Mice Filmed Scrapping On Empty London Underground Platform

When you think of the London Underground, adjectives such as spacious, airy and peaceful do not spring to mind. But with lockdown measures in effect, the Tube - like the country as a whole - is a lot more quiet.

In the absence of humans clogging up the platforms, it seems mice have repurposed them as rodent wrestling rings.

Footage shared on Twitter yesterday (7 April) shows one of the furry fellas scuttling after another, with the two becoming embroiled in some pretty nasty fisticuffs. The dispute doesn't appear to have been settled by the end of the video either, which ends with one mouse giving chase after the other (though their brawling is too chaotic for me to work out which is which at this point).

The cause of the bust-up is not clear. Perhaps something was said about the house of one mouse, or maybe they're just a bit narky 'cause people aren't dropping food everywhere like usual.

Whatever sparked the kick off, this is by no means the first time mice have done battle on a London Underground platform. In fact, two mice have actually had an award-winning fight at the London Underground.

The award in question was the National History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year LUMIX People's Choice Award, which was picked up by Sam Rowley after he snapped the mice fighting in an Underground station.

The photo - named 'Station Squabble' - depicts one mouse delivering some kind of dramatic mouse judo chop in. The oddly amusing picture proved popular with the public, clinching the prize after receiving 28,000 votes and staving off competition from 24 other shortlisted photos, which were whittled down from 48,000 entries.

If you're wondering how Sam managed to capture such a great shot, well that's simple - he just said 'cheese'.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year/Sam Rowley

OK, no he didn't, forgive me - here's an explanation of his modus operandi on the Natural History Museum website: "Sam discovered the best way to photograph the mice inhabiting London's Underground was to lie on the platform and wait.

"He only saw them fight over scraps of food dropped by passengers a few times, possibly because it is so abundant. This fight lasted a split second, before one grabbed a crumb and they went their separate ways."

Let's all bring some positivity, support and fun to anyone who might find themselves in isolation as a result of the coronavirus spread. Need some entertainment? Join Isolation Nation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coronasupport/

Topics: Viral, Funny, Animals, London

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey