked over at the mice, what do you think I saw?
Not a single mouse.
Incredibly, every last mouse had immediately disappeared deep under their bedding. It was as quiet as a tomb, nothing stirring. The place looked abandoned. It was clear they had heard the discussion and they knew exactly what was to come.
What can we learn from animals? Courage.
With tears in my eyes, I gathered my courage, my respect, and my love and I slowly went to the terrarium.
I stood before the empty cage in silence, praying for strength. I reached out to the mice, mind to mind, heart to heart, hoping they would hear me and offer me some guidance.
If you would like to know how to do this, it is taught in my Beginning Core Foundations Course.
After a moment, I connected with the matriarch of the mice community (something I teach students how to do in the Advanced Animal Talk Mastery Course).
I carefully explained the situation and asked her for her help. Then I stood still and respectfully waited for a response.
A few long minutes later, a small white mouse climbed out of the bedding and stood tall on one of the play tunnels facing me.
Standing on his hind legs, the little guy reached up to me with its little nose twitching. I knew that it had something to say to me so I listened carefully.
He said: “Pick me. I am willing to sacrifice my life for my family. I love them, and I feel this is my purpose. I’ve said my goodbyes. I go with my family’s blessing and appreciation. I am ready to face the snake. It’s a good day to die.”
“It’s a good day to die.”
With tears running down my face, I acknowledged his decision and the courage it took to make it, from this tiny little creature. I thanked his listening family community from the bottom of my heart and paid respect and love to him for his noble sacrifice.
Next, I put my hand down beside the mouse and waited as he deliberately and carefully climbed onto my hand.
I could feel his energy growing big and expansive. At that moment, it felt like he had become a warrior spirit in that darling little white mouse body.
I walked over to the snake in its kennel. I hesitantly asked the mouse one last time: “are you sure?”
The mouse responded clearly, “Yes.”
So I lowered my hand next to the steel bars and waited. I didn’t have the heart to put the mouse inside. He could have run away at that moment, and you know what? I would have felt glad and relieved. But to my amazement, the brave mouse stepped off of my hand of his own volition and entered the snake’s den.
I prayed for the highest good for them both.
I wiped my eyes, blew my nose, and shook it off, and went away to care for the other animals in the facility.
Later, I returned to the kennel to see what had happened.
Amazingly, the white mouse was still alive and resting there in the kennel with the snake. He had not been eaten, nor had he escaped through the kennel bars. They seemed to be coexisting peacefully together.
I don’t know what happened after that because it was very late and my shift ended. I went home after a quick check-in, offering my love and deepest respect for the mouse.
What I do know is that the courage I witnessed through my communication with that mouse forever changed me.
Download my FREE Ebook Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Animals – just click on the picture below!
What can we learn from animals? Everything
That there are heroes everywhere, even in the littlest creatures among us.
Just like humans, animals have their own side of every story to tell.
Animals are sentient, intelligent, wise beings. They are Angels, Teachers, Guides, and Healers. When we learn to recognize, respect, and revere them for who they truly are, they make us better people.
I will never forget that brave little mouse, and the monumental strength and sacrifice he demonstrated that day. His act of selflessness remains.
Take the time to talk to the animals today, okay? What they tell you may literally rock your world.
If you’ve been feeling that it’s time to really start communicating with animals, begin your journey now. Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication® with your free ebook.
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This story is so heartbreaking and strong. As I write I have a small brown mouse that I captured in my closet set to be taken out to nearby property where I have released others an hope this one connects with his/her relatives. Val, such a wonderful story!
Thank you Helen for being a fellow animal lover!
Hugs
Thank you Val,
The Story about the Mouse and The Snake was very touching and the tears came running down my face. Truly courageous little Mouse.
I have a tonne of Animal stories, but one I will always remember, was this one, with a giant horse named Snoopy and the first time, I heard an Animal speak to me.
We were on a full day guided horse riding tour through the spectacular beauty of New Zealand and we were in a group, with Members for whom I was responsible.
At one point we passed through a paddock with cows, and several of the girls was getting nervous about what the cows might do. I turned around in my saddle and kept my reins loose as I felt very relaxed and confident with Snoopy with whom I had spent a couple of hours now.
While I was reassuring the girls that the cows would leave them alone, I didn’t notice that Snoopy had moved in under a huge branch on an enormous Pine Tree – I avoided the first one, but the swishing sound of it made him jolt forward, so the next branch got me and swept me right of the giant horses big bottom and straight down on my back on the grass underneath.
It knocked the air out of me, and I lay still for a second to try to find out if all my bones were still intact (They were) and tried to catch my breath again. Snoopy turned around and came over with his giant head and enormous VERY worried eyes, put his whole head down towards me as he asked ” Are you ok?” I got very touched by his concern, as he was clearly as surprised as I, about my sudden departure.
At the same time, The Guide had reached me, and said to Snoopy as she pushed him away “Not helping Snoops”. With my first breath I said with tears welling up in my eyes: “Oh yes he is…!” <3
Thank you for commenting – I love your story! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story, and that you also see the beauty and sweetness in all life, even in the mice.
Hugs
You’re right, Val, that mouse story will change my relationship with ALL animals forever. Thank you for sharing it!
What happened to the snake? Maybe the mouse escaped because the snake didn’t like to eat love prey. I have hopes! Brave little mouse. ☺️
As a feloow animal communicator, I have come across issues that are far different than what they look. I had a trantula following me around one summer- I would throw him out of the house, only to have him return the next day. THe fourth time this had happened, the trantula was in my living room. it went thru my head that I could vacuum him up with the vacuum cleaner. The moment I thought this, I saw the Trantula shudder. I knew that he knew what I thought.
It changes everything.
I have found that many animals have a different viewpoint of death. Cats can literally see & stay conscious thru death. To them, it is like walking from the kitchen to the living room. Many times cats would rather die & come back than suffer in a suboptimal body. We are eternal, energy changes forms, but doesnt die. Love is alsways connected to love. Death does not break that connection.
I will never tire of your blog and I’m going to sign up for your course and affiliate too. Thank you!
Thank you, Mary!
I volunteer at an exotic animal
Sanctuary. All life is precious to me. Our biggest issue are the rats that live off the feed and food we provide for the sanctuary animals. Because of disease, federal and state laws and many other reasons, we cannot Allow the rats to co-exist . My biggest struggle is when I find the babies or need to set traps. I refuse to terminate the babies and thankfully, the owners handle. I give blessings for the animals that have lost their lives and are able provide their bodies to feed our big cats. It’s the circle of life, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
This one really touched me and had the tears streaming down my cheeks.
Thank you for sharing it, Val.
I hope the snake recovered and the mouse was honored as a hero in its colony!
BTW< Than I clicked to see the ending, I thought it would be that the snake told you she was not eating because she could not stand the idea of killing the poor sweet mice!
Hi Val! I love reading all your incredible animal stories. This particular story really resonated with me.
I too, work at a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Its never easy making those kind of difficult decisions. But my connection with mice is actually with the mice in my house. They found their way inside my bird room & the numbers quickly exploded. I absolutely refuse to use any kind of trap that kills or poison. Several years ago we had an invasion of mice on a much smaller scale, but my son & I successfully captured & released them all in a trap I constructed with a gallon jug, the cardboard tube from a roll of gift wrap, masking tape to secure the tube to the jug, & some yummy treats to bait it with. I think we caught close to 30 mice in a short amount of time. This time I ordered some tin cat live traps to use in addition to my homemade trap. I also set up a couple tall buckets with food in strategic areas where the mice would launch themselves trying to get away. The buckets were tall enough that they couldn’t jump out. I was getting really frustrated because I wasn’t making any progress despite the infinite numbers I was trapping & releasing. Then the number of me ce I trapped went way down, but the mouse activity in my bird room was increasing. One day my boyfriend kept threatening to call an exterminator. I just started crying & realized I needed help. I asked the nature fairies to please help me. I needed them to know it was not safe for the mice to stay in my home. They were welcome to live in my yard & they would still have access to the bird seed they loved because I always put food out for the birds. I kept sending out the message that the traps were safe & that I would release them in a safe location outside. All of a sudden my traps were filling up again & I could actually see I was making progress. I still have a few left to trap. But I am happy to say I have successfully trapped & released close to 400 mice thanks to the nature fairies & the cooperation of the mice. I’m grateful that they never invaded my pantry or spread out all over my house. Occasionally one or two would go exploring but they seemed to be respectful & never got into any of our food. Sorry this is so long. I just wanted to share my story in case someone else is dealing with the same problem.
This story almost brought me to tears. The bravery that little creature showed was astounding.