Mongolian rodent fells tall grass to foil predators, study finds

Brandt's vole found to engineer ecosystem to scan skies for shrikes and deny them perches

A rodent that lives on the plains of Inner Mongolia fells tall grasses so that it can scan the skies for flying predators, a study involving experts from the University of Exeter has found.

The practice by Brandt's voles also means that shrikes, a type of carnivorous bird, are denied handy perches and places to use as larders for their prey, the study discovered.