A mouse caught tidying up a cluttered tool shed might sound like a scene from a Disney movie, but this delightful moment actually happened in real life to retired postman and wildlife photographer Rodney Holbrook in Wales. Thanks to Holbrook’s setup of a night vision camera, we can all witness the adorable spectacle.
At 75, Holbrook shared with the BBC that he first grew suspicious when the bird food he’d set out kept ending up in some old shoes stored in his shed. After two months of this curious behavior, he decided to install a camera. What he discovered was nothing short of charming: the footage showed a tiny mouse gathering small items—clothes pins, plastic lids, string—and carefully placing them into a small box, night after night. The mouse earned the nickname “Welsh Tidy Mouse” for its nightly cleanup routine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLDPzQ42kws
This behavior is likely rooted in the mouse’s natural instinct to hoard, especially since the box contained bird feed. Holbrook believes the mouse might have been using the other objects to hide the food, turning the shed into an accidental model of tidiness, much like a mini Marie Kondo at work.
While mice in sheds are often considered pests, especially because they can damage expensive equipment, Holbrook has developed a surprisingly positive relationship with his tiny helper. “I don’t bother to tidy up now,” he told the BBC. “I leave things out of the box, and they put it back in its place by the morning.”
Those who have seen the footage have been equally charmed by Welsh Tidy Mouse’s industrious nature:
“I could watch this little mouse for hours. Incredible.”
“Such an industrious little fella. Very impressive. Sweet.”
“He’s better than a lot of humans I know!”
“I loved how he held the plastic cup with both hands before carrying it in his mouth to the box.”
“Thanks for this bit of happiness in these gloomy times.”
While it’s important to be mindful of potential damage or infestations, it’s also worth remembering that we share the planet with all of Earth’s creatures. And, sometimes, that leads to truly magical and heartwarming interactions—just like this one.