Watch: Adorable Florida Mice Say 'Cheese' For The Camera

Check out the video at the bottom of this post.

Biologists studying the Sunshine State’s endangered gopher tortoise population got quite a treat recently when a couple Florida mice decided to put on a show for their camera.

The mice, found only in peninsular Florida, actually appeared to mug for the camera with some providing extreme close ups while others looked like they were posing for selfies, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wrote on its Facebook page.

“Watch as some of them seem to be saying ‘cheese,’ ” the agency joked.

Discovering Florida mice inside tortoise burrows isn’t a terrible oddity, the agency pointed out. After all, gopher tortoises are known to be rather hospitable critters, willing to share their digs with a host of other animals at any given time.

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“More than 350 other types of animals share the nicely dug burrows,” the agency noted. “The burrows have fairly constant temperatures and humidity, plus they provide protection from fire and bad weather.”

Other common “roommates” for these protected tortoises include snakes, insects and gopher frogs.

The Florida mouse is a State Species of Special Concern and is protected by law. The critter typically lives in dry, upland habitats. It is found primarily in the central part of the state, including the Tampa Bay region.

Gopher tortoises are considered a threatened species and are also protected under Florida law. These critters are found throughout the state and are particularly fond of sandy areas that are well-drained and have a sparse tree canopy and lots of low-growing vegetation.

To find out more about Florida mice and gopher tortoises, visit FWC online.

Images courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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