Fight or flight? responses of rodents to predator cues: a review

Abstract

Rodents are common prey for a wide range of predators, including reptiles, birds, and mammals. Some of the predators (e.g., owls) depend solely on rodents for food, reducing their population significantly.  Rodents respond to predators by changing behaviours to protect themselves against the enemies. Further, rodents have evolved advanced sensory capabilities that enable them to detect and effectively respond to predator cues to enhance their chances of survival. If rodents can detect their predators by chemical communication, these compounds can be extracted to repel rodents away from foods in farms and houses. However, the scientific community lacks knowledge of this phenomenon. Thus, we have reviewed the literature to get enough evidence to prove that rodents respond to predators by chemical communication. Our findings demonstrated that rodents react immediately to predatory threats by hiding or sleeping, exhibiting rapid eye movements, grouping, increased alertness, aggression, heightened anxiety, reduced activity, freezing, and avoidance. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to these cues can lead to gene changes and trigger the release of stress hormones such as corticosterone. Stress in rodents can cause hormonal imbalances, leading to decreased reproduction or smaller than normal litters. This knowledge can be used to develop alternative methods for rodent control, which can reduce reliance on poisons and promote eco-friendly and sustainable approaches to managing rodent populations. However, the majority of these ant-predatory responses have only undergone laboratory testing, providing limited field-based information. Therefore, further studies are recommended to investigate ant-predatory responses, especially those involving chemical communication, in real-world environments.