Meet Despereaux, The Adorable Dumbo Mouse You’ll Want To See

January 6, 2026

A small family farm in San Diego is celebrating a very special little arrival — and it’s too adorable for words.

Frosted Cookie Mousery, run by a passionate mouse and rat breeder, recently shared a photo of a rare “dumbo” mouse on social media.

“My mousery just produced a rare true dumbo mouse! His name is Despereaux,” she wrote.

Despereaux / Credit: Frosted Cookie Mousery

If you’re wondering, a mousery is like a plant nursery — but for mice. At Frosted Cookie Mousery, the mice she breeds go on to become beloved pets or show animals. The breeder even admits, jokingly, that she has “an entire floor of my house dedicated to my fun mouse genetics projects! Also it might be the basement.”

What makes Despereaux so extraordinary? Dumbo ears are a common trait in rats, but until recently, they were almost unheard of in mice. “Honestly like hitting the mega mouse lottery. I’ve only seen a couple photos of these existing ever,” she said. His parents and siblings all have normal ears, making this little guy a true genetic surprise.

Fortunately, like dumbo rats, there are no negative health effects associated with the trait. Right now, Despereaux is just a baby, but his owner has big plans — or at least big dreams. She jokes that she hopes he will one day lead “a legion of the most adorable mice ever.”