Mob of Meerkats Misjudged by Many

This week, roving rodent reporter Zoey the zoo mouse investigates why many animals at the zoo suspect that the meerkats are up to something in their exhibit. Some speculate that they have established some sort of commune, and others have heard the Suricata suricatta are part of the mob. Matilda and Max, the dominant meerkats, sit down with Zoey and Zeek to reveal the truth, once and for all.

Zoey: So you must have heard the rumors. The other animals allege that you live on a commune. Some even think you’re part of the mob.

Matilda: Hee, hee…we’re not part of the mob—we’re part of a mob. A group of meerkats is referred to as a mob. Isn’t it funny how things get distorted around here?

Zoey: Well, can you explain why you have a lookout? The animals have seen you taking turns standing guard. It looks suspicious…like you’re up to something fishy.

Matilda: Oh, how funny! We never thought of it as looking suspicious. Sentry duty was simply passed down to us from our elders. That’s how we keep an eye out for predators in the wild.

Max: We stand on our hind legs, watching and sniffing for danger.

Matilda: If we see a predator, such as a vulture or a jackal, we alert the rest of the mob with a bark. Then we make a beeline for our underground burrows!

Max: In truth, we really have no reason to play watchdog—er, watch-meerkat here in the zoo—

Matilda: Although we suppose an eagle could fly over our exhibit—

Max: But I guess the behavior is just ingrained in all of us. Truth be told, the zookeepers have encouraged it too, by giving us a sentry post to stand on.

Matilda: Yeah, even though there are no predators we really need to worry about, we still like to check out what’s going on around us. We get a real kick out of watching the guests …

Max: Humans are so funny!

Zoey: So what does the rest of the mob do while one of you is standing guard—or, looking around?

Max: Oh, we sleep, and play…

Matilda: …we love to play…

Max: …forage for food…

Zoey: What sort of food?

Matilda: Here at the zoo, we just get one or two kinds of insects. Oh, and the occasional live lizard. But in the wild, meerkats eat a variety of things: roots, small reptiles, small mammals—

Max: Don’t worry, we don’t want to see you guys on the menu—

Matilda: …millipedes, beetles, spiders, scorpions…

Zoey: I’m glad we don’t sound appetizing, but scorpions?!

Continue to part 2...