Don: Hey Ya?l, have you ever heard that old wives' tale about how elephants are afraid of small rodents like mice and rats? Ya?l: Yeah, Don. But like many old wives' tales this one is incorrect, as the experiment has been done several times. For example, a few years ago John Stossel of the TV show 20/20 introduced a mouse to some circus elephants and the big guys didn't even blink an eye. D: Hmm. And what if the rodent was a big as a cow? Do you think the elephant would be afraid of something that big? Y: Well I don't know, but I can tell you the thought of a rat that big is definitely creeping me out! Rodents that big don't exist do they? D: Well not today, but four million years ago they did! A record setting twenty-one- inch-long rat skull was discovered in Uruguay. It is thought to have belonged to a rat the size of a bull. Y: Ahh!! D: Not to worry though, analysis of the skull led researchers to conclude that the big rat ate only veggies. Y: Phew! D: So elephants would likely not fear such a large rodent either. Y: Then that old wives' tale is likely wrong no matter the size of the rodent! But did you know that elephants are afraid of something smaller than a common mouse? D: Really? What's that? Y: Bees. Scientists have noted that elephants tend to avoid trees with beehives, will run away if they hear buzzing, and have been seen fleeing from the little buzzers over long distances. D: Hmm. I guess its time to revise that old wives' tale then isn't it?